Sharp modules [RE-wrenches]

[Matt Tritt]

<x-flowed>
Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Get a FREE* MP3 Player - yours to keep! Click Here Now!
http://click.topica.com/caadeMpbz8Qcsbz9JC9a/MP3 Player Giveaway
-------------------------------------------------------------------

  This is only the case if you don't make the run to the combiner with MC 
cables. We have had O problems in using the MC system as designed (and 
employed all over the world) though. I know that there is a divergence of 
opinion on the use of exposed cabling in our business and I have had many 
converstaions with installers in the US and elsewhere about the pros and 
cons of both methods.

  My conclusion, which will not be shared by one and all, is that either 
method can be easily compromised by mischievous intent or honest accident. 
As a matter of fact, the only problems I've ever personally encountered with 
panel wiring have been done in flex PVC conduit. In one case, a guy called 
me to look at a sytem installed by others that had stopped working properly. 
I discovered that someone (no-doubt a young boy) had pulled hard enough on 
inter-connecting conduit to break the j-boxes loose, pull the conduit from 
the adaptors and rip the wire ends from their connections on a pair of 
panels. The panels were also badly damaged in the process.

  Another situation I encountered was with a job I subbed-out to a competent 
electician who used flex conduit to connect panels to inverter on a pair of 
tracking systems. The conduit had been incorrectly cut and routed which, 
because of the semi-flexibility of the material and the way it was fixed, 
caused the tracker to bind, which pulled the conduit loose, damaged a J box 
and blew a fuse in the tracker.  Since I sold the system, I had to fix the 
systemic problems with this install so it sticks in my memory. I also have 
to admit that back in the "old days" it was common practice to do all module 
inter-connections in exposed THHN and/or tray cable. I recently re-visited 
an install I helped do in 81 that was still going strong in spite of the 
crappy looking module inter-connects. No cracks in the insulation, no 
shorts - just several cases where the rubber plugs that Arco used to provide 
on their J boxes had fallen out and been replaced with hornet nests. Gulp. 
These were all 12 volt systems of course but still have plenty of potential 
for disaster.

  As to Todd's comment on the Cheese Factor of exposed cables, if done right 
it doesn't Have to look tacky, but it does take some time to tidy things up 
and get everything the right length for the drip loop. (I'm only referring 
to pole mounted systems here, by the way).

  An over complex reply to a nice, simple question if there ever was one!

  Matt T
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "William Miller" <wrmiller at slonet.org>
  To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
  Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 12:29 AM
  Subject: Re: Sharp modules [RE-wrenches]


  Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
  -------------------------------------------------------------------
  Get a FREE* MP3 Player - yours to keep! Click Here Now!
  http://click.topica.com/caadeMpbz8QcsbadqCja/MP3 Player Giveaway
  -------------------------------------------------------------------



  I'm not sure I get the higher mathematics here:

  In every string of three modules, only the center module gets to keep both
  of it's MC connectors.  For the one to the left and the one to the right,
  you still have to hack off one out of two.  That's 2 out of 6, or a one
  third fatality rate on MC connectors for each string.  This doesn't sound
  all that practical.  That is only marginally better than losing 2 out of 4
  connectors in a 2 module string.

  Nonetheless, the merits of providing a connector that then needs to be cut
  off so the lead can be hard wired into a box still escapes me.

  William Miller


  At 09:27 PM 2/28/2005, you wrote:

  >  It ain't neccesarily so, Doug. Not if you can live with three mods in a
  > string, which is just what the doktor ordered for the MX-60 in high
  > voltage mode. This is how we do all of our off-grid set-ups these days.
  >
  >  Matt T
  >  ----- Original Message -----  From: "Doug Pratt" 
<dmpratt at sbcglobal.net>
  >  To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
  >  Sent: Monday, February 28, 2005 7:06 PM
  >  Subject: RE: Sharp modules [RE-wrenches]
  >
  >
  >
  >  You're absolutely right, for battery-based systems the MC connectors 
are no
  >  help. You end up having to add j-boxes and whacking off the MC ends.
  >
  >  -Doug Pratt

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

  Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
  -------------------------------------------------------------------
  Get a FREE* 5 Megapixel Digital Camera - yours to keep!
  http://click.topica.com/caadeMobz8QcsbadqCjf/5 Megapixel Digital Camera 
Promotion
  -------------------------------------------------------------------

  - - - -
  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/etiquette.php

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

  Hosted by Home Power magazine

  Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Get a FREE* 5 Megapixel Digital Camera - yours to keep!
http://click.topica.com/caadeMobz8Qcsbz9JC9f/5 Megapixel Digital Camera Promotion
-------------------------------------------------------------------

- - - -
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/etiquette.php

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
--^----------------------------------------------------------------







</x-flowed>