OCC Forums » Systems and Maintenance » Electrical » Best way to connect solar panels

Best way to connect solar panels

Tim.Colgan — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 10:45:43 GMT

Have had a lot of trouble with solar panel connectors. Can anyone recommend the best connectors to use as well as the best way to treat (anti-corrosion gel, cleaning, taping, etc.)?

RE: Best way to connect solar panels

Dick — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 10:45:43 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Tim Colgan - 5 Sep 2022[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]Dick - 4 Sep 2022[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]Tim Colgan - 31 Aug 2022[/b]
Have had a lot of trouble with solar panel connectors. Can anyone recommend the best connectors to use as well as the best way to treat (anti-corrosion gel, cleaning, taping, etc.)?
[/quote]

Hi Tim,
Is your question related to solar panels or is the question more to do with making electrical connections that will be subject to the weather and salt water?
My best, Dick Stevenson
[/quote]

Yes Dick. It is the connections that I'm concerned about. A few times I have found that my battery was not charging. Then after disconnecting and reconnecting things work, indicating a connector issue
[/quote]

Hi Tim,
It is my observation that a basically well-designed system will sometimes sabotage their product by using poorly design support parts, usually to save a few pennies. Perhaps that has happened here.
I know that good all-weather connections exist, but I have no suggestions. Perhaps the product Simon mentioned? Let us know what you end up with.
My best, Dick

RE: Best way to connect solar panels

Tim.Colgan — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 15:35:21 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Dick - 4 Sep 2022[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]Tim Colgan - 31 Aug 2022[/b]
Have had a lot of trouble with solar panel connectors. Can anyone recommend the best connectors to use as well as the best way to treat (anti-corrosion gel, cleaning, taping, etc.)?
[/quote]

Hi Tim,
Is your question related to solar panels or is the question more to do with making electrical connections that will be subject to the weather and salt water?
My best, Dick Stevenson
[/quote]

Yes Dick. It is the connections that I'm concerned about. A few times I have found that my battery was not charging. Then after disconnecting and reconnecting things work, indicating a connector issue

RE: Best way to connect solar panels

Dick — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 12:50:21 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Dick - 4 Sep 2022[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]Tim Colgan - 31 Aug 2022[/b]
Have had a lot of trouble with solar panel connectors. Can anyone recommend the best connectors to use as well as the best way to treat (anti-corrosion gel, cleaning, taping, etc.)?
[/quote]

Hi Tim,
Is your question related to solar panels or is the question more to do with making electrical connections that will be subject to the weather and salt water?
My best, Dick Stevenson
[/quote]

Hi Tim,
All electrical connections on Alchemy get a coating, before assembly, of a product called KoprCoat, a conductive copper-based paste. This includes, especially for outside connections, spreading out the wire strands and brushing them with KoprCoat (or the like), prior to their being twirled together and crimped into the terminal.This pretty much prevents water migration up the wire strands were water to intrude.
I have pretty much given up heat-shrink wrapping (people who use them all the time make them work, but, as an occasional user, I always messed it up: chose the wrong size or over-heated the wrap, etc.) and I have an alternative which works better for me.
It is a 3M product (130C) called Linerless Rubber Splicing Tape. It is a very stretchy self-amalgamating tape and what makes it work (unlike the disappointment with other self-amalgamating tapes, is that it also has an adhesive coating: together the covering fuses itself together in a way that has never failed me.
Between the two, my outside connections have stayed pristine when years later, I had occasion to take them apart.
I hope that helps: come back with questions.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

RE: Best way to connect solar panels

Dick — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 11:41:45 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Tim Colgan - 31 Aug 2022[/b]
Have had a lot of trouble with solar panel connectors. Can anyone recommend the best connectors to use as well as the best way to treat (anti-corrosion gel, cleaning, taping, etc.)?
[/quote]

Hi Tim,
Is your question related to solar panels or is the question more to do with making electrical connections that will be subject to the weather and salt water?
My best, Dick Stevenson

RE: Best way to connect solar panels

simoncurrin — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 21:09:47 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Tim Colgan - 31 Aug 2022[/b]
Tim I'm not expert but this is what we use and they seem to function well.
Have had a lot of trouble with solar panel connectors. Can anyone recommend the best connectors to use as well as the best way to treat (anti-corrosion gel, cleaning, taping, etc.)?
[/quote]

Tim
I'm no expert but this is what we use and they seem to function well.