You would NOT believe some of the challenges we have encountered building this solar system! We will tell ya all about it in our final video on "The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly of a DIY Solar Install"...but next video in the series is on our charge controller. Stay tuned! As always...links to products discussed and related videos in the description. Thanks for watching!

@787Earl

6 жыл бұрын

day two passed my father's rules for working in his shop no watch or anything else on wrists. Thank you for your videos.

@787Earl

6 жыл бұрын

He built commercial buildings we wired everything except the lead from the transformer. He paid a certified Electrician to inspect and complete.

@robsadler5605

6 жыл бұрын

Very excited to see more in this series. Can't wait for your lessons learned video.

@TheTyrial86

6 жыл бұрын

Would you be able to post a parts list of what your system needed? Or what kits you used?

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

We post links in each video to the components we used in the video. Next video I’ll include a complete list.

All I can say Jeremy is if I even got under that deck I'd would never get back out. You have a great way of explaining things. You are doing an excellent job.

Great videos Jeremy. You do an excellent job of explaining things.

The best solar install vid on the web. Great job!

This has been an inspiring series. I have not been able to find this kind of complete detail. Thanks.

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

Neither could I so I wanted to try and make a series that explained the things I was trying to learn. Hopefully it’s working a bit.

I was in the Navy in "advanced Electronics" in the 1970s - 1984. It taught me to respect electricity but not be afraid of it. You certainly show that in your videos. Good job on your install.

Bravo! I think you'll tackle about anything. You just roll up your sleeves and dive in. Really great instructional. Although, I would slip all that cable into metal flex. The squirrels and other rodents love the insulation on electrical wire. As a journeyman electrician I have had the displeasure of replacing much wire after the little pests got into an attic or under a house.

I love how responsive you guys are after posting videos. Thank you for your time, teachings and friendliness!

Tip for free: lose the watch and ring (all jewelry) while working with power circuitry! Firstly it will save your jewelry, more importantly could save limb or life.

Looks like professional work to me Jeremy. You don’t give yourself enough credit. Thanks for the demo. You explained it such that I do think I can do it now. Eventually I probably will.

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

You can totally do this stuff. 😉

Loving this series!

Loving the Hair Cut.

Wow! The video on how to prepare the combiner box was fabulous. I'm not an electrician and have taken on installing 12 panel Unbound solar off grid system for a friend. I've never done anything with an electrical panel but after watching this video I had no problems getting the combiner finished in about 15 minutes. Plus, I now know how to connect the panel cables into the box. Great video - keep it up.

Your closing was awesome ! Thanks for sharing your knowledge in a clear and concise way without all the superfluous stuff that unfortunately gets thrown in on to many KZread videos... Well done. God bless

Man, I have looked everywhere for a detailed video on these combiner boxes. Yours was what I've needed. Thanks for making this video. It helped me completely understand how to wire mine up.

Thank you sir, I have just had a clarification on a serious doubt I had about combiner box. I am so grateful. Keep up!!!

Brother, you're very thorough and it's great that you're willing to share this experience. TY

Thanks for a straightforward approach to stringing a combiner box!

You cannot imagine how much this has enlightened me. Thanks

I could watch your videos all day. You are very knowledgeable and convey information in a very easy to understand way. I am not an electrician either, but know a decent bit on the matter, some from college education (I was going to be an electrician). The way you explain things, it is so concise, every detail is covered. I just wanted to say thank you, as I hope to build an array on a future homestead and this and your other videos are very helpful.

Fantastic in-depth wiring basics for a DC system. Nice job guys!

Hey dud, y'all are great! The information you and your wife provide is incredible. Because I have a huge amount of construction knowledge the canning and preserving info is better for me . But y'all are great at helping folks. Thank you.

Very helpful video on showing the setup of a combiner box. Many thanks.

Very well done , some of us learn better by watching, rather than just reading the instructions/manual ect. It's great to watch and learn, excellent.

