Solar Power Project - PV Array Wiring and Combiner Box

Complete the 6 string wiring for 42 ZNShine 450W PV Panels. Energizing the Combiner Box and Midnite Solar SPDs.

[@renanee6848]

It is our DC MCB. Thanks for your using.

[@dkline8874]

Nice install Jeff 👍🏼

[@jeffmotes2129]

Thanks!

[@francoisguyot9770]

Those surge suppressors are massive! I've seen those used in wind systems, so I'm sure they do the job, But they're very expensive as compared to the DIN rail mounted type 40KVA+ that I am using. Moreover the later fit nicely inside your combiner box. Did you see any drawback in using those?

[@jeffmotes2129]

I considered the din rail mounted units. They operate differently than the units I have. But as I considered how much I was investing in my solar equipment I wanted to make sure I protected as best I could.

[@scarygary3569]

Nice set up,FYI if you're using broadband ferrites you need to have them clamped around the Pos&Neg of the circuit or they get over saturated quickly. If you're using high saturation ferrites you'll be OK tho✌️

[@jeffmotes2129]

You are correct. Thanks. Going to modify this shortly.

[@JonOffgrid]

👍👍

[@reneserratos399]

Very nice setup 👌

[@jeffmotes2129]

Thanks!

[@dennishurley1109]

Where did you get the combiner box and fuses/breakers? That is exactly what I need for me system I’m building.

[@jeffmotes2129]

Hey Dennis. I built the combiner box myself. I bought all of the components from Amazon and eBay. Here’s a link to another video I shared on the combiner box. Hope your project goes well. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIu8nqZ8fKl1rdk

[@amateurwizard]

You mentioned that it was raining. Be careful there with exposed MC4's you really really don't want moisture in there. If you do it'll work for a few years then you have yourself some troubleshooting. I leave the covers on until the moment it's plugged in.

[@jeffmotes2129]

Well said. It was a rainy day but wasn’t raining at the time. I inspected each connector before putting together. The hard rain set in a few minutes after I finished.

[@snoflite5234]

Great Job!

[@jeffmotes2129]

Thanks!

[@electromechanicalstuff2602]

Looks good

[@jeffmotes2129]

Thanks!

[@jamescopeland5358]

Good video

[@jeffmotes2129]

Thanks

[@francoisguyot9770]

If you have the proper rated breaker, is your fuse really needed then? Is not that overkill?

[@jeffmotes2129]

According to the panel mfg the maximum fuse allowed for a string of panels is 20A. When I parallel strings the combined maximum power point current is around 23A. 23A > than 20A hence the need to fuse each string. The breaker is only being used as a disconnect.

[@francoisguyot9770]

@@jeffmotes2129 It's rare to see a PV panel with Isc higher than 10A. But mine are less than 280W. In your case, a 16A 1000VDC breaker would do perform perfectly as a disconnect and overcurrent protection. The thing about fuses is that they come in different types, some of them are fast blow and other are slow blow. Most do not handle higher DC voltage like around 450 VDC nicely. if they do, then they are quite expensive too and I never find them when I need them. God knows why... Just like my tools.

[@jeffmotes2129]

@@francoisguyot9770 that would have been another way to do it

[@jeffmotes2129]

@@francoisguyot9770 I’m using ZNShine 450W panels Imp = 10.7A (plus up to 10% for bi-facial), Isc = 11.6A. But what you suggested would certainly work and would have saved me the extra disconnect per source circuit.

[@rterry731]

what size ferrites and where from ? I had seom back and forth with Arthur Bradley .. just curious..

[@electromechanicalstuff2602]

I just bought some on Amazon. Search solar ferrite

[@loganbull6351]

Looks good but DC has a lot more loss that AC with long wires. How much loss do you get through the run to the inverter and how long is it?

[@jeffmotes2129]

It’s about 400’. I’m using #4AL direct burial. VD is 2.7% at max current

[@niktak1114]

This has less loss than 240V AC

[@balrog006]

It’s common in Solar to run high voltage DC from the array to the inverter. The high voltage 3-500vDC mitigates the problem of voltage drop.

[@jeffmotes2129]

@@balrog006 I’m running 350Voc on the source circuits from the array to tge inverters. That was the maximum voltage I could configure with the number of panels and inverters I was originally using.

[@serverrackbatteryusa]

you are working on solar power project?

[@jeffmotes2129]

Yes. It’s operational now.

[@JayDee25895]

yo