New Years Surprise, Burnt Solar Wiring
yesterday solar yeild was low..for a sunny day Today about noon i open the bay to check the watt meter NO amps no voltage, display on the 2000e showed ZERO's grabbed the Fluke and read 20.00vdc...
Forum Discussion
Ouch!
My first thoughts seems like the cables are too big for the terminals. By the time you reduce the wiring down to fit the terminals you may end up with some resistance. I always try to use a strong power crimp on the terminal lugs and if they still don't look good will sometimes add some solder. Solder to me is great to keep the strands more controlled. I know some install techs don't like to use solder.
If I run into this when I finally get going with my solar panel install I will most likely be using some of the good BLUE SEA high current terminal blocks for the large cables and maybe run some short lengths smaller cable runs between that terminal block and the low wattage controller terminal strips. Knowing me this may also be the BLUE SEA four position high current switches where i can do my panel combining and on-off state as needed.
Not knowing what is on the RED cable and the BLACK cable it might be they may have touched each other with small strands in the connectors. If RED is HOT and BLACK is GND that would definitely cause some smoke...
Hopefully the larger controllers have larger terminals...
On the other hand it is noteworthy that you have proof you have some 'fire in the wires' coming from your solar panels haha...
I'm looking forward to maybe get started in my solar panel upgrade this coming season. Been saving my jelly beans...
Roy Ken
My first thoughts seems like the cables are too big for the terminals. By the time you reduce the wiring down to fit the terminals you may end up with some resistance. I always try to use a strong power crimp on the terminal lugs and if they still don't look good will sometimes add some solder. Solder to me is great to keep the strands more controlled. I know some install techs don't like to use solder.
If I run into this when I finally get going with my solar panel install I will most likely be using some of the good BLUE SEA high current terminal blocks for the large cables and maybe run some short lengths smaller cable runs between that terminal block and the low wattage controller terminal strips. Knowing me this may also be the BLUE SEA four position high current switches where i can do my panel combining and on-off state as needed.
Not knowing what is on the RED cable and the BLACK cable it might be they may have touched each other with small strands in the connectors. If RED is HOT and BLACK is GND that would definitely cause some smoke...
Hopefully the larger controllers have larger terminals...
On the other hand it is noteworthy that you have proof you have some 'fire in the wires' coming from your solar panels haha...
I'm looking forward to maybe get started in my solar panel upgrade this coming season. Been saving my jelly beans...
Roy Ken
