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<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=390145415-13112009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>William,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=390145415-13112009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=390145415-13112009><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>What do you think about the reliability of the Tyco AC
connectors used in the Enphase system?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr align=left><SPAN class=390145415-13112009></SPAN> <BR><SPAN
lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Mark Frye</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN
lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Berkeley Solar Electric Systems</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>303 Redbud Way</FONT></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Nevada City, CA
95959</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial>(530)
401-8024</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us></SPAN><A
href="http://www.berkeleysolar.com/"><SPAN lang=en-us><U><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2 face=Arial>www.berkeleysolar.com</FONT></U></SPAN></A><SPAN
lang=en-us><FONT size=2 face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><BR>
<DIV dir=ltr lang=en-us class=OutlookMessageHeader align=left>
<HR tabIndex=-1>
<FONT size=2 face=Tahoma><B>From:</B> re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <B>On Behalf Of </B>William
Miller<BR><B>Sent:</B> Friday, November 13, 2009 12:04 AM<BR><B>To:</B>
RE-wrenches<BR><B>Subject:</B> [RE-wrenches] Enphase installation
details<BR></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV></DIV>Colleagues:<BR><BR>We are in the middle of our first Enphase
installation. I have been working closely with the crew on this project
and dedicated extra time because we knew we needed to develop some new
procedures to accommodate the new technology.<BR><BR>My most surprising
realization is that with the Enphase inverters, the roof-top wiring now has two
levels of unprotected wiring, DC <I>and</I> AC. I have been
working on an analogy for the recent evolution of PV wiring standards and the
best I can come up with is that the new norm is akin to wiring a rooftop air
conditioning unit with SO and USE. Flexible cords are more suited to
portable, consumer connectable appliances in non-harsh environments.<BR><BR>We
wrestled with two issues: How to secure the AC wiring with a minimum 10
year longevity -- and how to secure the DC wiring with the same life
expectancy. In a previous career I worked in the telecommunications
industry. In a telcom facility we had access to many layers of wire
routing hardware and systems. The PV industry has, in my opinion,
largely ignored wire management. Ironically, telecom wiring is low voltage
in an industrial setting and we can secure it systematically, whereas PV wiring
is high voltage, often in a residential setting, outdoors, in high temperature
and wet conditions and yet we are relegated to the ubiquitous and fragile cable
tie as our prime methodology. It is our corporate position that the
plastic cable tie can not be counted on for longer that two years in an under-PV
environment and, since we wire for a minimum 10 year life expectancy, the
plastic cable tie is not suitable.<BR><BR>Over the course of two days we
developed robust and efficient techniques for securing the AC and DC
wiring. I'd love to share our procedures with this group, but due to
extreme competition in our area, I must of necessity keep any procedures that
give us a competitive advantage confidential. This is unfortunate as my
inclination is to teach, but it is a reality in this business
climate.<BR><BR>I hope the industry can eventually recognize some of these short
comings. The solar water industry died an early death because of economic
pressures and shoddy workmanship. It is possible that the solar electric
industry of today can suffer some of the same if we can't preform to higher
standards.<BR><BR>William Miller<BR><BR><BR><X-SIGSEP>
<P></X-SIGSEP><FONT size=3><U>Please note new e-mail address and
domain:<BR><BR></U>William Miller <BR>Miller Solar<BR>Voice
:805-438-5600 Fax:
805-438-4607<X-TAB> </X-TAB><BR>email:
william@millersolar.com<BR><A href="http://millersolar.com/"
eudora="autourl">http://millersolar.com<BR></A>License No.
C-10-773985<BR></FONT></P></BODY></HTML>