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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Rennsteig shared many, many MBs of independent 3<sup>rd</sup>
party test results using various brands of crimpers with various brands of
connectors, on various types of wire that were then subjected to incredibly precise
resistance and pull tests. I came away thoroughly convinced that the
Rennsteig is more than equal to (actually a bit better) than the Multi-Contact
tool. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>And, if you recall, there were a few months toward the end of ’09
when it seemed everyone was tooling up for MC4 connectors. Multi-Contact couldn’t
come close to keeping up with demand. During the worst of it they couldn’t
even predict when we’d get our next shipment, or how many crimpers would
be in that shipment. Pretty lame for a company that’s making $200
profit per crimper. We had desperate dealers with contracts that HAD to finish
installation by year end even offering bribes. (My favorite was the
home-smoked wild pig ham, which I will admit did have some effect on my actions.
He’s also one of my best dealers.) <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Coming down the pike very soon we’ll be seeing other
brands of connectors that are fully-compatible with the Multi-Contact MC4
connector. Apparently MC doesn’t have a patent lock on this connector. There’s
at least a couple European brands and probably some Asian ones too, currently
beating their way thru UL listing. I know at least one of them specifies the
Rennsteig as the preferred crimping tool. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>So, is it cheaper hardware that could potentially bring on
performance and liability problems? Ha! Not at all. It’s just better
hardware at a non-gouging price. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>The MC branded tool is, of course, still available also.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Cheers,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Doug Pratt<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>DC Power Systems<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>
re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Warren
Lauzon<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Saturday, February 20, 2010 11:24 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Rennsteig Crimper Tool<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>Uhm.
not quite.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>The
insistence of MC to use their tool has nothing to do with code, NEC, UL, or
anything else.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>It
has to do with (1) sales, (2) liability, and (3) quality control.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'>For
(2) it means that if a connector fails, burns down the house, and kills 93
chickens that they are not liable because you did not use their tool. For
(3) There are or at least have been in the past attempts to use crimping tools
that were totally not meant for MC connectors, and there was also at least one
junky Chinese(?) knockoff that was way out of spec.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal>..................................................................................................<br>
Northern Arizona Wind & Sun - Electricity From The Sun Since 1979<br>
Solar Discussion Forum: <a href="http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/">http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/</a><br>
..................................................................................................<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid black 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt;
margin-left:3.75pt;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:5.0pt'>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>-----
Original Message ----- <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='background:#E4E4E4'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a href="mailto:markf@berkeleysolar.com"
title="markf@berkeleysolar.com">Mark Frye</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>To:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org"
title="re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">'RE-wrenches'</a> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Sent:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Saturday, February
20, 2010 9:41 AM<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Subject:</span></b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Re: [RE-wrenches]
Rennsteig Crimper Tool<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:blue'>Humm,</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:blue'>I know I am only supposted to use Listed parts in my electrical
assemblies, but hey, I know galvanized water pipe is the same as electrical
conduit....</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:blue'>....I find this thread somewhat disturbing in that it supports the
idea of undermining manufactures requirements at the whim of the installer
[just as long as you don't get caught by the inspector ;-)].</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:blue'>Scroll up a few post and find folks singing the praise of inverter
manufacturers, confirming the need to strictly abide by their requirements as
documented....</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";
color:blue'>...this willingness to subvert clearly stated manufacturer
requirements for the sack of a few hundred bucks peals off the vanier of
emerging maturity and reveals the underlying backwards-ness inherent in the PV
industry...</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><br>
<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Mark Frye</span>
<br>
<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Berkeley Solar
Electric Systems</span> <br>
<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>303 Redbud Way</span>
<br>
<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Nevada
City, CA 95959</span> <br>
<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>(530) 401-8024</span>
<br>
<a href="http://www.berkeleysolar.com/"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>www.berkeleysolar.com</span></a><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span> <o:p></o:p></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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