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Forum Index : Solar : Where to Get Wire.
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| Phil23 Guru  Joined: 27/03/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1664 |
Hi all, Just wondering if you have any recommendation for sourcing either 4 or 6mm panel connection cable. Preferably in roll lengths. Up here we only have L&H & a few local contractors. Had a browse over ebay, but hard to be sure what you are getting etc. Thanks Phil. |
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renewableMark Guru Joined: 09/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1678 |
Hi Phil, I picked up some 6mm from a place in Clayton Vic, they sell on ebay. Certainly looks thicker than the 4mm that comes on the panels. here I can cut a bit off and mail it to you if you like to inspect it. I'm in eastern Melb btw just incase you are close by. Cheers Mark Cheers Caveman Mark Off grid eastern Melb |
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| George65 Guru Joined: 18/09/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 308 |
Electrical Wholesalers would be your best bet. Where are you located? Last time I looked there were a few local ( oz) suppliers on fleabay so you should be able to get proper cable from them that is up to scratch. |
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Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
I recently bought a crimper on Ebay, sellers name is WarrenAU, turned out to be chinese. Crimper turned up but there was one die that was the incorrect size, seller tried to blame the courier for rough handling that caused the problem. You need to look carefully at sellers details and feedback. L&H charge retail customers quite a bit more than contractors, however, freight can end up costing you more than what you save. If you ask to open an account with them might help. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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| Warpspeed Guru Joined: 09/08/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
Check out this cable from Tycab. They have a pretty good range in the larger sizes. This is very fine multi stranded cable, red or black available on 30m rolls, minimum size 8mm squared. Thats 75 amp rated cable with an OD of only 5.75mm. Its very flexible and has a much smaller OD than welding cable for the same conductor size. From memory I think it was about $65.00 for a 30m roll about a year ago. https://tycab.co.nz/product/marine-batterystarter-cable/ That link is to Tycab NZ, but its an Australian based company with their main factory in Dandenong Victoria. Any electrical wholesaler (L&H Middendorp etc) will either already have it in stock, or be able to get it in for you. Cheers, Tony. |
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| Phil23 Guru Joined: 27/03/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1664 |
Thanks All, We do have L&H here; and I have an account with them, but often even something like a HPM power point can be over double Bunning's Price. I am a trade client, but still can't understand their pricing structure. Probably no real issue as far as using an on-line supplier, as L&H often pass freight on anyway. Just want the right stuff at the appropriate price. Phil. |
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| Warpspeed Guru Joined: 09/08/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
Only other suggestion for the fine stranded flexible cable is automotive type wire, but a lot of that comes from China and is rubbish. The plastic just about melts in the sun. I would contact Tycab and ask what else they have. Its all Australian made and better quality than just about all of the imported stuff. Cheers, Tony. |
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| ryanm Senior Member  Joined: 25/09/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 202 |
I'd be wary of using automotive grade cable for a solar system if you're going above ELV, a lot of automotive stuff (even the good stuff) just isn't rated for GTI operating voltages and DC plays for keeps. I've got a wholesale account at a few electronics suppliers if you wanted me to look up some prices on something specific for you. Probably not going to be as cheap as eBay, but you know they conform to AS/NZS. If you've got an ABN you might be able to get some trade prices yourself, although the really good prices quite often come with minimum monthly sales. Ryan. |
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| Phil23 Guru Joined: 27/03/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1664 |
So to make life a bit easier, Can anyone throw up a few ball park figures as to the costs per metre. Not interested in paying for 2nd grade rubbish that's not up to the task. Just have no realistic idea of what is reasonable pricing for the right quality. Phil. |
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| ryanm Senior Member Joined: 25/09/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 202 |
Under $4 per meter. Have to get back to you when I'm on a screen bigger than 4". Don't really know if that's good value or not. Got a quote from your local guy? |
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| Warpspeed Guru Joined: 09/08/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
The stuff I use for solar panels is just ordinary building wire, 4mm squared V90 0.6/1Kv bought from Middendorps on 100 metre plastic roll. If its fitted inside grey conduit it does not need to be the much more expensive UV stabilised "solar panel wire". Cannot now remember how much it was, but definitely less than $1 per metre. Using ordinary building wire inside conduit is cheaper, safer, and more robust than the bare UV stabilised "solar panel wire" being sold. From memory the conduit is very roughly 60 cents per metre. Cheers, Tony. |
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| ryanm Senior Member Joined: 25/09/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 202 |
Well that's insanely cheap. If you can get 4mm for that price conduit is definitely the go. Just make sure you use the grey UV rated stuff as the orange conduit will break down in the sun pretty quick. |
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| Phil23 Guru Joined: 27/03/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1664 |
L&H.., "We don't stock it any more..", Can't match the installer across the road". Installer across the road, "We don't normally sell to the public". Phil. |
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| ryanm Senior Member Joined: 25/09/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 202 |
Had a quick look and if you are chasing the proper double insulated Superman-proof solar cable I should be able to get a 100m roll of 4mm freighted to you for $3.20/m or $2.80 for two rolls*. *Disclaimer I've included the price of a six pack for my trouble. I'd go with warpspeed's idea though if Middy's is that cheap for the cable. $2 a metre would buy a whole lot of conduit. |
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| Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
Sounds a bit like the bolt shop that used to be near here. Went in there one day need some bolts in a hurry just had a $50 note with me. They got the bolts out I needed and counted them out and everything, when I went to pay, I was rudely told we don't take cash. They're not there anymore, went broke. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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| renewableMark Guru Joined: 09/12/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1678 |
Phil I'll happily mail you a sample of the stuff that I got from clayton vic which sell on ebay. just send me the details. It looks fine to me, but judge for yourself. Cheers Mark Cheers Caveman Mark Off grid eastern Melb |
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| ryanm Senior Member Joined: 25/09/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 202 |
Could I please get a link to the ebay store mark? Might get some myself. Ryan. |
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| George65 Guru Joined: 18/09/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 308 |
Wonder why? Probably goes some way to explaining why I get constantly asked in my business if I take cash which I always thought was funny. I only sell low ticket items but when I'm asked " Do you take Cash" I always answer " I take cash, card, jewellery, antiques, oil paintings, Vintage motor vehicles, real estate, sheep stations and first born Children. Better rethink that last one, I get offered too many of the damn things and they seem really hard to onsell to get my money back on!  I'd be interested to see the prices this place can do. I need some 3 phase cable as I want to upgrade the wiring in the shed and put in a sub board as well. There is a wholesaler I use but sometimes their stock is patchy having one size of cable or whatever and not another. |
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| Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
It was in the news here a few years ago that someone handed over his wife as security on a loan. Most of the wire I am using has come from the scrap yard, I bought hundreds of metres of twin core 1000V PV wire for $60, nothing wrong with it, was in 20 to 30M lengths. Also bought AC wire the same way, had to cut off what I needed from what was a very long piece of it. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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| Warpspeed Guru Joined: 09/08/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406 |
I am trying to think back two years. I bought a few other things at the same time beside the roll of single insulated black 4mm building wire. The figure of $85 for a full 100m roll seems to ring a bell. A full roll avoids the cutting charge which is significant. Its the double insulated twin and earth that gets horribly expensive. Four strands of single insulated will fit through 20mm conduit fairly easily, provided its not kinked or very badly twisted. Save yourself some grief and use the large radius bends (not elbows) as its much easier to pull the cables through where the bends are in the middle of long runs. Cheers, Tony. |
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