home made combiner

Rolo
Rolo Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
I have a 210w solar panel which was mounted close (15 feet) to my trailer running 10g wire to the controller. I have now built a storage shed which is about 50 feet from the controller. Doing the calcs gives me over 3 % drop for the run.

I thought of using a combiner mounted inside the shed. Which would give me 10 feet of 10g to the box and use either 8g or 6g for the balance of the run to the controller.

I can not find a small combiner for 2 to 4 circuits.

Could I use a small electrical junction box with 2 bus bars mounted inside?

Doug
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Comments

  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: home made combiner

    this would work,
    http://store.solar-electric.com/16220-1.html ,
    but if you want to go with buses then by all means you can. do note the nec doesn't like such things as paralleling wires if you plan to do that, but it's not for your house so it does not apply.
    heck, if you don't go too big on all of the wires it may be possible to use wire nuts. i like the other connectors better though and if you go with wire nuts then be sure to recheck the connection in a day or so and periodically afterward depending on how much vibration, swing, pulling, etc. it goes through.
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  • Rolo
    Rolo Registered Users Posts: 11 ✭
    #3
    Re: home made combiner

    Thanks Niel,

    I like that even better. First thought I was going to put a breaker disconnect near the panel and then another near the controller. Thought that was too pricey and thought this may be an alternative. I would like to run the wires through a flexible conduit.

    Since I have 2 wires coming off the panel I guess I would use some kind of cable gland and into the conduit would that be correct?

    I had thought of using flex water pipe and put an inverted loop securing it to the mount and then seal one end with RTV. I thought may be a little tacky and harder to modify.
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  • n3qik
    n3qik Solar Expert Posts: 741 ✭✭
    #4
    Re: home made combiner

    I would use a split nut. Then tape that up and call it a day.
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  • nsaspook
    nsaspook Solar Expert Posts: 396 ✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: home made combiner
    n3qik wrote: »
    I would use a split nut. Then tape that up and call it a day.

    That works just fine. I always add Scotchkote over the tape just to be sure.
    http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?66666UuZjcFSLXTtm8TE58TXEVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--

    http://www.shop3m.com/80610733075.html?WT.mc_ev=clickthrough&WT.mc_id=shop3m-AtoZ-Scotchkote-Electrical-Coating
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: home made combiner

    split bolts are a good option if the gauges aren't too far off from one another and these are good for combining 2 wires.
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