NEC 690.13 PV system disconnecting means explained

Every PV system needs a way to be switched off and isolated from the rest of the building — a single, findable, operable disconnect. NEC 690.13 is the rule, and while it sounds simple, its location, marking, and grouping requirements produce real plan-review corrections when they're missed or when it gets confused with rapid shutdown.

What 690.13 requires

690.13 requires a PV system disconnecting means that disconnects the PV system from all conductors connecting it to the premises wiring. In plain terms: a switch that fully isolates the array so someone can safely service the inverter or work on downstream equipment.

Key attributes the section drives:

• Isolates all conductors of the PV system.
• Readily accessible location — you shouldn't need tools or a ladder to reach it, and it can't be buried behind other equipment.
• Indicates position — clearly open or closed.
• Rated for the voltage and current it interrupts.

690.13(B): the marking

690.13(B) requires the disconnect to be permanently marked to identify it as the photovoltaic system disconnect. This is what lets a firefighter or inspector walk up and know exactly which handle isolates the solar system. Pair it with the other required placards, including the 705.10 power-source directory and the rapid-shutdown markings covered in 690.12 rapid shutdown explained.

Location and grouping

Where the disconnect can live depends on the edition and your AHJ, but the recurring themes are:

• Place it at a readily accessible location — commonly outside near the service, or an accessible interior spot the jurisdiction accepts.
• Group the PV disconnect with the other service disconnects where required so all sources are found together.
• Keep it consistent with the 705.10 directory so the plaque points to where it actually is.

Disconnect vs rapid shutdown

This is the confusion worth clearing up. They solve different problems:

• 690.13 disconnect — a service/maintenance isolation: turn the system off and lock it out to work on it.
• 690.12 rapid shutdown — a firefighter-safety function that quickly de-energizes conductors near the array within 30 seconds. See 690.12 rapid shutdown explained.

A typical rooftop design needs both: module-level rapid shutdown for responder safety, and a marked 690.13 disconnect to isolate the system. One does not replace the other. A rapid-shutdown switch de-energizes the array conductors but doesn't necessarily give you a lockable service-isolation point; the 690.13 disconnect does. On many microinverter systems the AC disconnect doubles as the PV system disconnecting means — that's fine, as long as it meets the 690.13 access and marking requirements.

Ratings and interrupting duty

The disconnect must be rated to interrupt the circuit under load, not merely rated for the voltage. On the DC side that means a switch rated for DC — an AC-only rated device can fail to break a DC arc. Confirm the device's voltage, current, and interrupting ratings match the circuit it isolates, and that any fuse it carries is coordinated with the conductor and OCPD sizing from your 690.8 conductor and OCPD work.

What a reviewer checks

The one-line should show the PV system disconnect, its location and accessibility, its marking, and consistency with the power-source directory. A disconnect that's shown but unmarked, or placed somewhere not readily accessible, gets red-lined — see why solar permits get rejected.

Disconnect location and grouping rules changed across NEC editions and vary by jurisdiction. Confirm the enforced code and local amendments with your AHJ, and have a licensed electrician or PE review, sign and stamp the design before filing or energizing.

Educational reference, reviewed 2026-07. A design aid, not a substitute for a licensed electrician or PE. Confirm the enforced NEC edition and local amendments with your AHJ.