How to Use MC4 Connectors and MC4 Extension Cables
NOTE: There are multiple types of interlocking PV connectors. This article addresses MC4 connectors, but the same principles apply to other connectors such as Amphenol H4, Tyco, and SMK.
What is an MC4 connector (male connector & female connector) and an MC4 extension cable (8ft, 15ft, 30ft, 50ft, 100ft)? If you're asking this question, you've probably noticed that most modern high power solar modules are manufactured with wire leads that have latching connectors on the ends. These are usually referred to as MC4 connectors. Years ago, solar modules were built with a junction box on the back that required the installer to manually attach wires to the positive and negative terminal posts. This method is still used on smaller solar panels, but it's slowly becoming a thing of the past. Modern solar modules tend to use the MC4 connectors because they make wiring your solar array much simpler and faster. The connectors come in both male and female types which are designed to snap together. They meet the requirements of the National Electric Code, they're UL certified and the preferred connection method of electrical inspectors. Due to the locking mechanism of the MC4 connectors, they will not come unplugged and are well suited for outdoor environments. The connectors can be separated but it requires a special MC4 unlocking tool.
The MC4 connector consists of the contact and the plastic housing. The contact will determine the gender of the connector, NOT the plastic housing. The below image is the female contact with its corresponding housing.
Panels connected in series are defined as Strings, Panels connected in parallel are defined as Branches.
Wiring MC4 Equipped Modules in Series:
If you have two or more solar modules to wire in series, the MC4 connectors make it very simple. Take a look at the first module and you'll notice that it has two wires extending from the junction box. One wire is the DC positive (+) and the other is the DC negative (-). Generally, the female MC4 connector is associated with the positive lead and the male connector is associated with the negative lead. This may not always be the case, so it's always a good idea to look at the markings on the junction box or test the polarity with a digital voltmeter. A digital voltmeter will show a negative value if the polarity is reversed.
A series connection is when you wire the modules together by connecting the positive lead on one module to the negative lead on another module. The male connector will snap directly into the female connector. Here's a simple diagram illustrating this.
As you can see, the two modules are now connected together by the two leads. This increases the voltage of the circuit. For example, if your modules are rated for 18 volts at maximum power (Vmp), then two of them connected in series will measure 36 Vmp. If you connected three modules in series, the total Vmp would be 54 volts. The current at max power (Imp) will be constant when wiring a series circuit.
Wiring MC4 Equipped Modules in Parallel: Parallel wiring requires the positive leads to be connected together and the negative leads to be connected together. This method will increase the current at max power (Imp) while keeping the voltage constant. For example, let's say your modules are rated for 8 amps Imp, and 18 volts Vmp. If you connect two of them in parallel, your total amps would be 16 amps Imp and the voltage would remain at 18 volts Vmp. When we increase current without increasing voltage there is a very good chance we will need a larger wire to avoid voltage drop from the parallel connection to the destination. Make sure to always size your conductors properly.
When wiring two or more modules in parallel, you will need some additional equipment. If you're only using two modules, or two strings of modules, the easiest method is to use MC4 multibranch connectors. You obviously can't connect two male connectors or two female connectors together, so we use the multibranch connectors to accomplish that. There are two different multibranch connectors. One type accepts two male MC4 connectors on the input side and has a male MC4 connector for its output. The other type accepts two female MC4 connectors and has a female MC4 connector for its output. Essentially, you've stepped down the number of wires from two positive and two negatives to one positive and one negative. Here's a diagram so that you can see what it's doing.
If you are paralleling more than two modules or you're paralleling strings of modules, that requires a device called a PV combiner box. You no longer need the multibranch connectors because the combiner box will be performing the same function. The multibranch connectors are only suitable for paralleling two modules together. If you need to connect more than two modules or strings in parallel, a combiner box is used. The total number of modules that can be combined will depend upon the electrical rating and physical size of the combiner box. Whether you've combined your modules with the multibranch connectors or with a combiner box, you'll need to understand how to select and use MC4 extension cables.
What is an MC4 Extension Cable and How do I use them?
Don't feel bad if you're confused by the MC4 extension cables. If you've never worked with solar modules before, they can be a little intimidating. First of all, they're expensive. Nobody wants to purchase an expensive cable and later find out the length is too short after it's been cut. Cut cables cannot be returned, so we want to be sure you fully understand how to choose the appropriate length and how to use them to connect your panels together.
An MC4 extension cable is very similar in concept to an electrical extension cord. Just like an extension cord has a male plug on one end and a female plug on the other, an MC4 extension cable has a male connector on one end and a female connector on the opposite end. They are available in many different lengths from 8 feet to 100 feet long. Let's go back to our first example of wiring two modules in series. Once you've got the two modules connected in series, you need to use MC4 cables to bring that power to wherever your electrical equipment is located (usually a circuit breaker and a solar charge controller). Systems using two modules are generally used for RV's and boats, so you can usually use the extension cables along the entire distance. When you use solar panels on a house or cabin, the distance that the wire must travel is normally so long that using an extension cable is no longer practical. In those situations, the extension cables are used to connect the panels to a combiner box. That way you can use less expensive wiring (such as THHN rated insulation) inside the electrical conduit to cover greater distances at substantially less cost than the MC4 cables. Let's say that the total length of wire needed to go from the two modules to your electrical equipment is 20 feet. Note: This is where most people start getting confused. You only need one extender cable. We offer an extender cable in a 50-foot length, which is best suited for this situation. Remember that the two solar modules that you've already connected together have one positive lead with a male MC4 connector and one female lead with a female MC4 connector. To travel the 20-foot distance to your equipment, you will need a 20-foot wire with a male connector and a 20-foot wire with a female connector. This is achieved by cutting the 50-foot extension cable in half. That will give you a 25-foot wire with a male connector and a 25-foot wire with a female connector. That allows you to plug into both leads of your solar panel and it gives you plenty of wire to get to your destination. Sometimes cutting the cable in half is not always the best solution. Depending upon the location of the combiner box, there may be a greater distance from one side of the panel string to the combiner box than from the opposite side of the panel string. In this case, you will want to cut the extender cable at a spot that allows both cut ends to reach the combiner box with a little slack to work with. This diagram shows you an example of that scenario:
For systems using a combiner box, you simply choose a length that, when cut, is long enough to be terminated into the box. You can then strip back the insulation from the cut ends and terminate them to a bus bar or circuit breakers.
Disconnecting MC4 Connectors:
This is an MC4 disconnect tool. If for some reason you need to disconnect your MC4 cables, you will need one of these. You must insert the two extended posts on the end of the tool into the side of the female MC4 connector. This disengages the locking mechanism on the male connector and allows the two connectors to separate.
Building MC4 Cables:
There is a specific crimper used to crimp MC4 connector contacts to the wire. The Contact is crimped onto the wire, then the lock ring is placed on the wire before the housing is placed over the contact. Once the housing is placed on the contact it is difficult to remove so make sure you have the lock ring on the wire first. The MC4 Disconnect tool also acts as a wrench to tighten the lock ring on the connector. You can use one to hold the connector in place and the other to tighten the lock ring.
If you have any questions about MC4 connectors, multibranch connectors, extension cables or combiner boxes, please give us a call or email us. One of our design specialists will be happy to help you.
MC4 Connector Specifications:
Manufacturer: Multi-Contact USA
Rated for 30 amps max (the connector itself, not the wire)
Rated for 1,000 volts max
Rated temperature range: -40 degrees C to +90 degrees C (-40 F to 194 F)
Note: Do not cut the MC4 connectors off of your solar modules. That voids the warranty of most manufacturers.
