Follow-ups Sealing Using 3M 5200 Fast Cure Solar - hopefully easy fix June 22, 2020, 07:56:26 pm Hi guys, Finally got a chance to wash the DogHaus this week. This thorough cleaning is giving me the opportunity to assess and learn as much as I can about all the systems. I noticed some of the cords coming from the solar panels to the combiner box ( I think that's what it is called ) flexes / moves when I manipulate the cords to clean and the sealant "clump" around the tack down points is cracking. Also, one of the cords going into the combiner box has some cord exposed. Any suggestions to remedy this? Do I have to do something before messing with it so I don't get zapped? Please see pics below. Thanks!!
Re: Solar - hopefully easy fix Reply #1 – June 22, 2020, 08:12:14 pm The outer cable that has come loose from the securing nut on the pass-thru connector appears you could loosen the nut, push the sheath back in, then retighten. Where the fixing on the roof has cracked, just clean with cleaner, then alcohol, and goop more 3M 5200 sealant on it.Stevep.s. no exposed low-voltage conductor, so safe to manipulate. 1 Likes
Re: Solar - hopefully easy fix Reply #2 – June 22, 2020, 10:12:05 pm Be very careful when doing anything with that combiner box. When it's aged, as yours appears to be, it becomes as brittle as an eggshell, and can shatter with very little pressure. (I speak from experience.) AM Solar offers sturdier combiner boxes now.
Re: Solar - hopefully easy fix Reply #3 – June 22, 2020, 10:25:56 pm Thanks for the input.From the receipts I have it appears the whole solar array was redone in 2012. Do you think I need to remove the whole cover off the combiner box to fix that one exposed cord or just unscrew the nut, push the cord in and re-tighten it. Makes me nervous to remove anything and possibly cracking it or not getting it to sit when securing it back on. The RV is outside not under cover and its been raining a lot here.
Re: Solar - hopefully easy fix Reply #4 – June 23, 2020, 12:55:09 am "Do you think I need to remove the whole cover off the combiner box to fix that one exposed cord or just unscrew the nut, push the cord in and re-tighten it."What Steve said: carefully loosen the nut, push the cord in, and re-tighten.
Re: Solar - hopefully easy fix Reply #5 – June 23, 2020, 02:14:14 am Quote from: Andy Baird - June 22, 2020, 10:12:05 pmBe very careful when doing anything with that combiner box. When it's aged, as yours appears to be, it becomes as brittle as an eggshell, and can shatter with very little pressure. It's judgment call on what to do. Exposed plastic shrinks as well as getting brittle, I suspect the cable's plastic outer cover has shrink, exposing the wires.Old, plastic boxes can almost exploded when stressed and so can the fittings.I would be tempted to leave things alone and seal it in place and coat the exposed wires in DIcor or polyurethane. I would seal the other two fittings at the same time.Larry 1 Likes
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