Lucky Fit

Rockport, Texas

The start on the solar panel install was going well. The box fit on my bed just right for opening it. When the box was opened is when things began to change. The connections on this panel are totally different than on the one installed last year. Last year you unscrewed a screw, pushed a wire in the hole and tightened the screw. Not on this one.


According to the instructions, you put a wire in the designated place. Then slide the shrink wrap over the connection and take your heat gun to shrink it. There is not a heat gun in the Castle. The assembly of the wiring harness to the panel is a one time event so you better not have trouble with the panel in the future.

Ok moving on, where are the adjustable feet? Where is the wiring? As the label is carefully searched for a clue the phrase 1 of 2 finally wakes me up. Another box must be waited on. So the panel is packaged back up and taken to the office for storage until the rest of the order shows up.

Now what to do flows through my head. That was easy since there in nothing in there to slow a thought down. Maybe some research on possible fun places for when the wheels roll. There is a wonderful book on hiking trails of Texas.

This book has been part of my Texas life since the first issue. It covers easy to difficult adventures for all folks. It is very high on TheOFM recommended list.

Late this afternoon the UPS truck shows up with the other solar package. Now it is time to get busy. The next couple of days are not supposed to be nice. The roof of the Castle could not be measured with great certainty as to where to place the new panel. The feet were put on the panel, a rope tied to it and then it was hauled to the roof for a fitting.

It was the Castle’s lucky day. The best location and the panel fit together like a custom design had been done. The panel will cover the connection for the TV antenna and clear it by 3/8”. Just perfect in other words.

By now the wind was making itself known, so the campground owner, Brian, helped me let the panel to the ground. Now the panel is inside the castle resting on my bed while my mind wonders where the panel can live for a few days until the weather clears. Drilling screw holes through the roof in the rain seems foolish to me.
It looks like shopping time tomorrow for a heat gun to shrink the shrink wrap insulation. Then it will be time to look into moving the controller to a much better spot electrically speaking. With the new panel spot now known, it will be easier to choose a spot to drill through the roof to run the wire up to the panels. #6 stranded wire will be run from the junction box of the panel leads down to the controller and then to a terminal from the batteries. The factory leads from the battery to the breaker/fuse panel are #6 stranded wire also. When this is finished, every thing should make this a very balanced system.

As this blog is being typed, it is raining outside briskly. Indications are that until Sunday the weather will be rain and bitter cold in the upper thirties. But guess what, even that cannot prevent me from trying to have tooooo much fun. TheOFM.