Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips
Nick, Could you post a diagram showing when a male whip is useful? I'm having a really hard time envisioning a need for one. Kent Osterberg Blue Mountain Solar, Inc. Nick Soleil wrote: William: Your diagram is one way to do it, in fact, I always divide my circuits into 2 sub-circuits, to minimize voltage drop on the Enphase wiring, and then parallel the sub-circuits at the j-box. However, there is a value to having a male cable. They can simplify some installations, such as the situation that Eric described. As mentioned before, the extension cable can be cut, and the other end is used as a standard whip. Nick Soleil Project Manager Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC PO Box 657 Petaluma, CA 94953 Cell: 707-321-2937 Office: 707-789-9537 Fax: 707-769-9037 From: William Miller will...@millersolar.com To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Thu, January 20, 2011 6:22:33 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips Eric: You connect the factory provided termination kit to the Enphase array on each roof. All of the Enphase inverters on one array do not need to be in a daisy configuration. I have attached a drawing hat should illustrate William Miller 805-440-5161 Cell At 11:06 AM 1/20/2011, you wrote: I know its a funny title butwhy doesn't EnPhase make whips with male connectors? We are having trouble laying out a system with multiple sub arrays. We need to cable to sub arrays that are on different roof planes in order to make up our circuits. From 5 micros on roof one, into attic, out of SolaDeck on roof two, grab 3 more micros, back into SolaDeck, into attic for home run. The whip from the SolDeck to the last 3 micros needs to be male... any suggestions? EnPhase does not want us to cut an extension that has connectors on both ends... Thanks, Eric Thomas Solar Epiphany Seattle Please note new e-mail address and domain: William Miller Miller Solar Voice :805-438-5600 email: will...@millersolar.com http://millersolar.com License No. C-10-773985 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips
Sorry Kent: I am just not that motivated by this conversation to create drawings. I will try to explain one of the times when I choose to use the male cable. The site had 28 modules on one roof, but due to fire access walkways, and limited space, we had to place on module on a different roof. The main array was on a roof with skylights that broke up the rows of modules, so our Enphase strings travelled along the peak of the roof, then down to a lower row, then back up to the row by the peak (with a gap in the top row.) The end of that 8 module sub-circuit was located across the hip, and 15' from a single module that did not fit on the main roof. So at the end of the 8 modules we wanted a male cable, so that we could tie the end of the string into a j-box, transition to 3/4 conduit and then run to the other roof, where we could use a female whip to pick up the single module. We did not want to have to run 40' of conduit and wire for the one module, which would have had to jog down to the middle row and back up to stay under the modules, and would have had to cross rails. The other option would have been to use an extension cable (assuming that the 15' cable was long enough), but that would have required a 1-1/4 emt chase between the roofs to fit the extension cable end. With bends in the conduit, we question if we would even need a 1-1/2 chase. We decided to cut the extension ends, and transition to conduit in between. Essentially, this was just an extension cable, with 3/4 conduit and 2 j-boxes in the middle of it. I guess you could argue that we never need just a male cable, because we will always need a female on the other end. That is why I am not really complaining about the lack of male cable options, because the Enphase extension cable is a good solution. Nick Soleil Project Manager Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC PO Box 657 Petaluma, CA 94953 Cell: 707-321-2937 Office: 707-789-9537 Fax:707-769-9037 From: Kent Osterberg k...@coveoregon.com To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Fri, January 21, 2011 11:20:18 AM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips Nick, Could you post a diagram showing when a male whip is useful? I'm having a really hard time envisioning a need for one. Kent Osterberg Blue Mountain Solar, Inc. Nick Soleil wrote: William: Your diagram is one way to do it, in fact, I always divide my circuits into 2 sub-circuits, to minimize voltage drop on the Enphase wiring, and then parallel the sub-circuits at the j-box. However, there is a value to having a male cable. They can simplify some installations, such as the situation that Eric described. As mentioned before, the extension cable can be cut, and the other end is used as a standard whip. Nick Soleil Project Manager Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC PO Box 657 Petaluma, CA 94953 Cell: 707-321-2937 Office: 707-789-9537 Fax: 707-769-9037 From: William Miller will...@millersolar.com To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Thu, January 20, 2011 6:22:33 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips Eric: You connect the factory provided termination kit to the Enphase array on each roof. All of the Enphase inverters on one array do not need to be in a daisy configuration. I have attached a drawing hat should illustrate William Miller 805-440-5161 Cell At 11:06 AM 1/20/2011, you wrote: I know its a funny title butwhy doesn't EnPhase make whips with male connectors? We are having trouble laying out a system with multiple sub arrays. We need to cable to sub arrays that are on different roof planes in order to make up our circuits. From 5 micros on roof one, into attic, out of SolaDeck on roof two, grab 3 more micros, back into SolaDeck, into attic for home run. The whip from the SolDeck to the last 3 micros needs to be male... any suggestions? EnPhase does not want us to cut an extension that has connectors on both ends... Thanks, Eric Thomas Solar Epiphany Seattle Please note new e-mail address and domain: William Miller Miller Solar Voice :805-438-5600 email: will...@millersolar.com http://millersolar.com License No. C-10-773985 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips
Thanks, Nick. So you are continuing a daisy chain of inverters across
a required clear space or obstruction that necessitates a change of
wiring method. As you said, you end up needing both the male and
female whips. So cutting an extension yields both pieces that are
needed. And there are other options too.
