MC4s are the standard way to connect solar panels together, they are also probably the most cost effective and easy to deploy connector rated for outdoor use.

They are virtually plug and play and weather proof (can withstand outdoor rain and heat for many years) and with them, you can easily change config without too much hassle.

However, what lot of people don't know is that they are very delicate and can only be connected in a *no load state* e.g you can't have your CC running and producing juice then you climb up your roof and add or disconnect a string - especially add a string. You must disconnect the panels from CC first before making or breaking connections with MC4

What will happen if you don't follow this rule is you get micro burns in the metal contacts of the MC4 and ultimately the connector begins to lose contact and burn out.

Also with the plethora of MC4 out there you have to open your eyes to purchase a mid-range to premium quality item and test that the metal contacts mate tightly with each other and your solar panels own MC4 metal pins - you can use the pins only and without the plastic case to quickly perform this test.

There is nothing wrong with twisting solar panel wires together especially for a permanent connection, just that you can't do it like your average lazy installer. You have to expose sufficient wire contact area and braid the cables together tightly - that one inch portion of cable twisted hastily around another will not do otherwise heat is generated from lose/partial contact and cables starts to burn. You are looking at exposing like 2 inches of copper per cable, splitting into a Y or X like shape and braiding each branch very tightly around its mate from the other cable. After all is done, you must now insulate and weather proof the connection - here you must use your best electrical tape and silicon or caulk as whatever you do must be able to resist the elements for many years.

There are specialty connectors like the anderson power plug that people find better rated than MC4 but these are generally more expensive and hard to find in Nigeria (they can be easily imported though)

Topmost11:


I also need to look at my system based on this. I was short on mc4 then and did some knotted together too in some places. Harvest has been poor and maybe that's the culprit. I have mc4 coming on the way though. Ignorance, woe betide you.

Topmost11:


Life is meant to be lived like this. I often ask myself if we all sing hallelujah on Sundays and Allahu Akbar on fridays, where do all these evildoers come from, Mars or Pluto?

"Hopefully some day I will pass and share knowledge on here too".

Hmnn. If we all have that spirit and pass the torch on, the likes of some people will not be in business again.

Haha lol but we still have to buy panels and batt3 and inverters. The kind of knowledge in this context is to helping a fellow who needs advice on his setup lol.
Gdm

ceaser:


If I understand you, does this imply that if I have a 12v set up with MPPT SCC in the mix, I can also make 6pcs 18v 150watts panel config 3s2p rather than 2s3p and still be within the safe SCC output voltage to charge the 12v battery?

I thought peeps say that the sweet spot for a system when using an MPPT SCC is "2 times" the voltage of the system, i.e. 12v battery/24v solar input, 24v battery/48v solar input etc.

Yeah let me say sweetest spot for some cc is twice the system voltage. Some cc don't care at all as far as you don't exceed the max voltage. This is always around 150v max for a 48v Mppt. Some other brands/models can do 200v.

NiyiOmoIyunade:
MC4s are the standard way to connect solar panels together, they are also probably the most cost effective and easy to deploy connector rated for outdoor use.

They are virtually plug and play and weather proof (can withstand outdoor rain and heat for many years) and with them, you can easily change config without too much hassle.

However, what lot of people don't know is that they are very delicate and can only be connected in a *no load state* e.g you can't have your CC running and producing juice then you climb up your roof and add or disconnect a string - especially add a string. You must disconnect the panels from CC first before making or breaking connections with MC4

What will happen if you don't follow this rule is you get micro burns in the metal contacts of the MC4 and ultimately the connector begins to lose contact and burn out.

Also with the plethora of MC4 out there you have to open your eyes to purchase a mid-range to premium quality item and test that the metal contacts mate tightly with each other and your solar panels own MC4 metal pins - you can use the pins only and without the plastic case to quickly perform this test.

There is nothing wrong with twisting solar panel wires together especially for a permanent connection, just that you can't do it like your average lazy installer. You have to expose sufficient wire contact area and braid the cables together tightly - that one inch portion of cable twisted hastily around another will not do otherwise heat is generated from lose/partial contact and cables starts to burn. You are looking at exposing like 2 inches of copper per cable, splitting into a Y or X like shape and braiding each branch very tightly around its mate from the other cable. After all is done, you must now insulate and weather proof the connection - here you must use your best electrical tape and silicon or caulk as whatever you do must be able to resist the elements for many years.

