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As an electrician, I see a lot of black plastic cable ties that fall
apart. I'm not sure I've seen that on PV systems, specifically, but it is
common.<br><br>
At 11:06 AM 4/25/2013, you wrote:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">I too share the concern about
standard plastic zip ties. However, I started in the industry in 1997 and
have yet to see zip ties that are falling apart. Does anyone on the list
have firsthand experience with failed plastic zip ties?<br>
<br>
Best,<br>
<br>
August<br>
<br>
<br>
August Goers<br>
<br>
Luminalt Energy Corporation<br>
1320 Potrero Avenue<br>
San Francisco, CA 94110<br>
m: 415.559.1525<br>
o: 415.641.4000<br>
<a href="mailto:august@luminalt.com">august@luminalt.com</a><br>
<br>
<b>From:</b>
<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">
re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>
[<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" eudora="autourl">
mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Solarguy<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 25, 2013 7:08 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> 'RE-wrenches'<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Stainless Steel Cable Ties<br>
<br>
We have used 8” flat SS ties for years and I have no concern about
the wear on the conductor insulation. They are long enough to circle a
standard Unirac rail and several wires leaving 1” or so tag end. Needle
nose pliers work to twist the end and snug down the tie as tight as
you’re comfortable with. The metal tie, once bent around the corners
cannot stretch any tighter, unlike nylon, regardless of how tightly you
twist the pliers. As for the edges, quality ties are not sharp. Or
cheap.<br>
<br>
Jim Duncan<br>
North Texas Renewable Energy Inc<br>
<a href="http://www.ntrei.com/">www.ntrei.com</a> <br>
NABCEP PV 031310-57<br>
TECL-27398<br>
<a href="mailto:ntrei@1scom.net">ntrei@1scom.net</a> <br>
817.917.0527<br>
<img src="cid:7.1.0.9.0.20130426093217.05440130@redwoodalliance.org.1" width=216 height=160 alt="NABCEP Logo">
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>From:</b>
<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">
re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>
[<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" eudora="autourl">
mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of
</b>Jason Szumlanski<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, April 25, 2013 8:08 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Stainless Steel Cable Ties<br>
<br>
There was a recent thread about wire management. Heyco SunBundler ties
have a vinyl coating. I recommended the clips from PV Racking that are
stainless steel coated in rubber. I've had the same concern, and both of
these seem like good solutions to me.<br>
<br><br>
<b>Jason Szumlanski</b><i> <br>
</i><br>
<i>Fafco Solar</i> <br>
<br>
On Thu, Apr 25, 2013 at 1:20 AM, Benn Kilburn - DayStar Renewable Energy
<<a href="mailto:benn@daystarsolar.ca">benn@daystarsolar.ca</a>>
wrote:<br>
Wrenches,<br>
I searched the archives, but came up with nothing on this….<br>
<br>
I have found a good supplier for reasonably priced stainless steel cable
ties and have been using them in place of black nylon cable ties for
supporting cables, PV wires and micro-inverter wires to the mounting
rails and such. I feel better knowing the wires under the array are
supported this way rather than with plastic/nylon cable ties, for which I
tried but cannot get a manufacturer to guarantee will last 20+yrs.<br>
<br>
A colleague is questioning this method (SS ties) with the concern that
over time the (albeit small) movement in the wires and/or
expansion/contraction of the rails could result in the stainless steel
cable ties cutting thru the wire's insulation and then…..<br>
I have heard this concern before from others as well.<br>
<br>
The way I see it is that the very popular stainless steel "S"
cable clips that hold wires to module frames have comparable equal sharp
edges as well and would pose the same risk, but there doesn't seem to be
any concern there.<br>
<br>
I am wondering who else is using SS ties in place of nylon ones, and if
you are taking additional steps to protect the wire's insulation from the
SS ties?<br>
Common sense abides, meaning don't wrap a wire around the SS ties so that
the wire has tension on the sharp edge of the tie. Flat edge
contact with the wire only, the same way that you wouldn't run a wire
across/around a sharp cut edge of a rail or anything else.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
benn<br><br>
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