Protecting string connector cable from squirrels [RE-wrenches]

[Kirk Herander]

===========================================================
Give Your Team Access to Their PCs from Anywhere. Increase 
productivity with a secure remote-access solution from 
GoToMyPC Pro. Stay in touch with your office. FREE TRIAL:
http://click.topica.com/caaccMVbz8Qcsbz9JC9a/ ExpertCity
===========================================================

Grease the cables with that crap used to deter birds from perching. It comes
in a gallon can. Most animals hate getting anything greasy on their coats or
feet or paws. I once coated a bird feeder pole with axle grease and the
squirrels found it most annoying.

Vermont Solar Engineering
Kirk Herander
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
Certified Solar PV Installer(TM)
Xantrex Certified Dealer Charter Member
NYSERDA-eligible installer
Vermont Solar and Wind Partner

PO Box 697
Burlington, VT. 05402
www.vermontsolar.com
www.backeastsolar.com
800.286.1252 - 802.863.1202
fax 802.863.7908

----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Lyons" <Lyons at ZapotecEnergy.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 9:01 AM
Subject: Protecting string connector cable from squirrels [RE-wrenches]




===========================================================
Give Your Team Access to Their PCs from Anywhere. Increase
productivity with a secure remote-access solution from
GoToMyPC Pro. Stay in touch with your office. FREE TRIAL:
http://click.topica.com/caaccMVbz8Qcsa84x0Ea/ ExpertCity
===========================================================


Wrenches -

I have asked several of you for advice on this issue, but I owe it to my
customer to ask several more veteran installers:

How do you protect the MC (MultiConnect) string interconnection wires (RHW
AWG #12) from squirrels?

I had an expensive repair job in February on the roof of a residential
customer near Boston, MA.  There was no DC voltage at the DC disconnect, so
we went up on the roof and found that squirrels had gnawed on the MC cables
and quick-connects, and opened the circuit.  We replaced the home-run cables
and sent the customer the repair bill.  The work was not covered by the
3-year warranty we provide for these installations.

The customer sent me the amount due and asked, "Is there anything that could
be done to avoid this happening in the future?"

The suggestions I have so far include:

1)     Handle the MC cables with clean hands (no food residue) and
sweat-free hands (no salt), or wear "clean" gloves when installing the
exposed chewable items on the roof.
2)     Use UV-resistant cable ties to attach the MC cables as close to the
Unirac or metal module frames as possible, making it difficult to gnaw on an
MC cable that is close to metal.
3)     Enclose the MC cable in PVC conduit.

Any other suggestions?  Thank you in advance for your help.

Paul Lyons

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Paul Lyons, P.E.
Zapotec Energy
Cambridge, MA 02139-4708
Tel: 617-868-1964
Fax: 617-547-9140
Email: Lyons at ZapotecEnergy.com
Web: www.ZapotecEnergy.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

===========================================================
Buy Stocks and Index Funds for just $4 No Account or
Investment Minimums and No Inactivity Fees Automatically
invest weekly or monthly and build your future.
http://click.topica.com/caaccMMbz8Qcsa84x0Ef/ Sharebuilder
===========================================================

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & etiquette: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

===========================================================
Buy Stocks and Index Funds for just $4 No Account or 
Investment Minimums and No Inactivity Fees Automatically 
invest weekly or monthly and build your future. 
http://click.topica.com/caaccMMbz8Qcsbz9JC9f/ Sharebuilder
===========================================================

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & etiquette: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------