Nice job showing how this is done.It takes lots of effort to make videos when U are trying to also build the system U are realy going to use every day to live. Doing the same starting a new land development starting my new living off grid life at 64 in TN.

I love watching and learning. Thanks for making this series!

Thank you sir! I have trying been trying to understand more of the solar connections and by far this is the best video I have seen for the combiner box. Congrats!!

thank u for explaining the combiner box to solar panals from beginning to end

Jer it’s still all French to me but once we’re actually doing it I know it’ll make more sense. Never done anything like this either. You are extremely generous to share everything step by step and I’m grateful for it. Like I mentioned we’re going to be wiring a van/RV build so having something like this will help. Obviously not to this scale. You are really good at showing the step by step.

You've answered all the questions I've wondered about and I'm glad you put out these videos. Taking the time to explain all the little things also helps to understand how the whole system works. Great videos and excellent job!

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Thanks David. 👍🏻

Excellent tutorial. Can't believe all that you covered. I am new to hardware mounting etc and I found this helped fill in alot of gaps that others fail to mention. Thanks..

Thank you so much I learn from you to install my combiner box perfectly. Very instructive

A well explained video in great details from A to Z specially about the unpacking and installation of the combiner box which my initial search of MidNite Solar Combiner Box MNPV6 has brought me to your video. Thanks kindly for taking to shoot and uploading this excellent educational video. You might not be a licensed electrician but you are truly a master a DIY installer in my book. Well done Sir. 👍👌

Excellent work Jeremy! I know most of this inside out but will always watch a new video that makes sense just in case I can learn something new.. My biggest take aways from this video is how to make the labeling crystal clear and wire up a very tidy combiner box. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for the vid!!! Weve been off grid for 8 months now and just been charging our bank with the generator. Going to install our 5kw array next week

Love the methodology in explaining everything. ...this is how every instructional video should be. ..1. assume zero knowledge at viewer end 2. Simplyify it all the way down . Thumbs up guys

This is a great series Jeremy. Your explanations are very clear and easy to follow. Don't stop!

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

Awesome. Thanks Keith!

Very good presentation//well paced and explained with the right camera illustrations..thanks.

Again, Jeremy great demo video. I had no clue about solar, but now at least grasp the content...thanks to you and Jamie! BTW like the hair cut! Blessings!

Great job with all of the wiring labeling clean & neatly put together I personally would put my pass label on your box again great job and video

Good job! just what I was looking for midnite combiner box. Thanks

Great video this was the best video and nice detail good picture and very clear demo I really learn a lot tonight Thank you

Fantastically well done job. Thanks for the video. Great insight is provided in setting up a combiner box

Keep it up, guys. Great explanations and great video/editing quality. Love your content!

WOW thanks guys this was really helpful..i will def have to watch this video 5 times to soak in all the details. you really made putting the box together seam very simple..thanks again. look forwards to all the solar videos to help me with mine

Very impressive, well done! Thank you! Great series.

Coming from an Electrician you understand this very well!

Great video thanks for posting. When I saw your ground mount rack it gave me an idea to use palets.

Thank you for the video. I feel better installing mine. Still going to read the manual.

Another great vid. Great job Jeremy. Looking forward to the next one.

First Thank You for the information!! I live in South Florida, Lighting Alley! You can add more protection almost anywhere by putting in MOVv's

Thanks for the video. Well done!

like the short Do. will be putting this series on my back burner to dig into educationally...

Great videos, I love the details as I learn more about a solar set up. My job deals with outdoor wiring, so I have a couple of things for you to think about when you move them to your permenant setup. First, run your cables from your combiner box to the battery bank in schedule 80 PVC conduit. This will protect your cables better, and in 20 years, if you have to replace a cable, you just hook the bad cable to the new to pull in the new. It makes replacement easy when you get older. Also, sun and wind is a killer for the insulating jacket on any outdoor wiring. I love that you wire neatly and label, but use some clear tape over the labeling to keep it from rubbing off in 20 years. Great job in sharing what you have learned about this subject. Both of you keep it up.

