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<TITLE>Re: [RE-wrenches] battery cables</TITLE>
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<FONT SIZE="4"><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>Great info, Burt.<BR>
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The Greaves “Shoo-pin” is another product that crimps to the end of highly stranded cable, like the Cobra X-flex, resulting in a terminal that is suitable for landing on lugs like those in the Sunny Island that are not listed for use with fine stranded cables. Here is a link:<BR>
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www.greaves-usa.com/<BR>
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On 3/11/09 3:20 PM, "Glenn Burt" <glenn.burt@glbcc.com> wrote:<BR>
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</SPAN></FONT></FONT><BLOCKQUOTE><FONT SIZE="4"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'><FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><FONT FACE="Arial">Hi Jeff,<BR>
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</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><FONT FACE="Arial">Mr. Wiles strongly suggests that welding cable not be used for battery connections. You can read up on his guidance here:<BR>
<a href="http://www.nmsu.edu/~tdi/Photovoltaics/Codes-Stds/PVnecSugPract.html">http://www.nmsu.edu/~tdi/Photovoltaics/Codes-Stds/PVnecSugPract.html</a><BR>
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</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><FONT FACE="Arial">Something the NEC is clear about is conductors be used that are listed for that purpose. Welding cable is not usually listed for battery connections. <BR>
We too have researched the subject and selected Cobra X-flex when we need very flexible conductors - such as for battery interconnections. This cable is listed by UL to MTW / THW with a flame rating of VW-1, in the sizes we use of 1/0 & 2/0.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><FONT FACE="Arial">You will need to perform additional research to locate suitable lugs rated for fine stranded wire, and identify a crimping tool that is approved by the manufacturer fro use with the lugs you select. We selected a Burndy YAG26LTC38LD lug to use on 2/0 X-Flex on the ends to mate with our AGM batteries (3/8" SS bolts).<BR>
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</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><FONT FACE="Arial">Conductors and their approved terminals are rated in a Class system, indicating the number of strands of a size wire, that make up the cable. For example one manufacturer I looked at had the following information:<BR>
1/0 conductor<BR>
Class B = 19 strands<BR>
Class C = 37 strands<BR>
Class M (welding) = 2846<BR>
</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><FONT FACE="Arial">Additionally, if you plan to use the fine strand conductor to land on any terminals, be sure the manufacturer approves of this. We found out during an installation that the SMA Sunny Island will not accept the fine stranded conductor we had planned to use to accommodate the conduit run, and had to make a decision to 1) redesign the conduit run to accept a class B THWN cable (tough to bend) or 2) locate and procure a pin terminal adapter that crimps on the X-Flex to adapt it to the manufacturer's recommendation (Ilsco is a source of these).<BR>
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</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><FONT FACE="Arial">I chose the former due to availability - after many calls, the only sources I could locate of the appropriate adapter had many weeks as lead times.<BR>
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</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><FONT FACE="Arial">Hope this helps!<BR>
</FONT></FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"> <BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#0000FF"><FONT FACE="Arial">-Glenn Burt<BR>
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<HR ALIGN=CENTER SIZE="3" WIDTH="100%"></FONT><FONT FACE="Tahoma, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><B>From:</B> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org [<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org]">mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org]</a> <B>On Behalf Of </B>Jeff Blick<BR>
<B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, March 11, 2009 9:59 AM<BR>
<B>To:</B> re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org<BR>
<B>Subject:</B> [RE-wrenches] battery cables<BR>
</FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><BR>
</FONT></SPAN><FONT FACE="Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:10pt'>Hi wrenches,<BR>
I have been looking through the codebook for guidance in selecting battery cables for a large UPS system. The code doesn’t appear to have much to say about the actual type of wire used. My electrical supplier is suggesting welding cable, but I feel like I read somewhere that welding cable is not appropriate. I know it needs to be 4/0 or larger, just wondering what type of wire others are using for this application. Thanks!<BR>
<BR>
Jeff Blick<BR>
Lead PV Installer<BR>
Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc.<BR>
direct: 541-306-4196<BR>
fax: 541-322-1911<BR>
jeff.blick@sunlightsolar.com<BR>
www.sunlightsolar.com <a href="http://www.sunlightsolar.com"><http://www.sunlightsolar.com></a> <BR>
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</SPAN></FONT><FONT FACE="Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial"><SPAN STYLE='font-size:11pt'>David Brearley, Technical Editor<BR>
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