[RE-wrenches] Ferrules for large fine-stranded wire.

[Kent]

Ray,

I believe that there was a burned wire/lug issue with a loose connection 
in a DC 250 box that caused the big concern about fine stranded wires 
only being used in lugs identified for fine strands. The old Trace 250 
boxes were UL listed prior.

I've never seen a problem with a loose wire in the DC250, but I check 
them every time I run into one of those old boxes.

Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar


On 9/3/2025 1:39 PM, Ray Walters via RE-wrenches wrote:
>
> I've got to ask: Are none of the lugs on these Chinese inverters 
> approved for fine strand cable?  I just have not had a problem with 
> that, but I've mostly used Magnum, Midnite, and Outback equipment over 
> the years.   What were the lugs on the old Trace DC 250 boxes?  Were 
> they fine strand rated?  They sure were tough to get 4/0 into, as 
> William mentioned.
>
> Ray
> Remote Solar
>
> On 9/3/2025 12:57 PM, Kent via RE-wrenches wrote:
>>
>> William,
>>
>> If the only reason the ferrule wouldn't fit after using the hex 
>> crimper was the ridge left where the dies meet, you could rotate the 
>> cable 120 degrees and crimp the ferrule again.
>>
>> I doubt that the indenter crimper will do a decent job with large 
>> ferrules.
>>
>> I do like your thin piece of copper solution. Not UL approved but I 
>> dare say wrench approved.
>>
>> Kent Osterberg
>> Blue Mountain Solar
>>
>>
>> On 9/2/2025 8:55 PM, William Miller via RE-wrenches wrote:
>>>
>>> Friends:
>>>
>>> Thank you for all of your input on this question.  I feel it only 
>>> right I report back how this turned out
>>>
>>> I tried a crimper like this:
>>>
>>>
>>> It left a jagged ridge on both sides of the ferrule where the dies met.
>>>
>>> The crimper below was suggested but I have not tried it:
>>>
>>>
>>> This was suggested but I have not tried it either:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
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