It does still make sense that Enphase doesn't endorse cutting the
extension for that purpose.
Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar, Inc.
Nick Soleil wrote:
Sorry
Kent:
I am just not that motivated by this conversation to create
drawings. I will try to explain one of the times when I choose to use
the male cable. The site had 28 modules on one roof, but due to fire
access walkways, and limited space, we had to place on module on a
different roof. The main array was on a roof with skylights that broke
up the rows of modules, so our Enphase strings travelled along the peak
of the roof, then down to a lower row, then back up to the row by the
peak (with a gap in the top row.) The end of that 8 module sub-circuit
was located across the hip, and 15' from a single module that did not
fit on the main roof. So at the end of the 8 modules we wanted a male
cable, so that we could tie the end of the string into a j-box,
transition to 3/4" conduit and then run to the other roof, where we
could use a female whip to pick up the single module. We did not want
to have to run 40' of conduit and wire for the one module, which would
have had to jog down to the middle row and back up to stay under the
modules, and would have had to cross rails. The other option would
have been to use an extension cable (assuming that the 15' cable was
long enough), but that would have required a 1-1/4" emt chase between
the roofs to fit the extension cable end. With bends in the conduit,
we question if we would even need a 1-1/2" chase. We decided to cut
the extension ends, and transition to conduit in between.
Essentially, this was just an extension cable, with 3/4" conduit
and 2 j-boxes in the middle of it. I guess you could argue that we
never need just a male cable, because we will always need a female on
the other end. That is why I am not really complaining about the lack
of male cable options, because the Enphase extension cable is a good
solution.
Nick Soleil
Project Manager
Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC
PO Box 657
Petaluma, CA 94953
Cell: 707-321-2937
Office: 707-789-9537
Fax: 707-769-9037
From:
Kent Osterberg k...@coveoregon.com
To: RE-wrenches
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
Sent: Fri, January 21,
2011 11:20:18 AM
Subject: Re:
[RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips
Nick,
Could you post a diagram showing when a male whip is useful? I'm
having a really hard time envisioning a need for one.
Kent Osterberg
Blue Mountain Solar, Inc.
Nick Soleil wrote:
William:
Your diagram is one way to do it, in fact, I always divide my
circuits into 2 sub-circuits, to minimize voltage drop on the Enphase
wiring, and then parallel the sub-circuits at the j-box. However,
there is a value to having a male cable. They can simplify some
installations, such as the situation that Eric described. As mentioned
before, the extension cable can be cut, and the other end is used as a
standard whip.
Nick Soleil
Project Manager
Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC
PO Box 657
Petaluma, CA 94953
Cell: 707-321-2937
Office: 707-789-9537
Fax: 707-769-9037
From:
William Miller will...@millersolar.com
To: RE-wrenches
re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
Sent: Thu, January
20,
2011 6:22:33 PM
Subject: Re:
[RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips
Eric:
You connect the factory provided termination kit to the Enphase array
on
each roof. All of the Enphase inverters on one array do not need to
be in a daisy configuration.