There are specialty connectors like the anderson power plug that people find better rated than MC4 but these are generally more expensive and hard to find in Nigeria (they can be easily imported though)

No matter how you tighthen the wires,it will still fail after a while(this can be within a year or two). Most of the chinko panels comes with fragile cables already. The likes of solar world and Canadian solar and other tier 1 panels come with standard Guage. Why join if i can afford tier 1 panels.

I will look up the Anderson. Let's see reviews of price vs performance as against mc4's

tonididdy:

Hi fams.
Very quickly I want to praise this very gentle gentlemam here and also to emulate him on how life is meant to be lived.
This friend referred a friend to me in Benin to look at my setup, educate and prescribe for me solutions and I want to gladly say today I have learnt a lot through this meet up.
I know my usage, what upgrades I need and maintenance tips.
This Great NLander refereed a friend to me who did "all of this for over 3hours" In a very distant remote area.
Every effort to compensate him monetarily, he turned it down. I was almost on my knees to beg him to accept "at least fuel money " From me and yet he rejected. (He said @earthrealm tot him a lot for FREE on his first solar experience and that he was only passing a favor).

Same thanks goes to everyone who contributed to my quotes on here. You guys are great. This is a great platform and I really am learning a lot from you all. Hopefully some day I will pass and share knowledge on here too until then thank you all.

... We keep growing. Thanks again @earthrealm and to your friend "John", I really appreciate today's efforts.
@sintolord also thanks for offering to help also. Thanks ya'al

Wow, happy to hear your meeting with Johnny went well.
Good he was able to impart some knowledge as well.
From what he told me with the tests you guys carried out.
That your CC is a lil substandard, and performed better in parallel, just as the books say.
You can use pwm for small installs below 600w panel array without much issue. He also said the cc charge voltage is not editable and by 1.30pm, only 14v was going to the batt from the 18v coming from the panels.
Being that you have flooded batts, this is not sufficient to charge it properly, and it wud sulphate and you would experience poor batt performance pretty soon, worse in the rainy season.

Your getting a cc with editable charge voltage + increasing ur panels to 600w minimum would be the best route for you. A 40a or 50a mppt cc with such properties would be your best bet, so it can accomodate future expansions as well, as solar dey sweet die

200amphs, 12volts UNILITE battery available, #75 000. Contact us on 08168986461

idsolar:


seconded and thirded especially if your product have any defect you are OYO. I was a victim

Happy Sunday Mr Idris "idsolar" my old friend ... Am bemused that you joined some who have no issue in kiddy tales ! Do you remember issue of millions between two prominent members of this great forum , kindly ask Hisenjos if or how it was finally resolved ! It's not just by noise making or seeking for unnecessary attention in here as most prospective serious client don't really buy cock & bull or hollow stories . We did approx million deals and issue of factory error was met on site after shipment to your far North destination few years ago , you brought a complain to my desk and I gave company a fast feedback which I communicated back to you but I wondered why you say back and didn't honor the process for company to change the said solar panels .. You're also in Solar business, which made me feel you understand my explanation without expecting panels could be changed without any company seeing defective ones you complaned about .. It was a very simple issue but you simply gave up and developed sudden beef which ought not to have existed from Adam ! It's been a while and I felt to reply you as a gentleman since it's bad to hit the grave with a heavy heart , mallies and unnecessary grievance Sir ! As my old time friend , my apologies once again and Happy New year !!

mcTrinity:


Deka USA? 200A?? 130k Like, One Hundled and Thirty Thousand Naila? (in Igbo tongue)
Odiegwu! (in Titus voice)

zeestone99:

Yeah let me say sweetest spot for some cc is twice the system voltage. Some cc don't care at all as far as you don't exceed the max voltage. This is always around 150v max for a 48v Mppt. Some other brands/models can do 200v.

The MPP GK series is one of its kind with nominal at over 230v and can do up to 500v

zeestone99:


No matter how you tighthen the wires,it will still fail after a while(this can be within a year or two). Most of the chinko panels comes with fragile cables already. The likes of solar world and Canadian solar and other tier 1 panels come with standard Guage. Why join if i can afford tier 1 panels.

I will look up the Anderson. Let's see reviews of price vs performance as against mc4's

Is it really possible to avoid joining totally? For instance in my all series setup, I still had to cut the cable so as to extend the stock mc4

ojeysky:


The MPP GK series is one of its kind with nominal at over 230v and can do up to 500v

That one is a beast on its own o.

ojeysky:


Is it really possible to avoid joining totally? For instance in my all series setup, I still had to cut the cable so as to extend the stock mc4

I don't really get you sir. Do you mean situations where two Mc4's are not long enough to be connected together?

