What's a solar combiner box?
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- Опубликовано: 16 окт 2024
- In this video we give you a walkthru of combiner box wiring and how it pertains to your solar install. A combiner box allows you to combine multiples strings from a PV array before you take the "home run" back to the charge controller. The combiner box in this video is by midnite solar.
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Do you need 3 To 1 Y Type MC4 Branch Solar connector if using a combiner box? THANKS, I have 6 panels...
Good explanation on wiring combiner boxes. I could use a little more explanation of why these are required at all. If PV strings are sized properly even on the coldest days the charge controllers should not need them for protection. All systems should have a DC breaker between the charge controller and battery so these combiner breakers seem redundant. We have lived off grid for over 20 years and recently upgraded our 48V system using combiner boxes/breakers as required. previously had no problems combining with bus bars and no breakers. Am I missing something?
Greg Burke the combiner box provides you with a means of combining all the solar strings together in parallel. Most solar panels are only rated for 15 or 20 amps. So if you combine more than 3 strings of panels you have exceeded the Series fuse rating of the panel and you need a means of protection in case you had a fault in the circuit between the combiner box and the charge controller. They are necessary on bigger systems. How big is your system
I am working on installing my first Solar System on my house. Planning to be a Hybrid Inverter with 16 370 Watt Solar Panels. I will be connecting 4 in Series and 4 Strings in Parallel. I have a PV Combiner Box to accomplish this task. Voltage should be around 160vdc with around 40adc coming from the Solar Array. Do I need to mount the PV Combiner Box close to the Array, or can it be 50' away close to the Inverter? Thank you for any recommendations and advice.
I would put the combiner box at the array and run the combined conductors back to the inverter. But what Inverter is it
@@GainSolarPower Thank you for the feedback. I have a Tumo-Int 6kw Hybrid Inverter. Input 60-180vdc, 20-60adc. I plan to mount the Solar panels on my roof and will install the PV Combiner in the attic. Will I need to use any kind of conduit for the PV Wire in the attic?
thank you for your channel. Does the first array of pannels stay in series with the second in parallel?
It totally depends on how you have panels wired. Every job is different. A setup using this combiner might have 9 panels. 3 strings of 3 in series is a string, then the 3 strings get paralleled in the combiner.
Nice video, If my panels are rated for, 460v 9amps, total, is it ok to use, a breaker 500v, 25amps?, its just that's what's available. Thanks
That’s interesting stuff.
Does the combiner box help keep the voltage high enough in cloudy conditions or is my only solution to wire a high voltage string?
I am planning on wiring 5-6 panels (24V) in series (single string) and connect them to a 300V rated Outback charger for my -30°F cloudy winter charging needs. That’s besides a midnite 150 (3s2p) for normal service. Or is there an easier way to do this?
Excellent video's about solar and everything that goes with it..... 👍
Bostjan Trancar than you
Do you use Dielectric grease on your bare wires going into and out of your brakers? Hope all is well brother. God Bless.
Bobby's Solar Homestead if there is aluminum I do.
I dont call it dielectric grease. Its call No-Ox around here. It's a conductive paste that prevents/inhibits oxidation..
www.sanchem.com/electrical-contact-lubricant.html
Ok I just looked up what you are talking about, the only place we use dielectric grease in in the cat5 and phone cable connections between our different devices, it is not a common industry practice to use it on power connections.
So you can run both series and parallel wired panels to this one box?
Yep
How much power does your system put out?
Are you familiar with the Sol-Ark 12K in an AC coupled system with a SolarEdge system?
Good video! My install is going to be inspected, if I use wye connectors will I still be NEC2017 compliant? Thanks!
where do you find the ratings to know how many panels are allowed on a string with your combiner box?
How many panels per string would be limited by the max Open circuit voltage the equipment you are hooking up to is rated for
Thanks
COOP
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Something that I didn't realize at first, metal conduit is required if your combiner box is away from your panels (eg. side of building). No PVC, so I think you need to junction on the roof to get into conduit (PV wire is too thick...) then run to the combiner box.
David Tucker II So as long as you don’t go in the building it could be in PVC, but the metal will last longer.
Awesome, thanks for clarifying!! Maybe I can pop through the soffit section on the roof.
David Tucker II are you trying to figure it out right now?
I think I got it now, Thx. Got my system all setup, ordered, etc. (magnum equipment with mpdh box, trina panels, Iron ridge racking, and fiat 500e lithium batteries, batrium BMS....). There is no building code where I am, but still want to do things on par with code. I emailed Engineer775 to possibly order some of the equipment through you guys, but never heard back...
Btw, thanks for all of your information/content!! I've learned a lot from the stuff that you do, keep up the good work!!
Hi Johnny is there a reason I can't run all my solar panels in parallel to make one string of 34 solar panels and just connect that end wire to the charge controller?
If you exceed The voltage or amperage rating of your charge controller you will likely destroy it. I have no idea what equipment you are using but 34 panels in series or 34 panels and parallel would likely destroy anything
@@GainSolarPower I'm using 24 panels that put out 2.32 amps at 59 volts and 10 panes that put out 5.98 amps at 54 volts all run in parallel so the in coming voltage says it's 59.1 volts at the charge controller but it's only feeding about a max of 26 amps in full sun. I know something isn't right because it should be putting in about 100 amps total so I'm trying to trouble shoot the issue. The charge controller is a midnight solar classic 200
Grahm Dettling what are those? The little harbor Fright panels?
