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01-09-2018, 07:24 PM
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#15
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,034
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all my wires on roof are inside the flex conduits or under the panels. anchored the conduits to panel frames.
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Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
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01-10-2018, 04:47 PM
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#16
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,034
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i happened to go up to roof today and took this pic. notice no solar wires are exposed to the sun, they are hidden.
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Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
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01-10-2018, 05:15 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Itinerant
Posts: 755
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I could feel the power generating from the system...nice.
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01-10-2018, 05:30 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Denver
Posts: 818
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Solar wires are designed to be UV resistant, and there are UHB clips designed for this purpose. Not that extra protection as listed here is not a good precaution but not strictly necessary.
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2017 WGO Fuse
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01-10-2018, 05:38 PM
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#19
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,034
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garbonz
Solar wires are designed to be UV resistant, and there are UHB clips designed for this purpose. Not that extra protection as listed here is not a good precaution but not strictly necessary. Attachment 188289
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tell me so after two years
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Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
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01-10-2018, 05:57 PM
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#20
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,034
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Itinerant1
I could feel the power generating from the system...nice.
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thanks, it does. love it .
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Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
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01-10-2018, 06:50 PM
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#21
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Senior Member
Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yuma County, AZ
Posts: 10,869
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CountryFit
tell me so after two years
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My solar system was installed in May, 2011. I've not seen any signs of degraded wiring or MC3 clips in over 6.5 years. They even survived a massive hailstorm in April 2014. The softball sized hail trashed most of my friends roofs, but my Unisolar panels protected my fiberglass roof. The A/C shroud, refer vent cover and skylight didn’t fare as well. I had already replaced my vent lids in April 2013 after hail damage. The new polycarbonate lids survived.
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Barb (RVM18) with Morkies Lily & Bebe RIP Sena FMCA#F466348
"Homer" ‘11 Shasta Cynara, pulling "Ranger" '97 Ford Ranger toad
The Journey is Our Destination. Full-timer May 2011 - July 2021
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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01-10-2018, 07:59 PM
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#22
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,034
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Quote:
Originally Posted by okmunky
My solar system was installed in May, 2011. I've not seen any signs of degraded wiring or MC3 clips in over 6.5 years. They even survived a massive hailstorm in April 2014. The softball sized hail trashed most of my friends roofs, but my Unisolar panels protected my fiberglass roof. The A/C shroud, refer vent cover and skylight didn’t fare as well. I had already replaced my vent lids in April 2013 after hail damage. The new polycarbonate lids survived.
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glad to know your wires sustained the weather for that long. when i got my rig in 2012, the previous owner installed 180w solar. from the panel make and size, i knew the system had not been installed for too long, maybe 3-4 years old. but the wires' shield layer (sleeve) had already been cracked and crispy.
later when i did the complete upgrade, i bought the #10 double wire from an electric supply co. the invoice description line wrote: tray cable #10. that cable was the same cable they were selling on ebay that was how i found out that they were in my local area. it is "tray cable", nowhere has a wording "outdoor" or "exterior" on the spec. is it uv resistant? i doubt it.
the reason i posted it here is to deliver a message - to protect your investment; do it right in the first place. i could be wrong, time will tell i guess...
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Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
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01-11-2018, 01:36 PM
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#23
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Senior Member
Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Yuma County, AZ
Posts: 10,869
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For the additional panel I installed last month I ordered solar cable with MC4 connectors. In the description are the words "UV resistant and waterproof".
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1
I had never heard the term "tray cable" before so I Googled it. What I found said nothing about using it outdoors and no sunlight resistance rating was listed. The same companies also sold photovoltaic cable that did list sunlight ratings.
I'd question if that eBay seller steered you wrong about using tray cable for solar.
__________________
Barb (RVM18) with Morkies Lily & Bebe RIP Sena FMCA#F466348
"Homer" ‘11 Shasta Cynara, pulling "Ranger" '97 Ford Ranger toad
The Journey is Our Destination. Full-timer May 2011 - July 2021
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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01-11-2018, 02:46 PM
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#24
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,034
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obviously those readily made solar cables (with MC4 connectors) are most likely uv protected, while those raw 2-wire solar cables may or may not. on ebay, i saw the co sold a lot of "solar wires" that i purchased. apparently i was not the only one falling into the trap.
lesson of the day: if your solar wires are not clearly marked as uv resistant, by all means protect them, apart from neat looking by placing them in conduits.
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Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
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01-11-2018, 03:36 PM
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#25
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Syracuse Ut.
Posts: 692
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I used UV rated zip tie wire mounts with UV rated zip ties in my roof. Have 10 parallel mounted panel up there all with UV rated wiring. Easy enough to remove wiring should it be necessary
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2016 Bighorn 3270RS, 2015 Ram 3500 CTD/ASIN
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01-12-2018, 07:24 AM
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#26
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Denver
Posts: 818
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CountryFit
tell me so after two years
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I have had systems for way longer than that and the wiring nowadays is better than that. Like I said,and you didn't hear, do the precautions you think necessary.
You have systems for less than 2 years that failed? Show them to us.
I installed a 150 watt system 15 years ago using ARCO panels and Ancor white marine wire that is STILL working today. Wire has discolored some.
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2017 WGO Fuse
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01-12-2018, 11:12 AM
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#27
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Community Moderator
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Between the Oceans
Posts: 8,034
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garbonz
You have systems for less than 2 years that failed ? Show them to us.
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funny see how meaning was easily being twisted! where did you read i said the systems were failed?: i was talking about the unprotected wires being cracked and crispy after 3 or 4 years!!
__________________
Steven & Polly
2000 Country Coach Intrigue 40' ISC 350
2018 Ford Explorer 4WD
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01-12-2018, 11:25 AM
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#28
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,994
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MTK46
Do most of you use Eternabond tape to hold your solar wiring down on your roof ? If not what other ways do you use.
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Here's mine after 3.5 years, just used in key spots seems great.
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2004 Montana 2955RL, 400 watt solar, 2000 watt inverter/charger, 4-Interstate 225AH 6volt golf cart batteries, All LED lights,Champion Remote start 3- fuel option 3100/3400 inverter/gen.- 2000 F-350 7.3 4x4 long bed crew cab SRW.
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