Code Quiz of Day

PV Storage Battery Requirements

March 23, 2015

Part VIII of Article 690 of the 2014 NEC focuses on storage battery requirements.

In dwellings, battery cells for PV systems must be connected so as to operate at _____, nominal, or less.

a) 20V
b) 30V
c) 40V
d) 50V

See answer and applicable Code reference

The correct answer is: d) 50V

The provisions of Art. 690 apply to solar PV systems, including the array circuit(s), inverter(s), and controller(s) supporting such systems. Part VIII of this Article focuses on storage batteries. As noted in Sec. 690.71(B)(1), "Storage batteries for dwellings shall have the cells connected so as to operate at a voltage of 50V, nominal, or less."

About the Author

Mike Holt

Mike Holt is the owner of Mike Holt Enterprises (www.MikeHolt.com), one of the largest electrical publishers in the United States. He earned a master's degree in the Business Administration Program (MBA) from the University of Miami. He earned his reputation as a National Electrical Code (NEC) expert by working his way up through the electrical trade. Formally a construction editor for two different trade publications, Mike started his career as an apprentice electrician and eventually became a master electrician, an electrical inspector, a contractor, and an educator. Mike has taught more than 1,000 classes on 30 different electrical-related subjects — ranging from alarm installations to exam preparation and voltage drop calculations. He continues to produce seminars, videos, books, and online training for the trade as well as contribute monthly Code content to EC&M magazine.