@@4philipp no they are big ones. Some are 135 watt and others are 327w but I ended up going series parallel
I am just starting out ...purchases etc. Since it will in no way be connected to the home electrical service... how/ why am I strictly adhering to this code you mention ? (outside of obvious safety )
Rick, Tell me a little bit about your system. What do you have so far? You can email me at jwv8783@gmail.com. Here is the basic logic on following the code. The code is actually written by the NFPA. It is part of the National Fire Codes series published by the National Fire Protection Association, a private trade association. The intent of the code is to protect from fires. Bad electrical work starts fires. If you do your own electrical work and its not to code and it starts a fire and your insurance company can prove it, your insurance will not pay. Also, although it is legal to do your own electrical work on your home in some states, it is illegal to not do it to code.
Hope this helps. NEC code is a bare minimum for safety.
Hello hello
Mr. Valentine I have a question about solar 10 or 15A diode that are integrated in mc4 conections....
My case I would have 4 strings and 4 panels in series.....
Do I need diodes or not.... Pro/con....
your advice would be appreciated....
I am located in Europe so is not usual thing to go completely off grid rather advanced you for grid tie system and so on....
Thanks
I don't know the answer to this one, I am more on the installer side than on the electrical engineer side of my knowledge base. I think a lot of panels have the diodes built in....
Yes they have..... but are situated so that are passing voltage trough for part that is shaded is in series with whole panel..... I think those dides are for shading 3diodes/60cell panel.....
Thanks anyway
Great video's by the way..... Like to watch.... 👍
Would it be okay to use PVC on the rack and transition to metal when running the conduit to your house?
Richard H Williams yes, you can have straight pv wire running under the array. PVC is good protection
I've used PVC outside to protect the wires, etc. PVC is easier to work with than EMT. Liquidtight Flexible Metal conduit is also an option. The metal raceway has to be used once it goes into a building. A lot of guys use EMT but you could also use MC cable, depending on how many amps you were carrying. There is also metal flex otherwise know as greenfield, that works too...Most all the requirements can be found in art 690 of the NEC. I don't know what code cycle you are on...
Kickass info JOHNNY!✊✊✊🍻
Question?
How far can the combiner Box be located from the solar array/strings?
no more than 10 feet
What is IP rating of box
Do I need in in-line fuse between 4x 100w solar panels (series) to my 40a charge controller?
Fusing will not do anything when connected in series (short circuit is same as full charging so it will never trigger the fuse). Fusing solar panels is only done when connecting in series.
Do I have my breakers on pos or neg? I'm 48v and will have 4 strings of 3 panels
Breakers should always be on the positive line! If you have a common negative system, the neg. side can be grounded for safety reason. You need to know the max. amperage of one of your panels(should be all the same specs at one array) and the max. voltage. Meaning you have to multiply max. voltage times three. For example 21.6V * 3 (panels)= 64.8V And this amount multiplied by the amperage of one panel is the amount of electricity in Watt produced by one string. Multiply this by four and you'll get the total wattage of your system.
great info ,you rock brother
thanks for watching
Thanks for the tips.
thank you for watching. let me kn ow if you want a video over a specific topic
hey can you do a video on your thoughts on lithium batteries and using a magnum charge controller
sean greenhalgh I guess not. I don’t have any lithium batteries or power tracks to test with.
Are you still in business?
I am. Jv@gainsolarpower.com
Are you trying to get in touch?
@@GainSolarPower Yes, your website is down.
@@davewarrant8673 weird it is supposed to point to the new site
gainsolarpower.com
I need help please!
What’s the problem
THANKS!
chas marischen your welcome
Pro tip I use color coded wire
@Dennis Jemison I bought black and red pv wire. but will have to put white tape on the ends of the black pv wire. I am going to use this from the panels to the combiner box for easier identification of positive vs negative on dc side.
michael clark I just stick with black and buy a massive spool of 1000 feet of wire and get a good price
Low audio.
Do you have a RUclips channel?
Yes you are watching My RUclips channel
@@GainSolarPower I mean do you have Instagram
Do I need a busbar for my solar system
@@jamestarpley162 if you are combining multiple strings of batteries.
@@jamestarpley162 is just have to see what you are doing to tell you what need/don’t need.
Noise your dropen stuff is to much noise.Dam.
you fail to explain why this box is used?
No he didn’t. He explained in the beginning in detail - You didn’t listen
first lol
dang do you not know how to put things down instead of throwing them its loud on my speakers but other than that good instructional video besides you throwing the metal things down and making a loud clinging thats annoying set things down gently
Obviously you do not mind making noise when you talk...! But listening to your video is very annoying. What is the point of being so careless by moving stuff around making a video?
Hey if you want professional films you might need to look elsewhere.
Hi Johnny, I've recently subscribed to your channel. There is so much that I have learned and so much more I need to learn. You've helped me out a WHOLE lot. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. As for a combiner box, is it needed for systems that has micro-inverters?
Jamar Fulton thank you. You would use a regular tax breaker panel to combine AC microninverter circuits. Not a combined box like you see in this video
@@GainSolarPower cool! Thank you for the help!
Do you need 3 To 1 Y Type MC4 Branch Solar connector if using a combiner box? THANKS, I have 6 panels...