Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread jay
Hi Kirk, the connectors if done correctly are water tight. There are few thoughts as to issues. wrong sized gland nut incorrectly tightened if double jacketed wire, the outer layer could have come lose allowing water in. are they real MC-4? debris during installation allowing damaged O rings C

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread RE Ellison
A product I have used for years is called lexel It's paintable scrubbable and it's got strong adhesive in it you can put on a wet surface it will seal ! I have it on some antenna connections that have been there for better than 25 years and it is still there doing the job I wouldn't hesitate t

Re: [RE-wrenches] Steel Trusses

2016-06-07 Thread Chad Waits
Thanks for the input gentlemen (and ladies if applicable). Chad Waits President/Owner ­ Net Zero Solar 101 W. 5th St., Tucson, AZ 85705 Office: 520-207-4053 Cell: 520-270-4873 NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional NABCEP Certified Solar Heating Installer From: RE-wrenches on behalf o

Re: [RE-wrenches] Steel Trusses

2016-06-07 Thread Jason Szumlanski
While on the subject, anyone have a good source of 2" wide Butyl double sided tape? Our local roofing suppliers only have 1". On Mon, Jun 6, 2016 at 7:36 PM, Peter Giroux wrote: > Chad > > I second August. We have had great success with self tapping screws. Put > some butyl on the L-foot and

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread Mick Abraham
Hello, Kirk~ Shoals makes a solar connector "clamshell" that might work for you. It's intended to force an unlocking tool requirement atop old style MC3 connectors which otherwise do not lock. So...maybe it won't be big enough to surround the bigger MC4 type connectors. Some sealant might be wante

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread Steven Lawrence
Kirk, Double check those connectors very closely. On our other projects, Canadian solar doesn't use MC4 connectors - they use PV2 which we found does not mate well with MC4. Steven Lawrence ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenc

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread Glenn Burt
How about squirting some silicone dielectric grease into the contacts before mating and wrapping the connection with the sticky black tape used on coaxial cable for outdoor antenna work. I don't have a name handy here on my phone, sorry. Glenn -Original Message- From: "Kirk Herander"

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread Jason Szumlanski
Last week we swapped 4 microinverters on a 2010 system in Naples, FL with Canadian Solar 230's. No issues whatsoever with the connectors. I probably oversaw installation of around 1,500 CS6P modules with Enphase M190s in the 2010-2012 time-frame and haven't seen any issues. Some installations are w

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread Kirk Herander
Hi, For clarity, corrosion was found on various module interconnects between panels, not where a string end mates to a field installed home-run connector. So I would hope Canadian Solar would use identical connectors on all their modules. They all certainly looked like MC4 connectors to me.

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread Chris Worcester
Hi Kirk, My go to for making up outdoor & questionable connections is to goop them up with No Ox and have seen it working in the field for 15+ years now. A lot of our pole mount discos and other boxes run the real chance of being buried in the snow pack for months at a time. Chris Worcester S

[RE-wrenches] Watt sun linear arm

2016-06-07 Thread Jay
> Hi all I need to replace the 2nd axis on a AZ225 tracker. Array wants $1100 for their new part. Seems way to high. Anybody know where to get the old style part? Thanks Jay Peltz power. ___ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wr

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread August Goers
Kirk, It sounds like you might have a bonafide ground fault somewhere, possibly at a location other than the module lead connections. I’ve seen current leakage cause all kinds of strange corrosion problems. Maybe there is a pinched or cracked module lead or homerun? It might even be possible tha

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread Jason Szumlanski
That's very curious, indeed. Given that virtually all of the CS6Ps we installed were on micros, module interconnects would not have been an issue. Sounds like it could be a MC4 defect if the home run connection didn't exhibit the same issue. Strange. I'll be watching for other feedback. On Tue,

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread Bill Brooks
Kirk, I ran into a very similar problem with a system where the connectors were left unmated for a period of time. Salts got into the connectors and whenever the humidity was high, the salt would track current through the connector seals. Replace all the connectors first before trying anything

Re: [RE-wrenches] Canadian Solar / MC4 connectors in a marine environment

2016-06-07 Thread Jason Szumlanski
It does sound like a very plausible cause and a reasonable response, but doesn't replacing the connectors void the module warranty? You might want to get in contact with Canadian Solar before doing that. On Tue, Jun 7, 2016 at 1:30 PM, Bill Brooks wrote: > Kirk, > > I ran into a very similar p

Re: [RE-wrenches] Steel Trusses

2016-06-07 Thread Tom Duffy
Hi Jason www.apoc.com Kind regards Tom Duffy Senior Solar Design Engineer [Real-logo-X-195] E-Mail: t...@solar-biz.com **Please note my new email – You will now be able to find me at: t...@solar-biz.com Please update you

Re: [RE-wrenches] Steel Trusses

2016-06-07 Thread Jason Szumlanski
​Yeah, the three suppliers in my area all give me the same nonsense - it's not in their catalog and they have to order a full pallet to get it. I'm hoping to find a source online. Jason On Tue, Jun 7, 2016 at 4:41 PM, Tom Duffy wrote: > > > While on the subject, anyone have a good source of 2

Re: [RE-wrenches] Watt sun linear arm

2016-06-07 Thread Jerry Shafer
You may be better off with a new part, l have been looking for the gear drive and there are few and far between Jerry On Jun 7, 2016 6:46 AM, "Jay" wrote: Hi all I need to replace the 2nd axis on a AZ225 tracker. Array wants $1100 for their new part. Seems way to high. Anybody know where to ge

Re: [RE-wrenches] Steel Trusses

2016-06-07 Thread penobscotsolar
We use this: https://www.bigrocksupply.com/store/p/5943-EternaBond-DoubleStick-2-in-x-50-ft.aspx?feed=Froogle&gclid=CIP7jrKEl80CFVclgQod0pkJvA > ​Yeah, the three suppliers in my area all give me the same nonsense - > it's > not in their catalog and they have to order a full pallet to get it

Re: [RE-wrenches] Shurflo pump

2016-06-07 Thread Daniel Tittmann
I'm with Jay on this one, We left the 9300's when we found Sun pumps. But there is nothing like the stainless steal SQ flex. Daniel Tittmann CTO Greenwired www.greenwired.com dan...@greenwired.com 707-923-2001 (office) 707-206-5088 (Cell) On Thu, Jun 2, 2016 at 6:20 PM, Jay wrote: > Hi all > >