Featured solar panels: where to buy

DrewSTNY · Mar 23, 2017

Forgot about those connectors. You could splice the bare wire to where ever you are hooking up (charge controller).

Those MC connectors are a PITA, I would rather not have to deal with putting them on anything, but it makes it easier to replace panels.

DrewSTNY · Mar 23, 2017

I think the AGM batteries are either 5/16 or 3/8 threads, but some have bolts. Best to find something that fits and get more just like it.

freegander · Mar 23, 2017

hmm yeah, i was wondering about that. i've never spliced a wire tho.

first time for everything?

i think i'll take the battery to the LAPS or hardware store and find something that fits vs. ordering blindly on amazon/ebay (after the ball joint thing magically solves itself and i have a vehicle lolllll)

DrewSTNY · Mar 23, 2017

If you do it, get the ones with waterproof heat shrink, or run the panel cable inside the vehicle and have the splice inside.

There are on amazon:

You can also get heavy duty heat shrink

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000NI3LQ4/

3/16 or 3/8 should be fine for what you are doing.

The stuff that is double wall/marine grade is pretty awesome.

freegander · Mar 23, 2017

mmmm if i'm going to have to buy more things to splice wires, i might just buy the $6 mc4 extension.

i've been doing too much DIY lately and it keeps delaying my start date for traveling. : P

freegander · Mar 23, 2017

turns out i'll have to splice wires together anyway if i'm going to be using inline fuses...

DrewSTNY · Mar 23, 2017

You can put them anywhere you want to, so you might as well put the MC connectors on there.

freegander · Mar 23, 2017

i don't follow...

DrewSTNY · Mar 23, 2017

Sorry, I'm tired and my words are failing.

Yes, you will have to splice in fuses somewhere, but they can go anywhere between the panel and the charge controller, so for the sake of upgrades later, you might as well use the MC connectors.

freegander · Mar 23, 2017

yeah, that's a good way to think about it! get some rest! i saw a video of a guy attaching wires together with a wire nut. is that not advisable?

AnOldHope · Mar 23, 2017

DrewSTNY said:
Forgot about those connectors. You could splice the bare wire to where ever you are hooking up (charge controller).

Those MC connectors are a PITA, I would rather not have to deal with putting them on anything, but it makes it easier to replace panels.

They are a big pain in the ass. Today I remounted 400watts from the RV to the power shed and had the Wi-Power dish mounted to it so it would have its own constant power.

I picked up a little 1.7 cubic foot superconductor fridge, I was thinking of putting it in there too and heavily insulating the shed, but I don't think 400 watts of panels and 100 amp hour battery will keep the fridge going. I might move another array on top of it.

DrewSTNY · Mar 24, 2017

freegander said:
yeah, that's a good way to think about it! get some rest! i saw a video of a guy attaching wires together with a wire nut. is that not advisable?

Worked on a system that had them. Works if you have no other choice, but prefer not to.

freegander · Mar 25, 2017

hey Drew, if i get those butt connectors that you posted an image of from amazon, do i need a special crimping tool? or can i use a wire stripping tool? i watched a video on youtube and he used a special tool and i'm so tired of buying new tooooooooools.

DrewSTNY · Mar 25, 2017

freegander said:
hey Drew, if i get those butt connectors that you posted an image of from amazon, do i need a special crimping tool? or can i use a wire stripping tool? i watched a video on youtube and he used a special tool and i'm so tired of buying new tooooooooools.

You can use the crimps on the wire stripper. The MC connectors almost require a special crimper, which sucks when you are in a country that doesn't have it and you are trying to solder them with an iron that doesn't work.

freegander · Mar 25, 2017

these terminals look like they only fit 16awg and smaller. good thing my inline fuses are coming Monday.

this is by far becoming the most expensive part of my van build. oh well. : )

freegander · Mar 25, 2017

also. is it possible to splice two wires together of different gauges? the mc4 connectors are 12 and my wire is 16. i need the 16 to make it into the terminals of the charge controller, as pictured above.

DrewSTNY · Mar 25, 2017

Yes, it's fine. I usually double up the smaller wire so it fits in the splice better by stripping a bit extra and folding it over to make it thicker.

You are low enough power that it should be OK.

freegander · Mar 28, 2017

thank you!

how do you monitor the state of your battery(s)? i had assumed i could just do it with a multimeter, but i read somewhere that it isn't accurate...

DrewSTNY · Mar 28, 2017

You can see what the battery voltage is and it will give you an idea, but the best way is to check the specific gravity of the water with a hydrometer

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JFHMRU/

I don't really like the type with a floating piece of plastic. I would rather have one more like a Brewer's hydrometer, but they are hard to find.

Your batteries should have a specification for what they like to see for voltage and where the specific gravity runs in them.

freegander · Mar 28, 2017

is that for AGMs too?

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