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

Yes. In the permanent install, everything will be in conduit.

Good comment on the fact that the breakers are rated DC. A 250v AC breaker is generally only good for 24v DC. An AC breaker with higher voltage DC can arc on opening and continue conducting so you think you have turned it off but there is still power jumping the contacts. Regardless of breaker type or switch position, treat all wiring like it is live (like a gun is always loaded). Measure the voltage after turning the power off (you have multiple sources and breakers do fail). Yeah, I've been buzzed a few times :)

I’m just getting back to finishing this video series. Thanks for putting it together! Which KZread channels and solar forums did you find most helpful?

.... Great video Jeremy... i mostly take that same approach when it comes to installations & services... i see the people who they send out & say to myself: if they can do this, so can i. ;). Thanks for the video & we look forward to the next one.

I have learned more today from watching your videos than I thought I knew about all this. thanks

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

Glad it was helpful! 👍🏻

Looks professional enough to me 👍👍👍😃

Thank you appreciate the setup. Help me alot understanding the process.

Thank you! That is very helpful!

Great video. Thank you so much. I subscribed. You should have over a million subscribers. I'm sure you will.

"I'm just a dude who figures this stuff out by watching youtube videos" :) you have the right approach

Thank you for sharing, so detailed and well explained. Thumbs Up.

You look great! Love the new look! Perfect for summer!

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Outstanding video guys!!! Greatly appreciate all the information that was provided, well organized perfectly choreographed...☝️❤️ by far this video exceeds the top of the list on KZread.. subscribed to you..👍👍👍

Great video 👍

WOW!!! LOVE your new haircut!!!!!!! Enjoying and learning from your videos! TFS!!! :-D

Good job mate. Thats what i looking for

Great stuff mate! Appreciate your vid's :)

Well Done, need and clean.

Omg thank you so much for making these videos

great series !! easy to follow !! very interesting content guys

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it! 👍🏻

Great video!

Good video. I saw a few things I hadn't on other video.

Thank you for the video.

Well done, sir! Every time I see an electrical box, especially since you punched a "knock out", it reminds me of the time when I was about 6 watching my dad install a box for an overhead light at my Granny's house. Of course, if you are staring straight up your mouth is open...….yep, knock out right down my throat! Immediately started throwing up (thankfully!). Couldn't have done that if we tried!

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

Wow!

hanging for the next part!

Better to not run both lines for SPD alongside each other, negative better direct to negative bussbar. And the reason the crimp tool exists is for greater surface contact as it surrounds the conductors clamped tight - not just mashed in one spot, especially when everything gets loose in the sun. Ferrules would help as well to keep conductor filaments from tearing when tightened down

Very good video and lots of good and useful information as a 30 year plus trade electrician I'm am never surprise any of what I have seen out there posted as fact. One small tip on your ground, and I will explain why best practice. Take your ground from your array should be 6ga. to 8ga. Bear copper wire and connect straight to your ground rod. Also do the same for your combiner box. The reason for this is that all your devices are isolated from say a lightning strike. It goes straight to ground, any riseual feed back will be better absorbed by your ground fault and not send a jolt back to your charge controller, which should have the same protection. If you are using wire gauge higher than 8 gauge all that will happen melt the wire instead of going to ground. Just a tip

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

Great suggestion. On the permanent install that’s exactly what I’ll do and with proper racking and lugs.

@pnowikow

6 жыл бұрын

Another best practice I've seen is to ground your panels as well. They make small devices which bite through the powder coated aluminum frames so you effectively connect them together and only need one ground cable.

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

That’s what I did here. I think he’s talking about grounding the bonded panels directly to the ground rod without going into the combiner first, and grounding the combiner to the rod separately.

Thank you.

Awesome video. You always save my time without me keep digging through how to do things with solar system. Appreciate that👍 Do you have a video how to ground solar panels? I’m in the process of moving all my solar system to a permanent location and want to make sure I’ll do right from the basics. Thanks!

