DIY MC4 Solar Panel wiring

MC4 connectors are the industry standard. They are designed for 10 AWG stranded UL4703 wire. The MC4 connectors are rated at 30 amps and have weather protection in the form of rubber seals in the endcaps and an O-ring on the main insertion plug. They have their own latching mechanism so they will not unplug on their own such as in wind or from the pressure of snow and ice. They are hard to beat.

This video shows a careful way for the Do it Yourselfer to use them.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• solar
• solar panel
• solar power
• solar wire
• solar cabling
• MC4
• MC 4
• cabling
• minnesota
• cable
• wire

[msungs]

Can you please help me? I would love to do this in Germany? Did you attach the junction box to the charge connector? Did the junction box come with those connections and did the charge controller have those connections? Just fitting them together.

[Fearlessthinker]

@msungs I have no junction box, and no, charge controllers do not come with these connectors. The connecotrs only come on new solar panels but you need the mating half to go from there.

[caravanman08]

good video and very informative,can you get the pins back out again once you have pushed them in

[Fearlessthinker]

@caravanman08 Takes a special tool. It's a hollow tube sized just right to fit over the contact to force the latching ears to retract. A person might be able to make one from some brass tubing you can get at hobby shops. Thanks for the comment!

[wtam69]

The connectors are a little pricey but worth it. Thanks and more videos like this.

[Fearlessthinker]

@wtam69 I was going to cut off the MC4s and put my own connectors on but I learned this would void the panel's warranty. After installing these MC4s, I wouldn't do it any other way. I like the quality, the fact that it can handle the power, and that it is weather tight. As my Dad always told me, you can go cheaper but it is usually worse.

[nunojpg]

Hi. Just a correction: Stranded wire is stranded to become flexible. Electrons flow even all around the conductor, except at "high" frequencies, so at DC that effect is null. And even if you were carrying AC (not grid AC, more like radio-frequency), stranded wire would not make any difference, but you could use a empty cooper tube in some applications.

[Zalzal019]

You didn't show much. Just a before and after shot of each step.

[silverbird58]

the most usefull tools in my tool box are dikes (diagonal wire cutters) ,; and strippers.. good vidio

[VWRabbitdiesel]

:) can't beat wire to wire twist