Topmost11:


I also need to look at my system based on this. I was short on mc4 then and did some knotted together too in some places. Harvest has been poor and maybe that's the culprit. I have mc4 coming on the way though. Ignorance, woe betide you.

Just check. It might really be.
Lol @bolded

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250watts GP solar panels available, #29 000. Contact us on 08168986461

220amphs luminous tubular battery available, #98 000. Contact us on 08168986461

250watt SUNFIT solar panels available, #29 000. Contact us on 08168986461

270watt flames solar panels available, #29 000. Contact us on 08168986461

200amphs Dekka Battery is available, #190 000. Contact us on 08168986461

I also want to use this opportunity to apologize to you guys about the Dekka battery price I posted before now, believe me when I say it was a typo error. The new price of it has been posted, thanks, and enjoy your Sunday.

Shalom!

I need to clarify that it is not really about tightness of the connection but two factors come before;

1) Sufficient contact area between the cables being joined - i have found your typical near 1 inch of contact insufficient - perhaps 2 inches of contact is ideal and splitting the cables into smaller branches that can be wound/braided together better

2) Ability to weatherproof the connection and keep moisture out as well as withstand heat.

Think of it that the cables with cheap asian panels may be substandard but the use of MC4 is not magically upgrading the cables to a better spec, rather the MC4 ensures minimum viable contact surface area between the panels and keeps moisture out and is able to withstand the heat of the sun.

To reiterate MC4 metal contacts are pretty thin and unable to withstand the arc that comes from making or breaking contact under load, yet if used properly, they manage to create secure connections that last many years.

I encourage anyone to look into the anderson power plugs for DC connections - rated for about 100,000 no load connects/disconnects and over 200 connect/disconnects at full load. Even if you don't use them to connect panels together, a serious DIYer or pro installer will doubtless find many applications for them.

zeestone99:


No matter how you tighthen the wires,it will still fail after a while(this can be within a year or two). Most of the chinko panels comes with fragile cables already. The likes of solar world and Canadian solar and other tier 1 panels come with standard Guage. Why join if i can afford tier 1 panels.

I will look up the Anderson. Let's see reviews of price vs performance as against mc4's

zeestone99:


I don't really get you sir. Do you mean situations where two Mc4's are not long enough to be connected together?

Yes that's the scenario I meant

200amphs Quanta Battery available, #120 000. Contact us on 08168986461

5.4KWH 24V lithium landed, will put to use within the week for testing before sharing my experience compared to my current 300Ah 24v Lead acid.
#LifePo4NewBie

ojeysky:
5.4KWH 24V lithium landed, will put to use within the week for testing before sharing my experience compared to my current 300Ah 24v Lead acid.
#LifePo4NewBie

congratulations, e no easy oo .we await your review.

ojeysky:
5.4KWH 24V lithium landed, will put to use within the week for testing before sharing my experience compared to my current 300Ah 24v Lead acid.
#LifePo4NewBie

Another one! This is super awesome. Looks like a lithium year. Our Alaba brothers should consider getting us quality lithium batteries.

ojeysky:
5.4KWH 24V lithium landed, will put to use within the week for testing before sharing my experience compared to my current 300Ah 24v Lead acid.
#LifePo4NewBie

Potential member waiting for update o!!!!

ojeysky:
5.4KWH 24V lithium landed, will put to use within the week for testing before sharing my experience compared to my current 300Ah 24v Lead acid.
#LifePo4NewBie

Nice one !, The future is here..
But I will still prefer cheaper all in one solution,
Something like this will be interesting when it's widely accessible.

Dam5reey:


Nice one !, The future is here..
But I will still prefer cheaper all in one solution,
Something like this will be interesting when it's widely accessible.

This certainly looks interesting, especially the 5KW option...all na money matter. All Lifpo4 batteries ain't cheap Bro, even this one is heavy investment. The problem I see with the all in one is the single point of failure.

5kva MUST hybrid inverter is available, with 60amphs inbuilt charge controller inside, #260 000. Contact us on 08168986461

Dear House,

I have 12 units of 300w Flames Solar Panels available for sale please.

Price 25k each.

Reason for Sale - Further upgrades to achieve ~18kw of Canadian Solar panels.

Preference is for someone willing to buy all the 12 panels at once.

The panels routinely achieve >70% of nameplate.

Please call Niyi on 08081144442 if interested.

Thank you.