Great video!!! worth its weight in gold. Thank you.

@Guildbrookfarm

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

Nice job

Would have run the neg from surge protector around the perimeter of the box rather than under the breakers ... Just to be safest ... Used to install alarm systems ... Neat and trim in the box is good ... Excess wire outside the box always got coiled and zip tied out of the way for future modifications ... Better too long then too short ... You are doing a job ...

@suttonbogedain5874

6 жыл бұрын

These are good tips. I would suggest waterproofing spacers between the combiner boxes and wood. (wrap a couple steel washers with rubber tape and pierce it with the screw). This will seal the box mounting holes which otherwise degrade over time. Water creeps everywhere. Retired master electrician. I heard you say you would eventually move the system. That's good because the point where the screws pierce the wood is the weakest point of the mounting system. In a few years it will degrade and loosen. If your system stays there more than five years you could just increase the size of the mounting screws, Or right now, caulk every mounting point just before you crank it down for the last time. Ju Keepin y'all safe and making the system last.

Very good job on building your solar system =)

@pathopkins4500

6 жыл бұрын

Jeremy ..... you are the first person that I have seen that knows what they are doing wiring up circuits and a connect box =) Even labeling the wires and circuits is a real must in any installation .... most people do not do just that one simple thing that save hours later on wondering what circuit goes where to what wire and box =)

Very helpful

Can you please show how to wire the midnite classic 150 charger controler using a combiner box?

Super nice

Completely off topic here but I gotta say that the haircut looks awesome on you!!

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks. Back to my old hairdo lol.

Good job......now I'm just another dude that learned more about this stuff from watching you on you tube videos....thank you!

@Guildbrookfarm

6 жыл бұрын

It’s like The Matrix. Wanna learn to fly a Huey?

Jeremy you do a great job of labeling each wire, I plan to do something with my 3 acres that I own and its paid for,planning on building a small home and I'm single and my daughter and her boyfriend are living there in that house..I do know that it takes a lot of planning. I was a carpenter for 30 years and I won't have any issues with building also I was a liscensed contractor.I had a accident which I had to be on disability afterwards.. Still healthy but I had shoulder problems and also ancle problems also. But now with my daughter being 23 in July I can do some of the things I've been wanting to do such as building a small home and trying my hand at solar. mabe you could give me a few pointers at solar and if you needed some pointers on building I'm sure I could help if you had questions.I grew up around building homes all my life, and my dad was a contractor also. so just let me know and if I can I'll help u out and I've been around farms on my mom's side of the family, funny I've had a taste of a lot of farming too. But any way you've done a great job of putting out these videos and I'm still learning from them.You have a way of explaining all you do.I've learned a lot! Just from the small things and it helps learning the whole system. Thank you my friend!

Wow the hair! Looking good ;) Could you possibly do some videos about what you are currently eating and your your grocery budget?

Wow...you made that look so easy! And I know its incredibly complicated! Great vid Jeremy.

for me a newbie you answered a lot of questions. So I have only one right now. If I want to have 2 sets of positive and negatives going to my charge controller I now know I can do that but where would I connect the 300vspd positive wire? Also I may choose not to break the busbar. Is that acceptable?

I like your video

How did you determine that 4 gauge welding cable was the correct gauge wire to use for you 130 ft run. Since it is two conductors, a positive and negative, that would be 260 feet. When I calculate that I get 1/0 (1 ought) wire gauge?

Appreciate the video Can i use that same combiner box configuration for parallel wired panels ?

good video

Nice video. I liked how you showed lots of the little details. People often gloss over them and it those little details that will eat you alive. I'm sure lots of people will find this very helpful. Two things for you that might help later. Aluminum wire is a wonderful thing as the larger sizes are cheaper and bunch lighter when compared to the copper. For stuff outside and it is really critical I always add some of the electrical oxidization preventive grease, even on copper.