safety when connecting panels into strings

[RShackleford]

I don't think we're really disagreeing here. Yes, you need to complete a circuit to get shocked. And standing on the ground will do it (whether it be ungrounded conductor in your house or PV wire). And yes, if you're insulated well enough from the ground, you won't get shocked.

[Salts]

I don't think we're really disagreeing here. Yes, you need to complete a circuit to get shocked. And standing on the ground will do it (whether it be ungrounded conductor in your house or PV wire). And yes, if you're insulated well enough from the ground, you won't get shocked.

So how would a solar panel complete it's circuit if one of the MC4 connectors isn't connected to anything? Remember, the current has to go back to the source, so how would current go back to the source (solar panel) if one of the MC4 connectors isn't connected to anything?

[RShackleford]

So how would a solar panel complete it's circuit if one of the MC4 connectors isn't connected to anything? Remember, the current has to go back to the source, so how would current go back to the source (solar panel) if one of the MC4 connectors isn't connected to anything?

Yep, I see your point now.

[Mike90250]

An old electricians trick is keep one hand in your pocket. If your shoes are insulated and you are not leaning against something, generally you are alright, unlike this fellow:



0000978_arc-flash-safety_550.jpeg

or Sunking's Crispy Cable Thieves:

copper cable thiefs crispy.jpg
Their green handle wire cutters seem to be OK though.

[Salts]

Wow.. that's a shocking picture...

[SunEagle]

Wow.. that's a shocking picture...

There are more available. I use to teach HV classes for our Power Electricians to show them what not to do. You can't believe the number of ARC flash injuries or burn deaths caused by taking the easy path.

[Salts]

There are more available. I use to teach HV classes for our Power Electricians to show them what not to do. You can't believe the number of ARC flash injuries or burn deaths caused by taking the easy path.

Ya I can.. Complacency takes more victims than high cholesterol... Darwin demands his quota..

[RShackleford]

An old electricians trick is keep one hand in your pocket.

Similarly, wife and I wear silicon wedding rings. Me because doing lot of electrical work, she because she's a climber. Similarly, when I followed the Braves as a kid, a pitcher who'd played basketball in college was walking down the street with his teammates, and was bragging about being able to dunk; so he jumped up to do a mock dunk on an awning, it caught his ring, and tore ligaments in his hand - never fully recovered his career. Not quite as gruesome as above, but it stuck with me.

Anyhow, glad I appear to be erring on the side of too careful, instead of not careful enough, with these PV cables.