NBC Washington DC doing a little solar fear mongering

[ButchDeal]

It is this kind of poor reporting and lack of checking with industry experts, that shows that TV news is just about ratings and commercials. NBC Washington doesn't bother to talk to a single industry expert, only reporting "Facts" from two people who both state they have had no specific training.
Then claims there are no local or state wide standards in MD or VA. Total horse ****. Both states have AHJ fire code standards governing solar installations. They further report that there is no way to shut off solar, more BS reporting, ever heard of NEC 2014 code or even NEC 2017 code. 2014 includes rapid shutdown requirements, which literally means that there has to be a labeled switch within sight of the meter that will shut all solar power down to safe levels in seconds. And 2017 automatic rapid shutdown, which means that turning off the power to the home (standard procedure on any house fire) automatically shuts solar voltage levels to safe levels. Between fake news by people like Jodie Fleischer, NBC4 and vaporware stories by Musk to try to save SolarCity finances, doing big coal and oils dirty work for them, real solar installers are in for a rough 2017.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/investigations/New-Tool-Could-Ease-Firefighter-Risks-Delays-at-Homes-With-Solar-Panels-423022454.html

[J.P.M.]

I'm mostly on your side on this one, but have you contacted anyone else about this ? NBC ? Baltimore Sun ? Richmond Times-Dispatch ? SEIA ?

Posting here is a pretty limited audience and perhaps like preaching to the choir.

[ButchDeal]

I'm mostly on your side on this one, but have you contacted anyone else about this ? NBC ? Baltimore Sun ? Richmond Times-Dispatch ? SEIA ?

Posting here is a pretty limited audience and perhaps like preaching to the choir.

I sent a note to NBC news, have not heard back.
have you a good contact at SEIA?

[J.P.M.]

I sent a note to NBC news, have not heard back.
have you a good contact at SEIA?

No. I actually belonged to that org. back early '70's/'80's, but found them to have a different focus than I had. I'd imagine they still have a lobbying arm in D,C., and as you probably know, they're about the biggest U.S. solar trade group at this time. The American Solar Energy Society/ISES may be interested. I was a member of both the Amer. and International societies but quit the Amer. sec. until they got (IMO only) deballed and gutted by SEIA. Sorry I can't help.

[Sunking]

A lot of news is fake today. All started by the Traitors Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather back in the 60's with the Progressive Movement.

[J.P.M.]

A lot of news is fake today. All started by the Traitors Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather back in the 60's with the Progressive Movement.

Seems to me there's enough B.S. from all sides to go around. I gave up paying as much attention to what's become mostly B.S. a long time ago. That my country got Alzheimer's several years ago is becoming more obvious every day.

[ButchDeal]

No. I actually belonged to that org. back early '70's/'80's, but found them to have a different focus than I had. I'd imagine they still have a lobbying arm in D,C., and as you probably know, they're about the biggest U.S. solar trade group at this time. The American Solar Energy Society/ISES may be interested. I was a member of both the Amer. and International societies but quit the Amer. sec. until they got (IMO only) deballed and gutted by SEIA. Sorry I can't help.

apparently I got someones attention: https://www.facebook.com/butchdeal/p...95207809673607

[J.P.M.]

apparently I got someones attention: https://www.facebook.com/butchdeal/p...95207809673607

Might be interesting to see how far this goes. You ready to commit to a fight where the other side has the mute button ?

[ButchDeal]

Might be interesting to see how far this goes. You ready to commit to a fight where the other side has the mute button ?

wow she is doubling down on the assertion with me that even with Rapid shut down the array remains energized. She asked if I want to spray water on 30V too

[adoublee]

TV news is entertainment not information. Wouldn't surprise me if she lit a brush fire under some panels to "make her point".

[sensij]

Systems can be installed so that they drop to <30 V everywhere. Unfortunately, that requirement doesn't exist yet, and there are lots of string inverter systems still being installed today that would represent a hazard to untrained firefighters in daytime conditions.

[ButchDeal]

TV news is entertainment not information. Wouldn't surprise me if she lit a brush fire under some panels to "make her point".

absolutly though there are too many people that think this is news. We have customers that want solar but want it ground mounted because it is too dangerous on the house, we try to explain that ground mount is more dangerous and it is safe on the house.
With Musk spewing his vapor ware claims,
News spitting out safety issues
Coal/oil pushing anti net metering,
Trump on ani-solar
failing slow moving solar companies

We are in for a terrible year here. Hell they are reporting that solar is doomed because the moon occasionally block the solar power oh my god what will we do?

[ButchDeal]

Systems can be installed so that they drop to <30 V everywhere. Unfortunately, that requirement doesn't exist yet

You do know that SolarEdge and all micro inverters currently can drop all voltages to below 30V right?

, and there are lots of string inverter systems still being installed today that would represent a hazard to untrained firefighters in daytime conditions.

OK yes there are older homes that do not meet even NEC 2014 though MD has had this for a bit.
The issue is that the story is tilted fear, with several statements about no way to make it safe that it is best just to let it burn to the ground and even with the voltage detector that will not help so much as tell the firefighters to just let your home burn to the ground...

it is just fear they are selling in the story. even starts with video of a house fire and fireman saying the best thing they could do was let it burn....

[adoublee]

there are lots of string inverter systems still being installed today that would represent a hazard to untrained firefighters in daytime conditions.

Hate to be the "provide me a source" guy, but I have not heard about a single firefighter injury from solar generated electricity. Injury from a fire does not count as that is what the risk is. If it was a risk, why would a figherfighter not be trained in it?

[EnergyKurt]

Yep... you can't fix dumb. First thing they should do on any fire is pull the meter ( that solves both problems) Houses have had electricity for along time wouldn't really matter how they were electrocuted in my mind...