When planning a solar panel installation for your home or business, you might be wondering whether to use MC4 connectors. Each solar panel typically requires two connectors. If you install 6 solar panels, for instance, you’ll need a dozen solar connectors. While there are many different types of solar connectors, MC4 is one of the most common.
What Are MC4 Connectors?
MC4 connectors are electrical connectors designed for use with solar panels. They are the successors to MC3 connectors. Originally developed in the mid-1990s by Multi-Contact, MC3 connectors were once the “go to” choice by many solar solar panel installers. They were discontinued in 2016, however, and replaced with MC4. Today, MC4 remains the most popular connector type for solar panels.
The “MC” in MC4 connectors is a reference to the company Multi-Contact, which originally designed the connectors. The “4” in MC4 connectors, on the other hand, is a reference to their size. Like other electrical connectors, MC4 connectors have contact pins. These pins measure 4 millimeters in diameter.
MC4 Connector Features
MC4 connectors have a positive locking mechanism. In other words, they won’t separate from solar equipment when pulled. This is a safety feature that’s designed to prevent electrical arcing. The earlier generation of connectors, MC3, lacked a positive locking mechanism. When pulled or physically stressed, MC3 connectors would disconnect while subsequently creating an electrical hazard. MC4 connectors feature a positive locking mechanism, meaning they require a special tool to disconnect.
Because they are used outdoors, Mc4 connectors are waterproof. They feature an Ingress Protection (IP) rating of IP67. They can withstand dust for extended periods, and they can withstand being immersed in water while under pressure up to a depth of 150 to 1,000 millimeters for up to a half-hour.
MC4 connectors are also resistant to ultraviolet (UV) light. Regular expose to UV light, such as sunlight, can often degrade certain types of wires and connectors. But MC4 connectors are designed to withstand UV light to ensure long-term durability.
MC4 connectors are available in two styles: male and female. The male connectors have pins that snap into the female connectors. You don’t need any tools to connect them. Just push the male connector into the female connector, at which point they will remain joined. The only way to disconnect them is to use a special tool, as MC4 connectors feature a positive locking mechanism.
MC4 vs T4 Solar Connectors
In addition to MC4, there are T4 connectors. MC4 and T4 are compatible with each other. Even if your solar panel installation uses some MC4 connectors, it should still support T4 connectors.
T4 connectors are very similar to their MC4 counterpart. They feature a positive locking mechanism, a waterproof and UV-resistant design, and they are available in male and female styles.