IMO DC Isolator: Solar PV Disconnect Switch Instaling and Wiring

[@RayLoveless]

I was just searching this subject and found you from google. Great Solution! Love the weather tight fitting feeding the wires from the top.

[@GainSolarPower]

The are for sale on my site www.gainsolarpower.com

[@mfaulk6526]

Johnny, I’ve been binge watching your videos. Thanks for the effort and I will definitely buy some product. Thumbs up

[@durangarc]

2 inch Johnny is the man!

[@GainSolarPower]

Thanks bud

[@LithiumSolar]

Good video, going to have to get me some of those conduit hubs. Didn't know they existed and they're perfect for what I was trying to figure out with my IMO switches. Thanks!

[@GainSolarPower]

Thanks ask for Myers hubs or weathertight hubs

[@ES-yi8vv]

Is there anyway to add a wifi relay after this switch so I can control the panels wirelessly?

[@todd5963]

Is there a requirement for minimum height off the ground, is there a maximum height also?

[@JayDee25895]

Nice you Gave that New American a job.

[@mikejf4377]

When you are doing this are you using strings to what the inverter can handle? Because you don’t use micro inverters.

[@GainSolarPower]

Yes we are running strings of panels less than 450v back to the inverter.

[@brian_onthetrail]

What is the little metal bracket insde to box along the side? Is it for grounding? If so, how do you do that?

[@174iceman]

update with a little push this company will stand by their product i really appreciate a company that stands behind their product!! talking about the company that makes the IMO IP66NW ( i’m not referring to the solar install company)

[@diySolarPowerFunWithRay]

Awesome, do you if I mention your channel and show these on my next video?

[@island-boy242]

@GainSolarPower Johnny there's a lot of talk in Euro & Aussie solar circles re eliminating DC Isolators & relying exclusively on the single DC Isolator built into the inverter, specifically due historical failure data. What're your thoughts on that? I know the convenience they offer, but doesn't the potential failure point negate this?

[@wadebrewer7212]

Yet again.....another excellent video! Thabk you!

[@nealhamilton3881]

Thanks for helping us diy folks stay safe and do things correctly sir. You and engineer 777 are two of the best on youtube. I do have a question that's debated a lot on diysolarfourms. Do you ground the solar panels themselves, the racking and or a combiner box if using one to a separate ground rod right by the panels or do you run a wire back to the ground rod for the house? I see some guys ground the panels and any combiner boxes / disconnects etc with a separate rod right by the panels and others say you can only have one ground for everything and it should be grounded to the same one for the house.

[@GainSolarPower]

By code one ground rod system typically comprised of two ground rods however if you choose to drive a ground rod at the solar array and you Call it a supplemental ground rod for lightning protection you can have it. Keyword is supplemental

[@NeverTakeNoCut-offs]

So, do the + and - of each pv string get switched on different poles? I assumed both are switched?

[@GainSolarPower]

Yes they are both switches. This is a 4 pole switch.

[@9111logic]

I don't suppose it would make any difference if you connect the input from poles 1,3,5,7 and exit form 2,4,6,8 or would it ? Most installers seem to enter from below, is it just for convenience ?

[@hashirshah2188]

Why you didnt use DC circuit breakers along with disconnect???

[@dashley2525]

Does the polarity of a Solar Rotating Handle Isolator depends on the load/source side? Does the polarity of the switch reverse if the load and source are reversed. I will put it another way. Does it matter which way the dc current runs through it as far as polarity is concerned.

[@GainSolarPower]

I don’t think the switch is polarized like a Midnite breaker.

[@dashley2525]

@@GainSolarPower So the panel array can come in the bottom and the top goes to the inverter? I'm not familiar with a Midnite Breaker.

[@steveknowles8498]

Hi did you put the isolation switch between the PV and PV outside fuses, or between PV outside fuses and wire to inside solar controllers?

[@GainSolarPower]

No fuses on this job.

[@uknow8561]

ok you have an array of solar panels, do you install, a DC isolator where the panels, are, and another DC isolator , close to the inverter? if so what is the purpose of the DC isolator next to the panel array, is it so that you can disconnect the power from the line going to isolator number 2 which is close to the inverter? my question is about disconnecting the cable going to the isolator close to the inverter, and if there wasnt an isolator where the array is, , then there would be power, at isolator 2, and one would not be able to remove the cable, say if one wanted to replace the isolator 2, or even , replace the conduit..

[@GainSolarPower]

Sounds like you answered your question own question. It’s also a nice place to transition wires

[@billparsons7732]

I plan on mounting the IMO on a 6x2 in steel post and would like to have the PV wires enter through the back of the enclosure for a clean look. My conduit enters the bottom of the post underground, and I will use the post as a conduit. Does the enclosure have enough room for a 1/2" chase nipple on the back of the enclosure? My install is a 2-module 500-watt system for an RV, and I will be using 8 gauge wire. Thank you!

