Split Bolts vs Wire Nuts on the Roof [RE-wrenches]

[Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection]

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Mark,
I have to agree with Jeff C as to the superiority of split bolts vs 
wire nuts. Certainly the way to go under 100VDC or so. Yes, rubber 
tape with a good grade of regular electrical tape on top is a very 
long term relationship. On the other hand, so is a well installed 
wire nut. With a zillion of them out there, you've got to figure they 
more or less work. I think they work much better on solid wire, but 
they're acceptable for stranded wire and HV DC if you can keep the 
connection dry. If I decide to use them, I always tape them to the 
wires both to help keep the moisture out and to add some structural 
stability. Using a wire nut wrench to get them good and tight in the 
first place is also a good idea. Especially for us FOGs (Freakin Old 
Guys) with arthritic fingers.
Best, bob-O


>Esteemed Wrenches,
>Many thanks for the insolation data for coastal locations.
>
>On another subject, we recently had a call back on a grid tied PV 
>system and found a split bolt in a raintight j-box on the roof that 
>was slightly loose.  I'm thinking the stranded USE-2 had relaxed 
>with all the temperature cycling up on the roof, and loosened the 
>split bolt just enough to cause an intermittent.  I know the drill, 
>tighten and loosen the bolt a few times before the final tightening, 
>to get the strands to compress as much as possible.  But I'm 
>wondering, do you prefer split bolts or wire nuts in this 
>application?  Seems like wire nuts wrapped securely with rubber tape 
>might actually be more reliable than split bolts for this small size 
>wire (10-12AWG).
>Thanks
>Mark
>Cobalt Power Systems

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