MC to combiner box?

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System
System Posts: 2,511 admin
in Advanced Solar Electric Technical Forum #1
What do I use for evergreen Spruce panels?
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
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    Re: MC to combiner box?

    i'm not sure exactly what it is you are asking. now the pvs do have mc connectors so you must connect to them with mc connectors(to keep the warranty), but as the wires go to the combiner you do not need the mc connectors there, if that's what it is you are asking, for that is usually bare wire that is screwed down onto for its connection or some other similar connection method.
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  • crewzer
    crewzer Registered Users, Solar Expert Posts: 1,832 ✭✭✭✭
    #3
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    Re: MC to combiner box?

    A popular solution is to buy an MC extender cable that >2X the length you need, cut it in half, and use each half to extend the MC leads from your modules to the combiner box. See: http://store.solar-electric.com/bpmcsercon10.html

    HTH,
    Jim / crewzer
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  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    #4
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    Re: MC to combiner box?

    OH that sounds great!

    Right up my ally!

    I found these too.
    http://store.solar-electric.com/20inmcpisetf.html
    But do they look like they have lugs?


    The Panel pigtails are 12AWG the extension are 10AWG...
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  • crewzer
    crewzer Registered Users, Solar Expert Posts: 1,832 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
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    Re: MC to combiner box?
    But do they look like they have lugs?
    Yes... MC connectors at end, and lugs at the other. They can be used to connect MC cables inside modules with J-boxes, or the lugs can be cut off and the wire attached to circuit breakers and buss bars in a combiner box.
    The Panel pigtails are 12AWG the extension are 10AWG...
    Not a problem... the MC connectors are the same size.

    HTH,
    Jim / crewzer
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #6
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    Re: MC to combiner box?
    SKYWLKR wrote: »
    What do I use for evergreen Spruce panels?

    Home Depot has some great wood panels, some are Spruce I believe. They come in 1/8" thickness. I don't know if you can get plywood with Spruce on one side though. I hate how they've bastardized the sizes of plywood, just to save enough scraps to make another sheet. 1" has gone to 63/64ths, 1/2" is now 24/50ths - it's just ridiculous.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    #7
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    Re: MC to combiner box?

    Ply wood? :confused::confused:

    Messin wit the new Guy?

    Thanks for the help.

    I have a small water proof 70 Amp AC 3 breaker box (3 breakers I could use the + and a buss connector for 6 wire for - and a ground lug) can it work for the combiner box?


    I'll have 3 Strings of 82 V @7.2 Amps eventually, but starting with one and adding another this coming year and the third later next year.

    Prolly wont fly with NEC but maybe.
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #8
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    Re: MC to combiner box?

    mike,
    your comedy is as good as mine.:cry:
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #9
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    Re: MC to combiner box?
    SKYWLKR wrote: »
    Plywood?

    Messin wit the new Guy?

    Prolly wont fly with NEC but maybe.

    Just clean fun, I had to start leaving folks ancestors out of it, after the incident last year with the vice squad and animal control..

    It only takes the Fire Department to find one "non-code" in your electrical after a fire, and you can kiss insurance good by. Be careful with circuit breakers and DC, as AC breakers are not designed to interrupt DC, and will likely weld their contacts together. Look for real DC breakers.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • Solar Guppy
    Solar Guppy Solar Expert Posts: 1,989 ✭✭✭
    #10
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    Re: MC to combiner box?

    Square-D QO circuit breakers are DC rated to 48Vdc .. same circuit breakers found in most AC breaker panels
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  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    #11
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    Re: MC to combiner box?

    This is square D box and I would be putting DC breakers in just useing a box that had AC breakers in it.


    The Breakers were not Square D and I will be running 72 volts.
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  • mikeo
    mikeo Solar Expert Posts: 386 ✭✭✭
    #12
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    Re: MC to combiner box?

    Here is my combiner box that I made from a SquareD QOO series breaker box and 125 volt 15 amp DC Airpax breakers that I found on sale for $6 each. http://grapesearch.com/images/solar3.jpg I had to use a 1/2 inch spacer to mount the breakers on and file about 1/16 inch from each side of the front panel cover to get clearance for the breakers. The 60 amp breaker ran about $30 with shipping if I remember right. The box cost about $24 at Home Depot when I obtained it. I now have all six breakers installed giving me a 5 string combiner but don't have a current picture.
    Regards Mike

    The model number on the box is QO612L100S
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #13
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    Re: MC to combiner box?

    do you have a pic of the inside showing the 1/2 inch spacer?

    thanks

    Eric
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • mikeo
    mikeo Solar Expert Posts: 386 ✭✭✭
    #14
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    Re: MC to combiner box?

    OK here is a picture that I just took http://grapesearch.com/images/combiner2.jpg which shows the inside of the combiner box. I used a wood spacer but if one had a shop vice a couple pieces of angle iron about a ft long, a hammer and some 20 gauge sheet metal I think it wouldn't be hard to make a metal spacer 1/2 inch thick to raise the switches.
    Regards Mike Oglesby
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