I just finished making a wood frame for the HF set.

I'm also thinking of cutting the cables on the panels shorter. This way I can attach my combiner box to the frame. Will this work? Thanks. 

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Permalink Reply by Tim Personius on February 10, 2013 at 7:53am

If it's just a few feet from the panels to the box it should not cause any problems, or you could just bundle them and zip tie them neatly aside...in case you need a longer run later.

Permalink Reply by Renewable Ray on February 10, 2013 at 8:24am

I have to agree with Tim's "in case you need a longer run later" comment. But don't wrap them up in to tight of a bundle, kinda loose and spread out if you can. Don't want to create a "heating element" if you know what I mean.

Permalink Reply by george appel on February 10, 2013 at 3:48pm

i also agree  with ray and tim....i almost cut mine when i 1st set up my kit...glad i didnt  couple days later i changed whole set up..zip tie em  never hurts to have extra

 

Permalink Reply by Robert DeMartino on February 10, 2013 at 4:40pm

you guys are right, I'll leave them alone.  I do have another question though.  I noticed that the new Harbor Freight panels have a different connector. I uploaded a photo for identification.  Can I use this type of connector on my panels instead of going with mc4 connectors?

Permalink Reply by Renewable Ray on February 10, 2013 at 4:54pm

Sure you can, looks like the new HF Thunderbolt Kit.

Permalink Reply by Robert DeMartino on February 11, 2013 at 12:09pm

Hi Ray,

I just picked up the Thunderbolt Kit.  So now I want to splice the red wires and then the black wires from the panels to the bare wires of the Thunderbolt Kit connector and solder them together.Then use shrink tubing to cover the wires. Sound doable? 

Permalink Reply by Renewable Ray on February 11, 2013 at 12:42pm

I have never owned the latest Harbor Freight kit. I thought you just plugged the panel leads into the combiner. Guess I'll have to buy one just so that I know something about the Thunderbolt kit.

Permalink Reply by Robert DeMartino on February 11, 2013 at 2:01pm

The new kits come with the connectors like in the picture above.  I have the old kit and want to put the connector from the kit on my wires.  

Permalink Reply by Renewable Ray on February 11, 2013 at 3:15pm

OK, I get it. What controller have you decided to use and how many panels?

Permalink Reply by Robert DeMartino on February 11, 2013 at 3:52pm

I have one set(3 panels) and the controller that came with the set. I also got a 400 watt pure sine wave inverter. 

Permalink Reply by Robert DeMartino on February 11, 2013 at 5:29pm

Here is a picture of the HF panels in the wood frame.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Personius on February 13, 2013 at 2:39am

Nice job on the frame there Robert...sweet!

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