[@billparsons7732]

I received the switch today, and for anyone interested in the answer, there are two elongated knockouts in the back of the enclosure, one top, and one bottom. The knockouts are approximately 7/8" wide x 1/2" tall.

[@jokerstyles6919]

What kind of equipment do you sell? How hard is it to get permits in central Florida you think?

[@bmwestmoreland]

Hey just trying to understand how come there is only one disconnect at the array and 3 at the house?

[@GainSolarPower]

There are 3 arrays, you only see one on the video but you see all 3 disconnects at the house.

[@jamieharland9080]

Nice work thanks for the pointers

[@GainSolarPower]

Are you looking to buy a solark

[@jamieharland9080]

@@GainSolarPower Hello I live in Port Hedland Western Australia and watched your video to learn things as i normally do and did! as I said thanks for the pointers and a nice video!

[@GainSolarPower]

@@jamieharland9080 cheers mate. Thank you for watching.

[@ericjansen9042]

Have you used any of the IMO DC contactors? I'm looking for a rapid shutdown solution for my string inverters. I have TIGOs on the panels, but I don't have anything to prevent the backfeed of power from the inverters to the roof just yet. Someone suggested SolarBOS, but they weren't interested in working with me since I'm not a company. What do you suggest for the inverter side?

[@GainSolarPower]

I don’t understand what your problem is

[@jasonhannah7798]

Data sheet for DC switching Contactors: technical.imopc.com/dccontactorrangedatasheet121021.pdf

[@WyomingUpland]

Hello, what IMO DC Isolator would I use with a 4 string, grid tie PV system? Each string would be using 8 - 400w Panels (40.7 volts, 9.83 amps)?

[@GainSolarPower]

You could use 2 of the switches in the video

[@jasonhannah7798]

There is a 4 circuit / 8 pole option - based on the amperage, the disconnect is rated at 65amps per string/circuit

[@GainSolarPower]

@@jasonhannah7798 Jason, I am pleased to see you on my channel. Do you work for IMO. I love your products! I would be happy to connect sometime [e-mail]

[@samandtomsawesomeadventure2377]

keep em coming

[@GainSolarPower]

Hey you are one of my favorite subscribers

[@Adirondacks4me]

I think this is what people want to see..details, rather then we are here, rails are in, controllers and inverters are in...final picture...bye for now..

[@GainSolarPower]

I agree but then you put up a video about sucking a string thru conduit and you get 700k view. So what do you do? I’m trying to attract the DIY crowd to sell them systems

[@bluezcluez315]

LOL. Poor Johnny. Trying to create nice technical and detailed content and apparently people want to see a string and vacuum… I appreciate you.

[@JonOffgrid]

😎👍

[@GainSolarPower]

Thanka

[@ELECTRICMOTOCROSSMACHINE]

Nice.

[@iamking5103]

You skipped the part where you worked the box, you just showed it done

[@GainSolarPower]

Do you need a video of that

[@josephgriffin1219]

Johnny, love the videos, however, can you speak up and try not to mumble when explaining things for us old folks. Sure would appreciate that son!

[@GainSolarPower]

Always trying to improve. An external microphone is on my list of upgrades

[@av1204]

cant imagine how someone would mess that up. lol

[@BrianLeeWho]

You would think this to be true, but a lot of DIY guys will run the connections from the top link to the link directly below. Johnny doesn't make these videos for professional installers. He makes them for the DIY installers and always tries to highlight common mistakes that beginners make. I have learned a lot watching Johnny's videos. When I did my own install the inspector looked at my work and asked me if I was a professional electrician--I'm not. I just copied what I've seen Johnny do.

[@GainSolarPower]

@@BrianLeeWho Go Brian. David poz has a video where he makes the mistake and Scott hunt smoked an inverter the first time he wired and IMO

[@av1204]

@@GainSolarPower i was being sarcastic.

[@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrity]

Well, if you can hook 3 ea 1500W electric heaters to load imbalance fault a Sol-Ark 12K that has no firmware update to promote SS and try to make SA look bad…you could mis-wire an IMO!

[@croomcas]

Why people use those PLASTIC switches?? To save money?? Look at all that PLASTIC. 1 arc and its done! Get a metal PV Disconnect Solar Switch box with the pull down handle like EATON DH261UGK 30 AMP SAFETY DISCONNECT SWITCH 2 POLE NON-FUSED 600V. PLASTIC's as a rapid shutdown device is insane to me. I can shut down my array safely while under load now. I wouldn't dare if I had a PLASTIC cut off device.

[@richardwilken3977]

According to the NEC these are not rapid shut down devices these are strictly disconnects. And in the 2017 NEC there is no call for them to be UL listed.

[@drunk_astronomy]

Midnite solar products are better. I hate installing these IMO switches and I stopped buying them. I consider them over priced trash.

[@GainSolarPower]

What does Midnite have that will switch 4 pole 600vdc. I’ve seen nothing

[@alexanderpappas68]

How much more of a waste of time could you make this?!

[@Electronzap]

Nice.