I agree, the pre insulated splices are okay for if you need an extension in a box, that stays dry, and the wire isn't pushed up against something. Otherwise apply separate heat shrink after the splice. Just don't forget to slip it on the wire before splicing!
I kind of like the idea of a properly torqued set screw splice with insulated heatshrink. There's got to be a direct bury kit available. Brian > On Jun 25, 2014, at 2:01 PM, Ray Walters <r...@solarray.com> wrote: > > I've had butt splices fail, due to a ratchet release type crimper that didn't > pinch the wires tight enough. > I now use a good old Klein crimper that puts a big indent on one side. The > problem with this however, is that it damages the built in insulation. My > favorite butt splice is uninsulated, and then slide adhesive shrink wrap up > tubing up over the connection after. We use these on submersible pumps that > are 100 ft under water with no issues. > R.Ray Walters > CTO, Solarray, Inc > Nabcep Certified PV Installer, > Licensed Master Electrician > Solar Design Engineer > 303 505-8760 > On 6/25/2014 11:43 AM, Nathan Charles wrote: >> Hi All, >> >> Has anybody had success with these butt splices with the adhesive shrink >> tubing? http://www.mcmaster.com/#butt-splices/=skb9qs >> >> Best, >> >> >> >>> On Wed, Jun 25, 2014 at 1:12 PM, August Goers <aug...@luminalt.com> wrote: >>> Hi All - >>> >>> We have been using outdoor Ideal brand wire nuts (the blue ones packed >>> with waterproof gel/grease) for all of our residential DC side splices >>> (typically #10 wire) for 10 years now and have never had a single problem. >>> If the installers properly strip the conductors and follow the >>> instructions I feel that these wire nuts make very robust connections. We >>> always do a good pull test after twisting the wire nut on. I would never >>> recommend standard wire nuts without the grease and have seen these fail >>> numerous times during inspections of systems installed by others. >>> Insulated terminal blocks also work well but don't have that nice >>> waterproof grease in them to help avoid moisture issues. You can wrap them >>> with a good splicing tape to help keep moisture out but the cost for these >>> connections is significantly higher than wire nuts: >>> >>> http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/EMDCI/Home/Products/Catalog/~? >>> N=5433135&rt=c3 >>> >>> Normally I error on the robust conservative side of the installation >>> spectrum but in this case it sounds like I may not. >>> >>> Just my $0.02 >>> >>> Best, August >>> >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On >>> Behalf Of William Miller >>> Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2014 8:40 AM >>> To: RE-wrenches >>> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] AFCI disturbances. >>> >>> Richard: >>> >>> Possibly. I think I prefer din mount connector blocks. However, if a wire >>> nut can arc internally a connector block might also. I am still >>> wondering >>> about this concept. >>> >>> William >>> >>> Miller Solar >>> >>> > On Jun 25, 2014, at 6:09 AM, richard.l.rat...@valley.net (Richard L >>> Ratico) wrote: >>> > >>> > William, >>> > Would UL listed crimp sleeves be an acceptable substitute where you >>> > would otherwise use wirenuts? >>> > >>> > Dick Ratico >>> > Solarwind Electric >>> > >>> > >>> > --- You wrote: >>> > Bob-O: >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > When you say verboten, what does that mean? Not kosher? Frowned upon? >>> > Disallowed by law??? >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > I am quite curious about this subject. Here is what I have learned so >>> far: >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > This is a unique case where we are replacing 3 dead SMA U series >>> > inverters with 2 US series inverters. The U series seem to all be >>> > dying at about 12 to 14 years of age. We have about a dozen of these >>> > to swap on our calendar and expect more. It may be that to do this >>> > right requires that we pull new wire from the arrays. This makes the >>> job a lot more expensive. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > We have never used a wire nut on a PV lead until this project. It's >>> > not that we disapprove of wire nuts in general, it is because we know >>> > that if we were to use them regularly we would eventually have failures >>> and call backs. >>> > We allow only one splice in a PV lead: between the cable provided by >>> > the manufacturer of the module and a bulkhead mounted MC4 >>> > connector >>> > direct to THWN in conduit >>> > (http://millersolar.com/MillerSolar/practices/PV_wiring/PV_Cable_wirin >>> > g/_PV_ >>> > Cable_Wiring.html). >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > We checked the manufacturer's listing and the wire nuts are rated for >>> > 600 volts. We do use wire nuts on AC circuits, such as switch and >>> > receptacle circuits in a power room. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > A tech at SMA told me that wire nuts "arc internally to the spring" >>> > causing the AFCI faults. I am not aware of any process of "internal >>> > arcing." To me, arcing means, as per the dictionary definition: "a >>> > luminous bridge formed in a gap between two electrodes." The same >>> > tech told me to solder the leads and apply shrink tubing. I don't >>> > believe this is an approved method. By the way, we have spliced leads >>> > on both US series inverters and only one is exhibiting AFCI >>> disturbances. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > I do favor mounted terminal blocks, either screw or tubular type. I >>> > need to check if the Amp model we stock are 600 volt rated. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > I was told by another representative from SMA that on a ground-mount >>> > system it is legal to disable the AFCI protection. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > I will be troubleshooting this job tomorrow and I will let you all >>> > know what I learn. >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > William Miller >>> > --- end of quote --- >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> > 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.htm >>> l >>> >>> 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 >> >> >> >> -- >> Nathan Charles >> Engineer >> NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional #042013-20 >> Paradise Energy Solutions >> (717) 283-2021 direct >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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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