RE TEST LAB - EXPERIMENT 1 [RE-wrenches]

[Bob-O Schultze]

<x-flowed>>Dear Drake and Don,

Good Show!
I generally use a GOOD QUALITY welding cable for all my 
installations. It's Essex Excelene, rated from +105C to -50C 600V, 
but not UL. I use a heavy duty crimp lug and glue filled heat shrink 
to seal it. I've never had a problem or failure of any kind. I do 
have some UL listed  427 strand stuff marked RHH/RHW/USE 600V in 2/0 
and 4/0 on hand in case I HAVE to use it, but it's about $1.50 more 
per ft (4/0) and I just can see how the performance difference could 
possibly be different.  We're running what, 60VDC MAX thru the stuff? 
That's a 10X safety factor and the stuff is DESIGNED to spend its 
whole life living in a sparks shower and being dragged across cement 
floors in welding shops. For crying out loud...
Finely stranded wire is absolutely a necessity for inverter cables. 
You might get by with THHN for battery interconnects, but why fight 
with it?
I came behind a system once where the installer ran 4/0 THHN from the 
battery, thru a 6x6 chase, up into the Trace disconnect, and into the 
breaker. Unfortunately, I had to disassemble this mess. Thought I'd 
break an arm getting it out of there. No THHN for me, thanks.
Keep up the super work.
Bob-O

>QUESTIONS FOR WRENCHES
>
>    So far, the only parameter that we have been able to come up 
>with that is unique for battery compartments is acid resistance.  Do 
>any Wrenches know of other parameters that may be important?
>
>    Traditionally, battery and inverter cables have been of the 
>finely stranded variety.  (2/0 Hypalon Diesel Locomotive cable has 
>427 strands).  In the past, before inspectors wanted to be involved 
>with RE systems,  I (Drake) had used 2/0 THHN in certain 
>installations, which has 19 strands (according to NEC Table 8). 
>This cable seemed to work fine.  Where it needed bending, I would 
>pre bend it to avoid stress on terminals.  I have never tried to put 
>THHN inside of a Trace disconnect enclosure, but imagine that it 
>would be difficult.  Does anyone feel that using finely stranded 
>cable is (or is not) necessary?
>
>    What other types of cable should we be testing?
>
>    Any information about success or problems with the use of 
>various cable for battery interconnect would be appreciated. 
>Especially important, has anyone had problems with using welding 
>cable in association with battery banks?   Does anyone have evidence 
>indicating that welding cable is adequate?
>
>THE LAB'S MISSION
>
>    This lab is dedicated to determining what is technically 
>necessary for safe renewable energy systems.  Our hope is to find 
>ways to eliminate unnecessary expenditures, to allow for more people 
>to be able to afford these systems.
>
>
>                                                                Sincerely,
>
>
> 
>Drake Chamberlin
> 
>                                                               Electri 
>cal Energy
>                                                                (303) 399-1025
>
>                                                                Don 
>Wallingford
> 
>Quicksilver Electrical Service
>                                                                (303) 833-4214

Bob-O Schultze, Electron Connection
PO Box 203, Hornbrook, CA 96044
800.945.7587 fax 530-475-3401
www.electronconnection.com
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