Recommend a deck plug for solar panels

[maxi77]

I'm curious about this too as I have recently bought a flexible panel to get out when in harbour or at anchor. We have no room for permanent panels. Trouble is, we need a deck plug, not a deck socket, since it is a pretty bad idea to have a plug with exposed pins on the end of the cable from the panel. So far I haven't found a waterproof deck plug. Any ideas?. Otherwise it'll be a trailing lead through the fore hatch, which I want to avoid.

Bulgin plug and socket inserts are interchangable, simples.

Just buy a plug and socket to suit your needs and swop the inserts. Also I have never had any problems with the cable glands on Bulgin units, no need at all for extra tape if you assemble them properly

 

[maxi77]

Surely it's an even worse one to have fragile pins sticking up from the deck?

What's wrong with a male plug on the end of the cable?

Pete

Just fit the appropriate bulgin cap which you should do anyway to keep out dirt and water

 

[ghostlymoron]

I used an IP66 rated cable gland from Screwfix. Cheap as the proverbial. However, the position was protected by the main hatch garage. Some areas of the boat the layup is too thick for these. I haven't been able to find any with a longer threaded section but they must exist. Wouldn't use them in a high traffic area.
http://www.socketstore.co.uk/products/commercial/cable-glands/ip68-plastic-fixed-cable-gland-px8828

 

[andygc]

Bulgin plug and socket inserts are interchangable, simples.

Just buy a plug and socket to suit your needs and swop the inserts. Also I have never had any problems with the cable glands on Bulgin units, no need at all for extra tape if you assemble them properly

Thanks. I'll look into that.

To the other questions - because a solar panel is live as soon as it is in the sun, so there's volts on the pins. An accidental short is a bad idea, and I don't like DC shocks even if they are low voltage. And pins on a deck plug aren't vulnerable if it is designed for the job and has a cover.

 

[DaveS]

To the other questions - because a solar panel is live as soon as it is in the sun, so there's volts on the pins. An accidental short is a bad idea, and I don't like DC shocks even if they are low voltage. And pins on a deck plug aren't vulnerable if it is designed for the job and has a cover.

However, the pins in the deck plug are also live - from the battery - so the cable to the plug needs to be fused at the battery end to protect it in case the pins are ever accidentally shorted.

There is an argument that since the battery is capable of delivering far more fault current than the solar panel can, it makes more sense to put the superior physical protection (socket) on the battery connector and the plug on the solar panel. You don't say what voltage your system is but, assuming it's 12V then the open circuit voltage on the plug from the panel shouldn't be more than 20V. This is unlikely to be felt even by a wet finger (but don't stick your tongue in it!) A protective cap to screw over the plug while the panel is disconnected would obviously be advisable for additional protection and keeping muck out.

(The above refers to boat battery charging solar panels: roof mounted arrays for power generation involve potentially lethal DC voltages which need to be treated very differently.)

 

[emandvee44]

Deck gland

We have recently installed solar panels using the Index Marine deck glands. I like the rounded profile which reduces the trip hazard effect.

 

[rob2]

All the good deck plug/sockets have the pins shrouded within the body, so there is less risk than there would otherwise be - but a point to bear in mind when choosing components.

Rob.

 

[Mistroma]

+1 for the Index Marine side entry gland, it is robust and low profile.

I mentioned it in thread below but have included links here to save time
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?t=330265&page=2

http://www.indexmarine.co.uk/deck-glands-se-series.php
http://www.force4.co.uk/9695/Index-M...8mm-Cable.html

 

[andygc]

However, the pins in the deck plug are also live - from the battery - so the cable to the plug needs to be fused at the battery end to protect it in case the pins are ever accidentally shorted.

Yes, understood - but no fuse needed as there is a circuit breaker and a regulator between the battery and the solar panel.