<html>
<head>
<meta content="text/html; charset=windows-1252"
http-equiv="Content-Type">
</head>
<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000">
<p><font face="Verdana">We have used <font face="Verdana">a<font
face="Verdana">ll mentioned here<font face="Verdana">. <font
face="Verdana">I</font></font>f you <font
face="Verdana">use the crimp and cap method, what<font
face="Verdana"> do you do to "waterproof<font
face="Verdana">" the connection? Same question with
the <font face="Verdana">other splice type <font
face="Verdana">connectors.<font face="Verdana"> </font></font></font>
Some inspect<font face="Verdana">ors will no<font
face="Verdana">t allow this connector to be use<font
face="Verdana">d in this type of </font>connection
<font face="Verdana">if it is</font> made in an
out<font face="Verdana">side JB. Thanks for any
insight.</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></p>
<p><font face="Verdana"><font face="Verdana"><font face="Verdana"><font
face="Verdana"><font face="Verdana"><font face="Verdana"><font
face="Verdana"><font face="Verdana"><font
face="Verdana"><font face="Verdana">Chris Warfel</font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font></font><br>
</p>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 4/7/2017 9:55 AM, August Goers
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:a8c26d1ca4bd4a4a36d23e95341273bc@mail.gmail.com"
type="cite">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;
charset=windows-1252">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered
medium)">
<style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style>
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Hi
All –</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">I’ve
never been a fan of splice block style connectors for
rooftop junction or combiner splices. They are expensive,
bulky, and questionably rated for wet locations. They are
also easy to forget to tighten all the way which will
definitely lead to arc failures. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">It
sounds like Eric has switched over to splice cap crimp
connectors. We have too and haven’t looked back. I highly
suggest that everyone still using wire nuts or splice blocks
to try these out:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.idealind.com/ideal-electrical/us/en/products/wire-termination/60-crimp-connectors/copper-splice-cap-crimp-connectors.aspx">http://www.idealind.com/ideal-electrical/us/en/products/wire-termination/60-crimp-connectors/copper-splice-cap-crimp-connectors.aspx</a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Among
other sources, Amazon is a fairly easy way to try them out
by getting some splices, insulator caps, and the matching
crimp tool.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img style="width:2.0in;height:2.0104in"
id="Picture_x0020_1"
src="cid:part2.647202AF.395BBEB1@entech-engineering.com"
height="193" border="0" width="192"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img style="width:2.8541in;height:2.625in"
id="Picture_x0020_2"
src="cid:part3.71000682.0D3755C7@entech-engineering.com"
height="252" border="0" width="274"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img style="width:6.2708in;height:3.6041in"
id="Picture_x0020_3"
src="cid:part4.0FC52BD8.1E408AD3@entech-engineering.com"
height="346" border="0" width="602"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">August</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">
RE-wrenches [mailto:<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>]
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Rebecca Lundberg<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, April 07, 2017 6:36 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Polaris gone bad?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">Eric,</p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">I am aware
of a similar experience. Knowing the PV will hopefully be
in place and without maintenance needs for decades does
seem to warrant putting the most robust connector in
place. Inverter errors is what first identified the
problem. We did question the supplier to see if anyone
else was having trouble, thinking perhaps it was a bad
batch with some kind of defect? The only thing we could
come up with is that perhaps the wrong size screwdriver
for securing the wires could cause it. Some brands require
an allen wrench (which now makes sense to me) but the
brand we had was a straight-head screw. We found that a
slightly too big screwdriver worked for the first few
turns but then hit the rim inside the insulated connector
and wouldn't fully tighten the wire down. IF that were the
cause then it was essentially arcing because of a loose
connection. However, a pull test on the wire would have
discovered a loose connection AND analyzing several of the
incidences we saw each seemed to have very tight wire
connections, so I'm not convinced this was the problem.
Your post is the first I've read of anyone else having
this trouble, but I think most installers use wire nuts.</p>
</div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rebecca Lundberg</p>
<div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> </p>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<div>
<blockquote style="border:none;border-left:solid
#cccccc 1.0pt;padding:0in 0in 0in
6.0pt;margin-left:4.8pt;margin-right:0in">
<p class="MsoNormal">Wrenches,<br>
<br>
We have been having Polaris connectors start to
fail on older installs. About 4 or 5 years ago
we abandoned wire nuts in favor of the much more
pricey, but deemed safer Polaris insulated tap
connectors in our combiners. About a year ago we
transitioned, about 80% away from Polaris to
Buchannon connectors. We have had two recent
call-backs on systems downed due to Polaris
connectors burning up inside of boxes. (No
damage beyond the connector itself). Recently we
interfaced with another solar install firm that
has gone back to wire nuts due to this same
problem. Anyone else seeing this? Wondering if
this is an industry-wide issue regarding a
Polaris manufacturing defect or if we're still
in the realm of isolated flukes.<br>
<br>
Eric<br>
SunHarvest<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="tel:%28530%29%20559-5023">(530) 559-5023</a></p>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br>
<fieldset class="mimeAttachmentHeader"></fieldset>
<br>
<pre wrap="">_______________________________________________
List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
List Address: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>
Change listserver email address & settings:
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a>
List-Archive: <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html">http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html</a>
List rules & etiquette:
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a>
Check out or update participant bios:
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a>
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Christopher Warfel, PE
Entech Engineering, Inc.
401-466-8978</pre>
</body>
</html>