I have attached a drawing hat should illustrate
William Miller
805-440-5161 Cell
At 11:06 AM 1/20/2011, you wrote:
I know
its a funny title butwhy
doesn't EnPhase make whips with male connectors? We are having trouble
laying out a system with multiple sub arrays. We need to cable to sub
arrays that are on different roof planes in order to make up our
circuits. From 5 micros on roof one, into attic, out of SolaDeck on
roof
two, grab 3 more micros, back into SolaDeck, into attic for home run.
The
whip from the SolDeck to the last 3 micros needs to be male... any
suggestions? EnPhase does not want us to cut an extension that has
connectors on both ends...
Thanks,
Eric Thomas
Solar Epiphany
Seattle
Please note new e-mail address and domain:
William Miller
Miller Solar
Voice :805-438-5600
email: will...@millersolar.com
http://millersolar.com
License No. C-10-773985
___
List sponsored by Home Power magazine
List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-w
Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips
Hi Kent: My Enphase tech support guy didn't mention that restriction when we discussed it. Of course, the fact that the male could never be hot while unplugged ensures that the application is safe. I do understand why they don't provide the male; so that it is never used as the homerun cable back to the utility power. Mahalo Nick Soleil Project Manager Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC PO Box 657 Petaluma, CA 94953 Cell: 707-321-2937 Office: 707-789-9537 Fax:707-769-9037 From: Kent Osterberg k...@coveoregon.com To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Fri, January 21, 2011 1:36:57 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips Thanks, Nick. So you are continuing a daisy chain of inverters across a required clear space or obstruction that necessitates a change of wiring method. As you said, you end up needing both the male and female whips. So cutting an extension yields both pieces that are needed. And there are other options too. It does still make sense that Enphase doesn't endorse cutting the extension for that purpose. Kent Osterberg Blue Mountain Solar, Inc. Nick Soleil wrote: Sorry Kent: I am just not that motivated by this conversation to create drawings. I will try to explain one of the times when I choose to use the male cable. The site had 28 modules on one roof, but due to fire access walkways, and limited space, we had to place on module on a different roof. The main array was on a roof with skylights that broke up the rows of modules, so our Enphase strings travelled along the peak of the roof, then down to a lower row, then back up to the row by the peak (with a gap in the top row.) The end of that 8 module sub-circuit was located across the hip, and 15' from a single module that did not fit on the main roof. So at the end of the 8 modules we wanted a male cable, so that we could tie the end of the string into a j-box, transition to 3/4 conduit and then run to the other roof, where we could use a female whip to pick up the single module. We did not want to have to run 40' of conduit and wire for the one module, which would have had to jog down to the middle row and back up to stay under the modules, and would have had to cross rails. The other option would have been to use an extension cable (assuming that the 15' cable was long enough), but that would have required a 1-1/4 emt chase between the roofs to fit the extension cable end. With bends in the conduit, we question if we would even need a 1-1/2 chase. We decided to cut the extension ends, and transition to conduit in between. Essentially, this was just an extension cable, with 3/4 conduit and 2 j-boxes in the middle of it. I guess you could argue that we never need just a male cable, because we will always need a female on the other end. That is why I am not really complaining about the lack of male cable options, because the Enphase extension cable is a good solution. Nick Soleil Project Manager Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC PO Box 657 Petaluma, CA 94953 Cell: 707-321-2937 Office: 707-789-9537 Fax: 707-769-9037 From: Kent Osterberg k...@coveoregon.com To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Fri, January 21, 2011 11:20:18 AM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips Nick, Could you post a diagram showing when a male whip is useful? I'm having a really hard time envisioning a need for one. Kent Osterberg Blue Mountain Solar, Inc. Nick Soleil wrote: William: Your diagram is one way to do it, in fact, I always divide my circuits into 2 sub-circuits, to minimize voltage drop on the Enphase wiring, and then parallel the sub-circuits at the j-box. However, there is a value to having a male cable. They can simplify some installations, such as the situation that Eric described. As mentioned before, the extension cable can be cut, and the other end is used as a standard whip. Nick Soleil Project Manager Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC PO Box 657 Petaluma, CA 94953 Cell: 707-321-2937 Office: 707-789-9537 Fax: 707-769-9037 From: William Miller will...@millersolar.com To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Thu, January 20, 2011 6:22:33 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips Eric: You connect the factory provided termination kit to the Enphase array on each roof. All of the Enphase inverters on one array do not need to be in a daisy configuration. I have attached a drawing hat should illustrate William Miller 805-440-5161 Cell At 11:06 AM 1/20/2011, you wrote: I know its a funny title butwhy doesn't EnPhase make whips with male connectors? We are having trouble laying out a system with multiple sub arrays. We need to cable to sub arrays that are on different roof planes in order to make up our circuits
Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips
Eric, Why doesn't a female whip (the standard Enphase branch circuit kit component) work? Seems like both subarrays should have a female whip going to a SolaDeck. Then from both SolaDecks to a j-box in the attic. Kent Osterberg Blue Mountain Solar. Eric Thomas wrote: I know its a funny title butwhy doesn't EnPhase make whips with male connectors? We are having trouble laying out a system with multiple sub arrays. We need to cable to sub arrays that are on different roof planes in order to make up our circuits. From 5 micros on roof one, into attic, out of SolaDeck on roof two, grab 3 more micros, back into SolaDeck, into attic for home run. The whip from the SolDeck to the last 3 micros needs to be male... any suggestions? EnPhase does not want us to cut an extension that has connectors on both ends... Thanks, Eric Thomas Solar Epiphany Seattle ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips
I'm looking for a ~10A charge controller for a 12V battery with adjustable LVD that goes up to at least 12V. Priorities in order are: 1. Small in size 2. Good 3. Cheap The best I can come up with now is the Xantrex C12. Looking for alternatives. Recommendations? Jason Szumlanski Fafco Solar ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips
Eric: You connect the factory provided termination kit to the Enphase array on each roof. All of the Enphase inverters on one array do not need to be in a daisy configuration. I have attached a drawing hat should illustrate William Miller 805-440-5161 Cell At 11:06 AM 1/20/2011, you wrote: I know its a funny title butwhy doesn't EnPhase make whips with male connectors? We are having trouble laying out a system with multiple sub arrays. We need to cable to sub arrays that are on different roof planes in order to make up our circuits. From 5 micros on roof one, into attic, out of SolaDeck on roof two, grab 3 more micros, back into SolaDeck, into attic for home run. The whip from the SolDeck to the last 3 micros needs to be male... any suggestions? EnPhase does not want us to cut an extension that has connectors on both ends... Thanks, Eric Thomas Solar Epiphany Seattle ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1191 / Virus Database: 1435/3393 - Release Date: 01/20/11 Please note new e-mail address and domain: William Miller Miller Solar Voice :805-438-5600 email: will...@millersolar.com http://millersolar.com License No. C-10-773985 VISIO-Enphase multi-rack.pdf Description: Adobe PDF document ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips
William: Your diagram is one way to do it, in fact, I always divide my circuits into 2 sub-circuits, to minimize voltage drop on the Enphase wiring, and then parallel the sub-circuits at the j-box. However, there is a value to having a male cable. They can simplify some installations, such as the situation that Eric described. As mentioned before, the extension cable can be cut, and the other end is used as a standard whip. Nick Soleil Project Manager Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC PO Box 657 Petaluma, CA 94953 Cell: 707-321-2937 Office: 707-789-9537 Fax:707-769-9037 From: William Miller will...@millersolar.com To: RE-wrenches re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Sent: Thu, January 20, 2011 6:22:33 PM Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] EnPhase male whips Eric: You connect the factory provided termination kit to the Enphase array on each roof. All of the Enphase inverters on one array do not need to be in a daisy configuration. I have attached a drawing hat should illustrate William Miller 805-440-5161 Cell At 11:06 AM 1/20/2011, you wrote: I know its a funny title butwhy doesn't EnPhase make whips with male connectors? We are having trouble laying out a system with multiple sub arrays. We need to cable to sub arrays that are on different roof planes in order to make up our circuits. From 5 micros on roof one, into attic, out of SolaDeck on roof two, grab 3 more micros, back into SolaDeck, into attic for home run. The whip from the SolDeck to the last 3 micros needs to be male... any suggestions? EnPhase does not want us to cut an extension that has connectors on both ends... Thanks, Eric Thomas Solar Epiphany Seattle ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1191 / Virus Database: 1435/3393 - Release Date: 01/20/11 Please note new e-mail address and domain: William Miller Miller Solar Voice :805-438-5600 email: will...@millersolar.com http://millersolar.com License No. C-10-773985 ___ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
