After market J-boxes [RE-wrenches]
William Miller
wrmiller at charter.net
Mon Jan 21 22:30:30 PST 2008
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Friends:
The recent thread on protecting PV wiring has inspired some creative
thinking. This is great. I'd like to comment on one idea: the glue on
J-box:
Generally speaking, the application of glue in the field will always have
variable results. Instead, I suggest a bolt-on or clamp-on j-box. This
can clamp to the module frame or a mounting rail or rack. I look forward
to seeing a sketch or prototype.
In a way, our Volt-Guard wire shield is an after-market J-box. We tossed
the idea around for several days and spent a few hundred dollars at the
metal supply making individual covers for individual modules until we
realized we needed something to cover the entire back of one rack. Cost
was about $120.00 for the 12 gauge aluminum bent into a simple channel
shape. It is held on by 1/4X20 SS bolts. The bolts go through the modules
and then through Direct Power module hold-down brackets. In quantities of
10 the price gets much more reasonable, I recall less than $100 to protect
wiring for 10 modules ($10.00 per module is realistic in our view).
If anyone wants more detail, I'll publish an engineering drawing. (The one
viewed on our web site is of modules for an Outback PS-1 system. As such,
the string quantity is 2. So for 10 modules we ran 11 leads. This
necessitated 1" flex. A battery-less installation would have 3 leads,
allowing 1/2" flex. The beauty of the Volt-Guard is that you can knock out
the hole you need, where you need it.)
John Raynes, thanks for the compliment but this is one idea that is not
appropriate for proprietary thinking. This needs to get out there to
inspire others to refine the concept and to demonstrate that safe practices
are feasible and attainable.
William
-- _________________________________
William Miller
Miller Power and Communications
Voice :805-438-5600 Fax: 805-438-4607
email: wrmiller at mpandc.com
http://mpandc.com
License No. C-10-773985
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