[RE-wrenches] Flexible stranded Connectors

[jay peltz]

Hi ray

As an FYI. Most of the lugs we all use are not "rated" for fine stranded wire. 
 Quick cable is the only one I'm aware of that if you use their tool and ends says its UL for fine stranded. 

I prefer ferrules for those applications vs pin adapters. 
(Schneider XW inverter BOS box comes with arctic ultra flex wire with ferrules)

Jay

Peltz power


> On Apr 29, 2014, at 10:48 PM, Ray Walters <ray at solarray.com> wrote:
> 
> Hi All;
> 
> In order to avoid any of my work showing up in someone's slideshow of horrors, I'm trying to find the correct way to wire 3 Sunny Islands with Cobra X flex cable.
> While it doesn't actually mention it in the SMA manual, a call to SMA tech support confirmed my suspicions: the DC lugs in the inverter are NOT rated for flex or fine stranded cable.
> Both SMA and CED recommended I try Grainger's for crimp on adapters.  Grainger had no clue, and nothing came up in searches there.
> From a trade show, I have an ILSCO lug book, that shows a crimp on pigtail adapter.  It does not mention whether its flex rated though on the crimp side of the adapter, as the adapter is used primarily to land over sized cables into smaller lugs.  (2/0 to #1, for instance)
> The best I've found so far, is NSI, which makes sleeves, that are installed around the wire, right in the connection:
> http://www.nsiindustries.com/products/electrical/connectors/compression-connectors/copper-compression/fsflex-cable-sleeve.aspx
> I also found a Schneider white paper recommending sleeves with their lugs:
> http://static.schneider-electric.us/docs/Circuit%20Protection/0515DB0301.pdf
> 
> So who has used these sleeves, and where do I get them?
> The sleeves seem like a decent compromise, whilst the ILSCO pigtail adapters are coming in at $40/ ea...... (ouch)
> 
> On the internet, I'm seeing several examples of X flex used directly (no adapters) with the Sunny Islands, so are folks just blowing off articles 690.31(F) and 110.14, that specify the connector be rated for flex cable?
> And finally, couldn't SMA use a lug that was flex rated?
> For example, Marathon makes Class K rated mechanical Lugs: http://www.marathonsp.com/NewRatings.html
> I'd use THHN, but I really don't feel good about wiring the Heineman breakers with that stiff a wire.  I've cracked breaker cases before......that's why the X flex is industry standard for off grid DC.
> 
> Thanks for your help,
> 
> -- 
> R.Ray Walters
> CTO, Solarray, Inc
> Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
> Licensed Master Electrician
> Solar Design Engineer
> 303 505-8760
> 
> _______________________________________________
>