What's this tool?

[mdshunk]

What tool is this electrician using in this picture?

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n277/mdshunk/whatsittool.jpg

[steelersman]

What tool is this electrician using in this picture?

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n277/mdshunk/whatsittool.jpg
looks like he has a prosthetic limb.

[chris kennedy]

What tool is this electrician using in this picture?

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n277/mdshunk/whatsittool.jpg
Or, whats on his left hand?

Could you link us to the big picture?

[steelersman]

Or, whats on his left hand?

A prosthetic limb is my best guess.

[bjp_ne_elec]

OK - I give up. Just tried to do a search, but I can't get a good enough look at what's in the guy's hand.

[mdshunk]

I honestly don't know what it is, which is why I'm asking. It looks like one of those 2-part epoxy caulking guns, but there's no tubes in it, and it looks like he's doing something to a set of wires. I don't think he's got a bum hand. I think he's just got cold hands and gloves with the fingers cut off.

[bjp_ne_elec]

Like Chris said - do you have a way we can get the JPEG. They do have JB's that are specific to Solar - could it be something like that?

[nakulak]

looks to me like he's assembling one of the brackets that goes on the back of the panels.

[mdshunk]

Like Chris said - do you have a way we can get the JPEG. They do have JB's that are specific to Solar - could it be something like that?That's all I've got. You can hold down the CTRL key and run the mouse wheel up and down to make the picture bigger and smaller.

[ultramegabob]

What tool is this electrician using in this picture?

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n277/mdshunk/whatsittool.jpg


It could possibley be some type of spreader clamp similar to this...

http://www.specialtytools.com/product_info.php?products_id=1651&3dCsid=sn9uriu6gpvgjc5f4p2givrlm3

[ultramegabob]

I forgot to attach the pic in last post.....
2299

[iwire]

Never thought I would see the day that I had a tool in my truck that Marc had not even seen before. :grin:

No, it is not a prosthetic limb. :grin:

Here are some better shots.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg235/iwire_bucket/FunnyCaulkingGun001.jpg


http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg235/iwire_bucket/FunnyCaulkingGun003.jpg

Good luck. :D

Or, whats on his left hand?

He has fingerless gloves on both hands.

The company we work for wants us to have gloves on for safety. Lacerations are a major cause of 'lost time' and workers comp claims.


If you want to see a tool in action ...

9 MB QuickTime Video (http://www.filmboston.com/burke/burkesolar.mov)

Right click, hit 'save as' for fastest loading.

[steelersman]

No, it is not a prosthetic limb. :grin:

He has fingerless gloves on both hands.

If the gloves are fingerless, then where are his fingers? How do you know that he doesn't have a prosthetic? I swear that's what it looks like because there is just a nubb where his hand should be, so maybe it's not a prosthetic but just a nubb.

[iwire]

How do you know that he doesn't have a prosthetic?

Well I worked with him for a week, I think I might have noticed if he was missing digits. :D

[76nemo]

I honestly don't know what it is, which is why I'm asking. It looks like one of those 2-part epoxy caulking guns, but there's no tubes in it, and it looks like he's doing something to a set of wires. I don't think he's got a bum hand. I think he's just got cold hands and gloves with the fingers cut off.

I thought about it, and thought about it. That has to be a spoof picture. Marc's right, that's a two part gun. Where did this pic surface?????

[iwire]

I thought about it, and thought about it. That has to be a spoof picture. Marc's right, that's a two part gun. Where did this pic surface?????


It is no spoof.

I have that specific tool in my truck

The pic came from the job I was working on last week.

Reading the whole thread before responding is so old school. :grin:

[Dennis Alwon]

That's a solar panel array that Bob has been working on. Watch the video. Bob is famous and he talks funny. :grin:

[bjp_ne_elec]

Bob - nice clip. So what is the tool used for? I think it has to do with the cables coming from the solar panels, and related to tying it in to JBs. Is this the case?

[iwire]

Bob - nice clip.

Thanks. 8-)


So what is the tool used for? I think it has to do with the cables coming from the solar panels, and related to tying it in to JBs. Is this the case?

You are on the right track, but I am not giving it up yet. :smile:

[mdshunk]

It's made out of a modified caulking gun by the manufacturer, that much is clear. Even with good pictures of it, I still don't have a clue what it is. My best guess comes from a clue in the manufacturer's installation instructions:

"2) SunPower modules can be grounded using third-party grounding washer or clip systems provided they have been tested and certified to meet UL 467 requirements for bonding/grounding systems and are installed according to the manufacturer’s specified instructions"

This might be a tool to install 3rd party grounding clips.

[djohns6]

Does it inject some type of sealant into a connector ?

[iwire]

Marc is good, they are 'Sunpower' modules and Sunpower does have a UL listed grounding clip, but we are not using a Sunpower mounting system so no grounding clips, I had to run an EGC to each panel.

The tool is no doubt a modified caulking gun, our price for it was just under $300.00 :rolleyes:

The tool is used to force the weather proof boots over the crimped on plugs used to interconnect the panels to the homeruns.

You place the rubber boot on the white spindle, place it in the tool, place the wire with its crimped end into the spindle and start pumping the handle. That forces the rubber boot up the spindle and over the terminal on the wire.

[mdshunk]

Groovy, thanks. Now, who makes it? :wink:

[iwire]

Groovy, thanks. Now, who makes it? :wink:

The caulking gun or the boot tool? :grin:

The Caulking gun says "Made In England" but the crimp on connectors, rubber boots, the crimping tool and boot tool all came from a Switzerland based company.


http://www.multi-contact.com/

[ItsHot]

It's a apparatus!:D

[Dennis Alwon]

It's a apparatus!:D

No, It's an apparatus. I couldn't resist.

[mdshunk]

It's a apparatus!:DUh-huh. They call it "Assembly device PV-RWZ" Those wild and crazy Swiss.

It seems they make a connector system to let you just plug the PV panels into each other. That'll make things easier down the road. Hail damage replacement, roof repairs, etc. cool.

[Brady Electric]

Looks like he is assembling a solar panel and working on a bracket that holds it up.
Semper Fi Buddy

[Brady Electric]

Sorry Guy's
I answered before reading all the post.
Semper Fi Buddy

[iwire]

It seems they make a connector system to let you just plug the PV panels into each other. That'll make things easier down the road. Hail damage replacement, roof repairs, etc. cool.

All the panel brands we are working with use that style connector.

Evergreen Solar, Suntec, Sunpower and there is another I can not remember now.

The panels ship with positive and negative whips with these connectors pre-installed, the whips are long enough to reach the panel beside it. This works well as we place 8 to 15 panels in series to boost the voltage closer to 500 VDC.

[mdshunk]

The panels ship with positive and negative whips with these connectors pre-installed, the whips are long enough to reach the panel beside it. This works well as we place 8 to 15 panels in series to boost the voltage closer to 500 VDC.Keying these connectors together at night, so you're not doing hot work? :grin:

[iwire]

Keying these connectors together at night, so you're not doing hot work? :grin:

They are 'finger safe' and can be done hot, but they are not to be opened or closed with a load on them.

Basically we land the Homerus in the combiner box first (Think of a fuse panel used in reverse) pull all the fuses then connect the panels to the homerus.

[wirebender]

....You can hold down the CTRL key and run the mouse wheel up and down to make the picture bigger and smaller.


Cool! Learn something every day.

Thanks, Marc.