August, et al, Do you have any issues with crimping the fine wires that are typically on a microinverter cable, to a coarse stranded or solid wire? Or, do you know if there is an issue with using these crimps with fine stranded wire?
Benn Kilburn SkyFire Energy Inc. 780-906-7807 > On Sep 6, 2016, at 3:55 PM, August Goers <aug...@luminalt.com> wrote: > > We’re using ideal/Buchanan splice cap crimp connectors as I’ve posted here a > couple of times: > > http://www.idealind.com/ideal-electrical/us/en/products/wire-termination/60-crimp-connectors/copper-splice-cap-crimp-connectors.aspx > > We really like these in nearly every way. I just spoke with Ideal on the > phone to verify their listing for damp/wet locations. They gave me a verbal > okay to use them in outdoor boxes, but don’t have any documentation providing > a specific listing for this purpose. This puts us in a bind, but they still > seem like the least of all evils. > > It looks from Jerry’s picture that the box got wet inside. You can see signs > of dirty water intrusion towards the back of the box and the wires look they > were once muddy as well. The outdoor rated wire nuts that are pre-packed with > grease likely would have been okay in a very wet box provided they were > assembled properly. We are putting weep holes in our boxes and conduit bodies > because we’ve had multiple issues with water flooding boxes and conduits. > Dirty conductive water and 600 VDC don’t mix well. > > August > > From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On > Behalf Of Jason Szumlanski > Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2016 1:25 PM > To: RE-wrenches > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Wire nuts > > I was just called last week to a three phase Enphase system installed by > others with three of eight strings that were exhibiting erratic voltages on > random phases. First I checked the combiner panels and everything checked > out. I went to the roof and discovered that wet rated wire nuts were used > (red). The first of eight j-boxes that I opened, I just pushed a wire a > little and heard crackling sounds. I didn't have to go any further... bad > connections. Problem identified. > > So the question remains... what ARE you using? There is a recent thread about > fine stranded wire and Polaris taps not being acceptable. There are also > people using Alumiconn and Polaris black connectors, which are not rated for > wet/damp locations. This all ties in together in terms of best practices in > roof junction/transition boxes. > > > Jason Szumlanski > > > > > On Tue, Sep 6, 2016 at 3:19 PM, August Goers <aug...@luminalt.com> wrote: > Are those wire nuts listed for wet locations? Most ideal outdoor (damp/wet) > rated wire nuts are blue or grey in my experience. > > August > Luminalt > > From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On > Behalf Of Benn Kilburn > Sent: Tuesday, September 06, 2016 12:02 PM > To: RE-wrenches > Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Wire nuts > > The reason i'm asking is that the only time i have seen a short, first-hand, > in a wire nut, was because it appeared that one wire was pushed down rather > than binding with the other wire, which would have happened if the wires were > not held tightly when the nut was twisted on. Also, it was a stranded wire > (that was pushed down) being connected to a solid wire, which is acceptable, > but care must be taken to do it properly. > > Also, on all the Ideal wire nut packages I have, the instructions say to > twist the wire nut on until there are two visible twists in the wire. I > suppose this is to ensure the twist/connection is sufficient to make a solid > connection and perhaps to keep the wires together if the wire nut is removed. > > The ones in this photo do not look like they were installed as per the > instructions, which brings how much attention was put in to installing them > in the first place. > > I've always questioned the why wire nuts are cautioned against, especially > considering how many wire nuts are used in residential and commercial jobs. > I'm sure if there was a legit issue with them then insurance companies would > insist they not be used, such as aluminum wiring? > > Benn Kilburn > CSA Certified Solar Photovoltaic Systems Electrician, SkyFire Energy Inc > 14515 – 121A Ave NW | Edmonton, AB | T5L 2T2 > P: 780-474-8992 | F: 888-405-5843 | www.skyfireenergy.com > > > WE HAVE MOVED! Please note our new address above. > > On Tue, Sep 6, 2016 at 12:47 PM, Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarag...@gmail.com> > wrote: > All the other nuts are tight so l cant not say it was or not but l see this > alot and this was one that was caught just at the right time. > Jerry > > > On Sep 6, 2016 8:44 AM, "Benn Kilburn" <b...@skyfireenergy.com> wrote: > Jerry, > Can you confirm that this was caused by a failure of the wire nut, itself, > and not due to user error (not properly stripping enough jacket, inserting > even length wires and sufficiently twisting on the wire nut) > > Benn Kilburn > SkyFire Energy Inc. > 780-906-7807 > > On Sep 6, 2016, at 12:32 PM, Jerry Shafer <jerrysgarag...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Wrenches > Better pic > > > On Sep 5, 2016 4:52 PM, "Jerry Shafer" <jerrysgarag...@gmail.com> wrote: > To my fellow wrenches > It comes up every so often and with DC, I will not use, approve or pass any > wire nuts on any DC side. Some say its OK but the facts are they will fail, > this connection was just six years and when l opened the junction box it was > glowing and by the looks of it has for some time. There are 8 strings 2 per > string and thats a 12.5 % failure rate (the other one was completely > distroyed) not to mention the fire hazard in a PVC junction box. > Please pass this along and tell everyone to stop using these. > Jerry > > <2016-09-06 08.29.40.jpg> > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out or update participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org >
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