[RE-wrenches] Stainless Steel Cable Ties

[Drake]

As an electrician, I see a lot of black plastic 
cable ties that fall apart. I'm not sure I've 
seen that on PV systems, specifically, but it is common.

   At 11:06 AM 4/25/2013, you wrote:
>I too share the concern about standard plastic 
>zip ties. However, I started in the industry in 
>1997 and have yet to see zip ties that are 
>falling apart. Does anyone on the list have 
>firsthand experience with failed plastic zip ties?
>
>Best,
>
>August
>
>
>August Goers
>
>Luminalt Energy Corporation
>1320 Potrero Avenue
>San Francisco, CA 94110
>m: 415.559.1525
>o: 415.641.4000
><mailto:august at luminalt.com>august at luminalt.com
>
>From: 
><mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org 
>[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Solarguy
>Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2013 7:08 AM
>To: 'RE-wrenches'
>Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Stainless Steel Cable Ties
>
>We have used 8” flat  SS ties for years and I 
>have no concern about the wear on the conductor 
>insulation. They are long enough to circle a 
>standard Unirac rail and several wires leaving 
>1” or so tag end. Needle nose pliers work to 
>twist the end and snug down the tie as tight as 
>you’re comfortable with. The metal tie, once 
>bent around the corners cannot stretch any 
>tighter, unlike nylon, regardless of how tightly 
>you twist the pliers. As for the edges, quality ties are not sharp. Or cheap.
>
>Jim Duncan
>North Texas Renewable Energy Inc
><http://www.ntrei.com/>www.ntrei.com
>NABCEP PV 031310-57
>TECL-27398
><mailto:ntrei at 1scom.net>ntrei at 1scom.net
>817.917.0527
>NABCEP Logo
>
>
>
>
>From: 
><mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org 
>[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] 
>On Behalf Of Jason Szumlanski
>Sent: Thursday, April 25, 2013 8:08 AM
>To: RE-wrenches
>Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Stainless Steel Cable Ties
>
>There was a recent thread about wire management. 
>Heyco SunBundler ties have a vinyl coating. I 
>recommended the clips from PV Racking that are 
>stainless steel coated in rubber. I've had the 
>same concern, and both of these seem like good solutions to me.
>
>
>Jason Szumlanski
>
>Fafco Solar
>
>On Thu, Apr 25, 2013 at 1:20 AM, Benn Kilburn - 
>DayStar Renewable Energy 
><<mailto:benn at daystarsolar.ca>benn at daystarsolar.ca> wrote:
>Wrenches,
>I searched the archives, but came up with nothing on this
.
>
>I have found a good supplier for reasonably 
>priced stainless steel cable ties and have been 
>using them in place of black nylon cable ties 
>for supporting cables, PV wires and 
>micro-inverter wires to the mounting rails and 
>such.  I feel better knowing the wires under the 
>array are supported this way rather than with 
>plastic/nylon cable ties, for which I tried but 
>cannot get a manufacturer to guarantee will last 20+yrs.
>
>A colleague is questioning this method (SS ties) 
>with the concern that over time the (albeit 
>small) movement in the wires and/or 
>expansion/contraction of the rails could result 
>in the stainless steel cable ties cutting thru 
>the wire's insulation and then
..
>I have heard this concern before from others as well.
>
>The way I see it is that the very popular 
>stainless steel "S" cable clips that hold wires 
>to module frames have comparable equal sharp 
>edges as well and would pose the same risk, but 
>there doesn't seem to be any concern there.
>
>I am wondering who else is using SS ties in 
>place of nylon ones, and if you are taking 
>additional steps to protect the wire's insulation from the SS ties?
>Common sense abides, meaning don't wrap a wire 
>around the SS ties so that the wire has tension 
>on the sharp edge of the tie.  Flat edge contact 
>with the wire only, the same way that you 
>wouldn't run a wire across/around a sharp cut edge of a rail or anything else.
>
>Thanks,
>benn
>
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