Stolen Panels

[Threespringsranch]

We just had 37 of our ground mount solar panels stolen last week. Sherif dept come along said they would keep an eye open but we are not getting our hopes up.
The questions I have for anyone out there would be this. The panels we had where Sharp NT-175u1. 40 in total where installed Feb 09. We have found through cragelist some Sharp NT-KR5EX 175 panels, same specs but different model. 9 years old 4 of which have been in storage. Can we just bolt these on and fire up the system again? There was some cutting of wires from the panels so we will need to get into that, but will the panels sister up to the three we have left? And can the system be plug and play as outlined above?

Any help or comment would be great.
Matt

[Naptown]

If Voc and Imp are the same go for it.
This time however buy the tamper proof hardware.

[SunEagle]

If Voc and Imp are the same go for it.
This time however buy the tamper proof hardware.

And a guard dog along with security cameras.

[inetdog]

And a guard dog along with security cameras.

As one local mall's sign stated (until replaced). "Trained guards and armed security dogs."

[Threespringsranch]

Panel update

Hi again and thx for your comments, so we have the panels now and I am in process of ordering some Heliotex tamper resistant bolts. Plus I am also looking in to an alarm system now. Something along the Grid Lock lines but do it yourself. It's made by G Max security systems and is called SPS 600.
These should put a few road blocks into anyone looking to repeat the theft.

I do have a couple of Qs, the system is a grid tie with a Sunny Boy 7000. The panels where installed in 4, 10 panel strings, run in series I believe. As this checks with the wiring tails coming out of the two boxes leading to the DC off switch.
Can I use black jacket 10 AWG THNN wire or should I go with something like AEE PV 10 AWG wire (can only get it on five hundred foot roll)? I probably need 100ft max. Also I will be using MC4 connectors to run the final wire to the combiner box. .......Thoughts anyone
And one last thing do I need to have the panels covered up while I wire this all together?

Thx

[inetdog]

Hi again and thx for your comments, so we have the panels now and I am in process of ordering some Heliotex tamper resistant bolts. Plus I am also looking in to an alarm system now. Something along the Grid Lock lines but do it yourself. It's made by G Max security systems and is called SPS 600.
These should put a few road blocks into anyone looking to repeat the theft.

I do have a couple of Qs, the system is a grid tie with a Sunny Boy 7000. The panels where installed in 4, 10 panel strings, run in series I believe. As this checks with the wiring tails coming out of the two boxes leading to the DC off switch.
Can I use black jacket 10 AWG THNN wire or should I go with something like AEE PV 10 AWG wire (can only get it on five hundred foot roll)? I probably need 100ft max. Also I will be using MC4 connectors to run the final wire to the combiner box. .......Thoughts anyone
And one last thing do I need to have the panels covered up while I wire this all together?

Thx

Wire that you run in conduit can be whatever the NEC allows for the temperature up on the roof and the current.
If the wires are exposed, they will need to be PV rated. Find somebody to share your order?

Either you cover the panels and work sloppily to put the wires together, or you work carefully up to the point where you actually plug the modules in series. Then you do that part after dark or with the panels covered if you are uneasy about it.
If the panels have MC4 connectors attached, the unconnected leads will be safe (but keep dirt and water out by covering them if needed.)

[Rob0123]

panels

have you found panels yet if not I have some of the Sharp NT-KR5EX and newer ones NT-R5E3E