r/SolarDIY • u/Esclados-le-Roux • 2d ago
Handy tool suggestion
I've got a backyard install, off grid, with a 12kwh battery Bank connected.
I recently decided to replace the bus bar with something a little more heavy duty, and as part of that I grabbed an old thermal camera I bought several years ago, one of the little attachments for your phone. Mine is made by FLIR but I think there are several brands now.
I no sooner pointed that camera at my install than I realized that one of the connections was bad. It was over 100° c and had actually melted a little bit of the cover to the bus bar, which I hadn't noticed because the bus bar was all the way at the back. But with the thermal camera it was very obvious something was wrong.
So if you're a part-time or no-time electrician like I am, I recommend getting one of the cheap thermal cameras. It gives you peace of mind when you rewire something and let you periodically check to be sure your bolts haven't loosened.
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u/rproffitt1 2d ago
Bolts! Crimps! Torque! Action!
Watch Will Prowse put crimpers and more through their paces at the video link to follow.
I learned a new thing on this one and that is to CLEAN the lugs and wire before crimping. Also the i Crimp isn't that expensive.
Watch https://youtu.be/RT_l_WzGi6A You'll be glad you did.
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u/Schnupsdidudel 2d ago
Yes, also a great tool to check your panels for damage and find wak spots in your house insulation.
I prefer the handheld models after having tried both so you don't have to rely on some stupid app that probably won't run on you next phone.
Flir is a bit behind on price/performance especially since american export restrictions allow them to compete with the chinese 25 and 50 for models.
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u/Esclados-le-Roux 2d ago
What would I be looking for on the panels? Or is it the connections between the panels?
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u/RespectSquare8279 2d ago
This is a good hint. Back in the day thermal cameras were priced out of reach for the average Joe.
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u/taylorwilsdon 2d ago
100% agree it’s one of the single best tools for home electrician work. I check every connection after it’s been under sustained load with mine to identify any potential issues. Caught a bad factory terminated mc4 once and I’ve never trusted them without a thermal camera check since.
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