[RE-wrenches] PV Recombiner

Mon Oct 10 20:31:09 PDT 2016

My students we just today complaining about the access to wires on the panel mount breakers. The lug idea with separators might be a fix. It definitely needs to be done differently. In class We added another inverter to our package and trying to install another 175A breaker was a pain. We have a few other DC breakers in there already. The whole cabinet is basically inaccessible. 

Jesse Dahl

NABCEP PV Installation Professional
IBEW Local 292 - Electrician 
Electrical/Solar PV Instructor - HCC

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 10, 2016, at 9:40 PM, Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarage01 at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> You might want to look at the square D QO breaker line some are dc rated and voltage rated and are panel mounted.
> Jerry
> 
> 
>> On Oct 10, 2016 3:00 PM, "jay" <jay.peltz at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I”ll chime in here.
>> 
>> Yes the GSLC is a piece of junk.  
>> However it is UL listed for the job. And while you could put together something that would work with Airpax breakers together, but it wouldn’t be UL.
>> 
>> What I do is to swap out all the wires to Arctic ultra flex.  This allows much better movement of the wires with significantly less stress on the terminals.   And if you want to not attach wires to the back of the breakers then you can and I’ve seen outback do it, install lay in lugs facing outwards so you can use a screwdriver or allen key on them.  Allows for installation and removal of wire without removal of the breaker or the plate/breakers.  With thimbles of course. And I can’t find them but I know they make them, shields that fit between each breaker so the lay in lugs are insulated.
>> 
>> jay
>> peltz power
>> 
>> 
>>> On Oct 10, 2016, at 4:40 PM, William Miller <william at millersolar.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Chris:
>>>  
>>> Thank you for the reply.  I think you misunderstand me.  We always use the GSLC cabinets.  I just don’t like the design concept that clutters the cabinet with AC and DC breakers that are difficult to access and block other components.  See photo below of a prewired GSLC Cabinet we were asked to work in.  Not a good scenario.
>>>  
>>> We have created an installation standard using the GSLC that minimizes the problems inherent with the design.  We run all AC leads to adjacent load centers and we try to minimize the DC breakers in the cabinet.  It is our goal to completely eliminate all breakers from the removable dead-front.  I think it is pretty self-explanatory why one would not prefer to make connections in a hard to reach location. 
>>>  
>>> Our goal is to constantly improve our installation procedures to create better, safer and more efficient installations.  
>>>  
>>> Also, I don’t need someone to instruct me on how to make a “finished” looking install. If you are familiar with my work you know it is as clean as it gets.  Review my web site.  Below is but one example of one of our installs.
>>>  
>>> And lastly, “suck it up” is not a very complimentary phrase.  Please, let’s keep it professional.
>>>  
>>> Sincerely,
>>>  
>>> William Miller
>>>  
>>> <image007.jpg>
>>> Figure 1 Factory wired GSLC
>>> 
>>>  
>>> <image008.jpg>
>>> Figure 2 Miller Solar installed GSLC..
>>> 
>>>  
>>> <image009.jpg>
>>> Lic 773985
>>> millersolar.com
>>> 805-438-5600
>>>  
>>> From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Chris Mason
>>> Sent: Monday, October 10, 2016 3:40 PM
>>> To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
>>> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] PV Recombiner
>>>  
>>> The GSLC gives the system a nice finished appearance that the customer will understand. Suck it up and live with the imperfect world we function in. 
>>>  
>>>> On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 5:55 PM, William Miller <william at millersolar.com> wrote:
>>>> Friends:
>>>>  
>>>> I am looking for a PV recombiner.  I need to accept the outputs from 3 remote PV Combiners, send those outputs through GFP circuit breakers, into charge controllers, back thorough breaker, into a bus bar, through a main breaker and onto a large battery bank.
>>>>  
>>>> I am using 2 Outback Radian inverters, but I refuse to install DC breakers on their dead-front because wiring to studs facing away from the front is an inferior design.  Furthermore, I see no need to run PV circuits through the GSLC cabinets.
>>>>  
>>>> I looked at the Midnite MNDC15 but again, these use panel mounted breakers with studs on the back.
>>>>  
>>>> Anyone know of a more thoughtfully designed PV recombiner?
>>>>  
>>>> Thanks in advance,
>>>>  
>>>> William Miller
>>>>  
>>>>  
>>>> <image003.jpg>
>>>> Lic 773985
>>>> millersolar.com
>>>> 805-438-5600
>>>>  
>>>> 
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>  
>>> --
>>> Chris Mason
>>> NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer™
>>> Solar Design Engineer
>>> Generac Generators Industrial technician
>>>  
>>> www.cometsolar.com
>>> 264.235.5670
>>> 869.662.5670
>>> Skype: netconcepts
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>> 
>> 
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