[RE-wrenches] Pass through/transition box for Enphase

Ray Walters ray at solarray.com
Thu Aug 11 09:55:11 PDT 2016


So this may be a dumb question, but I'm assuming wire nuts are not 
suitable for Fine strand wire?  I agree that most installs are not code 
compliant in this regard.  Its really tough to find parts or even good 
info on this.

R.Ray Walters
CTO, Solarray, Inc
Nabcep Certified PV Installer,
Licensed Master Electrician
Solar Design Engineer
303 505-8760

On 8/11/2016 8:03 AM, August Goers wrote:
>
> Hopefully manufacturers will steer away from supplying fine stranded 
> wires with their trunk cables – it’s been a joke trying to fine the 
> proper listed reasonably priced parts to make these connections. I bet 
> that a huge percentage of the installs out there are not meeting the 
> listing for fine stranded conductors.
>
> That said, we use ferrules on the individual fine stranded conductors 
> and then make the splices with the Ideal/Buchanan splice caps. This 
> particular combo was presented in the SunPower ACPV instruction 
> document and says it is listed for their class K conductors. I haven’t 
> looked up the listing documents myself (at least recently) since this 
> was presented in the manufacturer’s manual. As I posted before, the 
> Ideal splice caps are the bomb! We love them and I’d highly recommend 
> checking them out if you haven’t already.
>
> Best,
>
> August
>
> Luminalt
>
> *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org 
> <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of 
> *Glenn Burt
> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 10, 2016 8:44 PM
> *To:* RE-wrenches
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Pass through/transition box for Enphase
>
> The Ideal website for the Buchanan splice has a link to the UL listing 
> for the product. It does not list it for use with anything other than 
> standard stranded conductors.
> If it is not part of the listing, it is not approved for that use, 
> regardless of historical or anecdotal use.
> That is what the NEC says, and what the UL listing says and the UL 
> specification for their listing says.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From: *Brian Teitelbaum <mailto:bteitelbaum at aeesolar.com>
> *Sent: *‎8/‎10/‎2016 22:48
> *To: *RE-wrenches <mailto:re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> *Subject: *Re: [RE-wrenches] Pass through/transition box for Enphase
>
> Jeremy,
>
> Without digging into the specs on the Ideal connectors, I doubt that 
> they will work with fine-stranded wire.
>
> The problem with these types of connectors is that the set screw that 
> you turn to tighten the connection is in direct contact with the wire 
> strands. As you tighten it, it rubs the strands in a circular motion, 
> which will stretch, flatten, and tear the strands. It would work fine 
> if you use ferrules, but not without them.
>
> Terminals that are rated for direct use with fine-stranded wire would 
> have a clamping-type terminal, where the screw used to tighten the 
> connection pushes down on a solid piece of metal which then clamps the 
> wire. Even in this case, it may still not be approved for 
> fine-stranded wire depending on its design.
>
> The Buchanan splices should be fine. They are basically the same as a 
> ferrule, except that they are crimped with a crimping tool instead of 
> the pressure from tightening a screw in a bus bar. The crimping tool 
> is not in direct contact with the wire strands, so there is no tearing 
> or other damage to the wire. However, the spec sheet does not specify 
> the acceptable wire types, and I can’t seem to find anything with a 
> Google search. It might be worth contacting Buchanan/Ideal to see if 
> they have better info.
>
> Brian Teitelbaum
>
> AEE Solar
>
> *From:*RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org 
> <mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org>] *On Behalf Of 
> *Jeremy Rodriguez
> *Sent:* Wednesday, August 10, 2016 6:32 PM
> *To:* RE-wrenches
> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Pass through/transition box for Enphase
>
> How about these?
>
> https://idealind.com/us/en/products/wire-termination/set-screw-connectors/set-screw-connectors/set-screw-wire-connectors.aspx
>
> Jeremy Rodriguez
>
> Solar Installation And Design Expert
>
> All Solar, Inc.
>
> 1463 M St
>
> Penrose Colorado 81240
>
> Sent by Jeremy's iPhone. Sorry for typos and shorthand!
>
>
> On Aug 8, 2016, at 2:00 PM, Benn Kilburn <benn at skyfireenergy.com 
> <mailto:benn at skyfireenergy.com>> wrote:
>
>     Din rail mounted terminal blocks.... Weidmuler WDU6 or WDU10,
>     depending on the wire size you are using.
>
>     Benn Kilburn
>
>     SkyFire Energy Inc.
>
>     780-906-7807
>
>
>     On Aug 8, 2016, at 12:49 PM, Jason Szumlanski
>     <jason at floridasolardesigngroup.com
>     <mailto:jason at floridasolardesigngroup.com>> wrote:
>
>         I'm looking to bring 8 Enphase 240V circuits in multiple
>         conduits into an enclosure inside the attic where I can
>         transition to Romex. I'd rather use some kind of rail mounted
>         terminals in an enclosure or something rather than making
>         splices in a generic j-box. I'm not looking to combine
>         circuits - just transition from THWN to Romex and keep things
>         neat an organized.
>
>         Any sugg
>
> [The entire original message is not included.]
>
>
>
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