Is it OK to use solid copper wire between panels and charge controller?

[russ]

now that guy is really OLD!

68 years young - just got back from my 20 mile bike ride (actually 30.54 km) and as today is a holiday here I spent the day in my exercise mode.

[FloridaSun]

... when I get to or past russ's age.

now that guy is really OLD!

[SunEagle]

Well not so sure I would say the Easy Route if you mean BSEE. ASEE is easier, but still requires a sharp cookie. With that said an EE is a non descriptive, like a Doctor. There are so many disciplines and specialties.

Even a BSEE dunno chit when they graduate. They have only dipped their toe into electronics, electric power, communications, controls, etc. They specialize in nothing and really do not know much, and for some get quite frustrated once they realize the education process has only begun. However they have the tools and fundamentals. What I look for in c graduate candidate is have they taken EIT test and passed.Most electrical engineers never ever take the EIT and PE exam. Once you have the PE license in you chosen discipline opens the world up and is your Meal Ticket. Once you have it you can pretty much pick where you want to live and work, rather than go to where the work is.

It was a BSEE majoring in solid state materials like the IC and CCD type chips. Actually I did a Senior Project and Science Paper on Cadmium Sulfide Solar Cells so I was sort of expose to PV Panels at a real early stage.

Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on how you look at it) the Solid State industry took a nose dive in the mid 70's. So I went on to designing power distribution, lighting and controls for a Consulting Engineer. Expanded that into Energy Management and Programmable Logic Control design. Followed by Project Management. I had the chance to get my PE but then the job had me traveling a lot (80 hour weeks and missing many weekends and holidays) so it was something I let go. It has been an up and down ride across a half dozen different manufacturing companies but now I am back working for a Power Quality Engineering group. I figure a few more years at this but I want to get up to speed on the Solar side and will probably continue along that for a while until I just want to kick back and relax when I get to or past russ's age.

[russ]

68 - Still working - got recycled on a project in India working on gas consumption in direct reduced iron plants - back in India - again.

I was quite happy playing until the company showed up asking for assistance - however, another year at the max.

For now I ride my bicycle 20 miles and work out for about 1 1/2 hours a day.

[inetdog]

damn... there's gotta be somebody around here older than me.

I will admit to 65, but not a bit more.

[Sunking]

took the easy route and got an EE degree in the 70's.

Well not so sure I would say the Easy Route if you mean BSEE. ASEE is easier, but still requires a sharp cookie. With that said an EE is a non descriptive, like a Doctor. There are so many disciplines and specialties.

Even a BSEE dunno chit when they graduate. They have only dipped their toe into electronics, electric power, communications, controls, etc. They specialize in nothing and really do not know much, and for some get quite frustrated once they realize the education process has only begun. However they have the tools and fundamentals. What I look for in c graduate candidate is have they taken EIT test and passed.Most electrical engineers never ever take the EIT and PE exam. Once you have the PE license in you chosen discipline opens the world up and is your Meal Ticket. Once you have it you can pretty much pick where you want to live and work, rather than go to where the work is.

[Naptown]

Maybe we should start a sub group call it the OFB

[FloridaSun]

I on the other hand (will be 60 in May)

damn... there's gotta be somebody around here older than me.

[SunEagle]

57 in a couple of months
My trek in life
trade school to become an electrician
electrician for 2 years moved from helper to estimator
Electrical contractor sent me to school for HVAC.
Left there went to work for AC contractor
Tired of being laid off winters so went to college for Building construction
built a couple hundred tract homes for a builder and got tired of mud.
When mortgage rates hit the 13% mark I did some property management then did the solar thermal thing for Reynolds for a couple of years before it died out.
Switched to remodeling (cleaner and less rain days) doing mostly high end kitchens and baths. (google Clive Christian kitchens and you will see some of the type of work I did) That stuff was extremely expensive and low quality and took a lot to get it to look like in the pictures.
When things went south last time I sat around and came back to the solar business.

At least you can claim you made it through life using "hands on" knowledge. I on the other hand (will be 60 in May) took the easy route and got an EE degree in the 70's. Spent too many years designing on paper not really understanding the real world of electrical power. It wasn't until the mid 80's that I got to experience real life being a Field Project Manger. (real fun being on the end of a rope doing a 500mcm cable pull). Then the real learning began.

[Sunking]

OK I got you by one year, I just will not tell you which way? Hint I qualify for Roth next birthday.

[Naptown]

Dang you ole fart, you are as old as I am or older.

57 in a couple of months
My trek in life
trade school to become an electrician
electrician for 2 years moved from helper to estimator
Electrical contractor sent me to school for HVAC.
Left there went to work for AC contractor
Tired of being laid off winters so went to college for Building construction
built a couple hundred tract homes for a builder and got tired of mud.
When mortgage rates hit the 13% mark I did some property management then did the solar thermal thing for Reynolds for a couple of years before it died out.
Switched to remodeling (cleaner and less rain days) doing mostly high end kitchens and baths. (google Clive Christian kitchens and you will see some of the type of work I did) That stuff was extremely expensive and low quality and took a lot to get it to look like in the pictures.
When things went south last time I sat around and came back to the solar business.

[SunEagle]

You do not understand, your meter is not capable of measuring anything less than 1 Ohm. It takes a very expensive meter called a Digital Low Resistance Ohm (DRLO) meter. It is a 4-point Bridge device that pumps either 1 or 10 amps through the UUT, (1-amp for milli-ohms, 10 amps for micro-ohms) then reads out the voltage drop. Your meter only uses a few microamps to measure resistance.

I understand now. Thanks for the information.

How much is too much resistance when using a small hydraulic terminal clamp?

Do you use one of these DRLO meters after terminating lugs using the tool you first showed?

[Sunking]

They are used extensively in the HVAC business to check for insulation break down and moisture in refrigeration systems.
Haven't used one since 1977

Dang you ole fart, you are as old as I am or older.

[Naptown]

No sir, not the same thing. Meggar Trademark name is a high voltage ohm meter to test insulation resistance by applying a stressful high voltage to try to breakdown the insulation resistance to check for leaks. Makes for a quick day of fishing.

In addition a Meggar when used as a 3-point Dead Fall Potential is used to measure th eimpedance of earth electrode systems.

DRLO is low voltage high current. It uses a high current then measures the voltage developed. In other words a current source.

They are used extensively in the HVAC business to check for insulation break down and moisture in refrigeration systems.
Haven't used one since 1977

[FloridaSun]

No sir, not the same thing. Meggar Trademark name is a high voltage ohm meter to test insulation resistance by applying a stressful high voltage to try to breakdown the insulation resistance to check for leaks. Makes for a quick day of fishing.

In addition a Meggar when used as a 3-point Dead Fall Potential is used to measure th eimpedance of earth electrode systems.

DRLO is low voltage high current. It uses a high current then measures the voltage developed. In other words a current source.

Got it. Did a lil research (google) and see the difference now.
So much to learn! Thanks