Fuse block used in reverse as combiner?

Not much going on with solar at night...

thanks, I may just do that if I decide I can sleep at night without them being fused.

hedge wrote:
thanks. I'm kind of having a hard time finding the parts I need up here. I happen to have the fuse box already was why I was thinking of using it. I'd have a max of 4 100w panels.

You don't really need any "parts" ... just brass or stainless steel bolt, nuts and some washers. Two "sets", one for positive, one for negative.

Crimp ring terminals onto your solar panel feeds, then stack them together on the bolt along with the feed to your controller, add a washer and tighten down the nut. You could drill the bolts through a piece of plastic or wood first, so they don't flop around or risk touching each other. Finish with spray paint or use battery terminal coating to keep corrosion at bay.

thanks. I'm kind of having a hard time finding the parts I need up here. I happen to have the fuse box already was why I was thinking of using it. I'd have a max of 4 100w panels.

With proper crimp the spade terminal should add no measurable resistance.

Only 3+ panels in parallel could ever need a fuse.

hedge wrote:
Would it be a bad idea to use a fuse block like below as a way to combine the wiring from my panels (parallel). Of course it would have to be mounted in a waterproof container but it would be handy if I chose to fuse each individual leg (I know that may not be strictly necessary but I'm a belt and suspenders kind of guy).

The one thing i don't like is that it would need ring terminals on the wires, not sure how much resistance they would add.

thoughts?

I agree with 2oldman ... should work fine, but overkill. Something like this still provides convienence, without the fuss of fuses:



http://www.ceshowroom.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CWR20224

My thinking is, although designed for marine, all those fuse connections provide more places for corrosion to set in and rob you of precious solar power. You only need one inline fuse, before the charge controller, to protect the feed in from the roof.

I would not use a waterproof box, as it will trap humidity inside, aiding corrosion. Just use a plain junction box, so any water that makes it in will also make it out. Mount it such that if water pools on the roof, it will not pool inside the junction box.

Sounds fine. Panels don't need fuses. There are no pants.