Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

The Georgia PSI outline lists "Photovoltaics" under Renewable Energy Technologies in the Special Occupancies and Situations area. The calculations are always the same two: maximum dc voltage (open-circuit voltage × the Table 690.7(A) cold-weather factor × modules in series) and maximum circuit current (short-circuit current × 125 %, then × 125 % again for conductor ampacity and OCPD sizing). The knowledge items live in rapid shutdown (690.12), disconnects (690.13/690.15), wiring (690.31) and grounding (690.41–690.47). Written from the 2023 text of Article 690 (the Georgia edition — NEC 2023 with Georgia amendments; 2023 section numbers throughout).

1. Scope, listing, general (Part I)

• 690.1: solar PV systems other than large-scale PV electric supply stations (Article 691); interactive with other sources, stand-alone, or both; ac or dc output.
• 690.4(B) equipment: listed or evaluated with a field label — electronic power converters, motor generators, PV modules, ac modules and ac module systems, dc combiners, PV rapid shutdown equipment (PVRSE), PV hazard control equipment/systems (PVHCE/PVHCS), dc circuit controllers and charge controllers intended for PV systems (Type PV wire and Type DG cable are listed under 690.31(C); OCPDs in PV source circuits are listed for PV use under 690.9(B); mounting/bonding devices under 690.43(A)).
• 690.4: (A) a PV system may supply a building in addition to any other supply; (C) installed by qualified persons; (D) multiple PV systems on one building need a 705.10 directory at each PV system disconnect where remote from each other; (E) PV equipment and disconnects are not installed in bathrooms; (F) power converters may be on roofs or other not-readily-accessible areas (disconnect per 690.15); (G) floating PV identified as suitable and wired for the expected movement.
• 690.6 ac modules: PV source-circuit rules do not apply (the inverter is internal); the output of an ac module or ac module system is an inverter output circuit.