Wire Size and MC4 Connection Question.

[guidecca]

Can I safely connect a 3Ft 8awg MC4 extension to a 3Ft 12awg MC4 solar panel wire or at what point from the solar panel to the solar charge controller is it safe to use a larger wire size.

 

[Bobert]

As far as I know a larger wire size is never a problem.

 

[guidecca]

Can panel wires vary in length?

 

[AmpD]

I'm wondering a bit on this myself. I read an article stating the 8awg "mc4" connection is not a true mc4 fitting. I'm really trying to avoid crimping my own connections but liked the idea of using 8awg from my panels to my combiner box.

How compatible are they to smaller 12awg sized mc4 connectors? Specifically I was looking at the Windy Nation brand 8awg "mc4" cables.

 

[pvgirl]

I'm wondering a bit on this myself. I read an article stating the 8awg "mc4" connection is not a true mc4 fitting. I'm really trying to avoid crimping my own connections but liked the idea of using 8awg from my panels to my combiner box.

How compatible are they to smaller 12awg sized mc4 connectors? Specifically I was looking at the Windy Nation brand 8awg "mc4" cables.

There are genuine 8 AWG MC4 connectors available and they are the same connector used for 10/12 AWG wire. Although it is hard to know what connector you might actually get on those cables. There has been some discussion in the solar industry that incompatible connectors could lead to failure or maybe fire, which would be a bigger issue dealing with the currents with 8 AWG wire.

Real MC4 connectors 8 AWG:

MC4 Connectors

MC4 Connectors by Multi-Contact (now Stäubli), are a single-pole connector system used to connect solar PV panels in multi-panel configurations. They consist of a male cable coupler (housing), female cable coupler (housing), socket contact, and pin contact. The contacts are crimped onto the...

www.ecs-ecart.com

MC4 Connectors

MC4 Connectors by Multi-Contact (now Stäubli), are a single-pole connector system used to connect solar PV panels in multi-panel configurations. They consist of a male cable coupler (housing), female cable coupler (housing), socket contact, and pin contact. The contacts are crimped onto the...

www.ecs-ecart.com

 

[AmpD]

There has been some discussion in the solar industry that incompatible connectors could lead to failure or maybe fire, which would be a bigger issue dealing with the currents with 8 AWG wire.

That is exactly the concern from my angle. Thanks for the response.

I wasn't sure if the catastrophic incompatibility was more from leaking o-rings or an over amperage condition getting met.

 

[Supervstech]

There are genuine 8 AWG MC4 connectors available and they are the same connector used for 10/12 AWG wire. Although it is hard to know what connector you might actually get on those cables. There has been some discussion in the solar industry that incompatible connectors could lead to failure or maybe fire, which would be a bigger issue dealing with the currents with 8 AWG wire.

Real MC4 connectors 8 AWG:

MC4 Connectors

MC4 Connectors by Multi-Contact (now Stäubli), are a single-pole connector system used to connect solar PV panels in multi-panel configurations. They consist of a male cable coupler (housing), female cable coupler (housing), socket contact, and pin contact. The contacts are crimped onto the...

www.ecs-ecart.com

MC4 Connectors

MC4 Connectors by Multi-Contact (now Stäubli), are a single-pole connector system used to connect solar PV panels in multi-panel configurations. They consist of a male cable coupler (housing), female cable coupler (housing), socket contact, and pin contact. The contacts are crimped onto the...

www.ecs-ecart.com

These are what I stock, and I use a 45A Anderson crimper.
Works great.