Join the HighTechLab Discord Server!   / discord  

In this video I unbox and go over the features and drawbacks of Amazon's eco worthy 6 string PV Combiner. Some of the features that it boasts is that you have protection on all of your pv source strings, which is really nice in case you have a short circuit, it has diodes that prevent backfeeding on your solar inputs, which also will help out if one of the solar panels/cells are shaded and has a less than optimal output.

You can purchase this combiner on Amazon through this affiliate link:
https://amzn.to/2y4AhSf

The biggest fallback to having these diodes in the circuit is that they have a forward voltage, which I measure in the video, of .46 volts this will actually be a drop of power across the unit, and when I did a test under load the voltage drop is actually around .7v If you were running this at the 10 amps per string max that it is rated for, then you practically have a 70 watt heater in this cabinet. So in theory the heat created by these diodes is dissipated to the backplane of the panel, but then the next issue is that the backplane is on standoffs and lacks the ability to conduct the heat out of the cabinet.

Another issue is that the door will not even open to 90 degrees This makes the panel dangerous to work in as you are obstructed by the door. Tie that in with the fact that there is fractions of an inch to work with in order to connect the power output leads to the main breaker. In my installation I ended up drilling out the gland ends where the wires are originally designed to enter and just ran a 3/4" sealtight to a junction box where I then ran the two combiner boxes that I have down a 1" seal tight conduit to where my main solar charge controllers are located.

FTC Disclosure Statement:
Some links on this YouTube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these.

HighTechLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, ​an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com