Solar panel connectors

Silver-Fox

Silver-Fox

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im a not so newbie
After some excellent advice from @Lenny HB I have finally got some new solar panels.
They have attached some fairly long cables of which I would like to shorten.
The 2 panels will then be coupled together and then run a pair, + and - , of cables to the controller.
How easy is it to shorten the cables? which end to do the plug in end or where its attached to the panel?

Thanks
 
Assuming the connectors are already attached, normal practice seems to be to coil excess cable somewhere out of the way rather than cut it, or am I missing the point?
 
i just cut to length and connected inside an ip rated junction box sikaed to the roof with hole down for one pair
 
My advice would be to make the joint inside in a nice dry place, That also gets you easy individual access if things go wrong in the future.
 
Easier to shorten them at the panel end and crimp some new ring terminals onto the cables.

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I didn't really want to coil the cable up as there is a fair amount of it.
I also wouldn't want to cut and join into a box, Im not keen on introducing another joint where its not required.
 
Lenny HB said:
Easier to shorten them at the panel end and crimp some new ring terminals onto the cables.
Click to expand...

The cables have the mce? connectors on one end but I cant see how they are connected at the panel.
The cables go into a plastic box on the back of the panel and I didn't want to tug at them and break something :eek:
 
Silver-Fox said:
The cables have the mce? connectors on one end but I cant see how they are connected at the panel.
The cables go into a plastic box on the back of the panel and I didn't want to tug at them and break something :eek:
Click to expand...
The lid of the box either unscrews or unclips. The cables will be connected with M4 or M5 ring terminals.
 
I hesitate to contradict @Lenny HB so I won't ! :) But if you have any doubts about your crimping skills I would be careful about altering the connections under the panel - because if they fail it will be a major job getting at them after everything is Sikaflexed in place.
 
Lenny HB said:
The lid of the box either unscrews or unclips. The cables will be connected with M4 or M5 ring terminals.
Click to expand...

Your a star my good fellow.
I shall be investigating (y)

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DBK said:
I hesitate to contradict @Lenny HB so I won't ! :) But if you have any doubts about your crimping skills I would be careful about altering the connections under the panel - because if they fail it will be a major job getting at them after everything is Sikaflexed in place.
Click to expand...

Appreciate your advice but I'm a fair old crimper and not of the hair type :)
Im a bit of a belt and braces type ill probably sweat them as well as crimp (y)
 
DBK said:
I hesitate to contradict @Lenny HB so I won't ! :) But if you have any doubts about your crimping skills I would be careful about altering the connections under the panel - because if they fail it will be a major job getting at them after everything is Sikaflexed in place.
Click to expand...
Not if you nut and bolt the panels to the brackets like I do.
You can get away without ring terminals and wrap the wire around the screws but I wouldn't do it that way. Far less risky than letting the inexperienced loose on MC4 connectors.:)
 
In the past i have shortened them on the panels easy to do .not being a problem.
 
Just a thought, if you are going to join them together make sure that the cable you then run for them is capable of taking the output of the 2 panels, if you intend to use the cable already with them it may not be of a sufficient rating for both.

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Sorry to hijack the thread, but just a quickie, I have a 100w solar, can I put another 100w solar panel on and wire it into the controller for the first one, i.e connecting the 2 solar panel wires together and put both into the input on the MPPT, Thanks
 
WESTY66 said:
Sorry to hijack the thread, but just a quickie, I have a 100w solar, can I put another 100w solar panel on and wire it into the controller for the first one, i.e connecting the 2 solar panel wires together and put both into the input on the MPPT, Thanks
Click to expand...
Only if the controller has the capacity for both.
Lenny HB said:
The lid of the box either unscrews or unclips. The cables will be connected with M4 or M5 ring terminals.
Click to expand...

All mine have been soldered at the panel connections ? Which is where I always shorten them.I will have to look at the 2 new ones I brought back from the Uk & see what they are ?
 
gus-lopez said:
Only if the controller has the capacity for both.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure I can wiggle both wires in together(y) Must confess I'm a numpty with electricity (the devils work)
 
WESTY66 said:
I'm pretty sure I can wiggle both wires in together(y) Must confess I'm a numpty with electricity (the devils work)
Click to expand...
I meant capacity as in amperage to be able to handle both panels. Not fitting the cables in the connectors.:D

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WESTY66 said:
Sorry to hijack the thread, but just a quickie, I have a 100w solar, can I put another 100w solar panel on and wire it into the controller for the first one, i.e connecting the 2 solar panel wires together and put both into the input on the MPPT, Thanks
Click to expand...
You can so long as the controller has the ability to handle the output from 2 x 100w panels, what controller have you got?

WESTY66 said:
I'm pretty sure I can wiggle both wires in together(y) Must confess I'm a numpty with electricity (the devils work)
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I did with my solar set up - I ran both sets of cables to the controller with each panel's positive wire having it's own fuse in-line before it enters the controller, that way if there are any issues I can check each panel out individually and isolate one if needs be.
 
Minxy Girl said:
if you intend to use the cable already with them it may not be of a sufficient rating for both.
Click to expand...

Just coupling the two together with the provided cables.
Then use a connector that takes just a pair of cables to the controller.
I bought from Photonic and was guided by the sales chappie :)
 
Minxy Girl said:
I ran both sets of cables to the controller with each panel's positive wire having it's own fuse in-line before it enters the controller
Click to expand...

They must be funky fittings looking at the size of the cables.
Any links please

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Minxy Girl said:
I ran both sets of cables to the controller with each panel's positive wire having it's own fuse in-line before it enters the controller, that way if there are any issues I can check each panel out individually and isolate one if needs be.
Click to expand...

Silver-Fox said:
They must be funky fittings looking at the size of the cables.
Any links please
Click to expand...
Not quite sure what you mean by funky fittings. :confused: The cables on solar panels aren't massive and the entry points for them on the controller, well mine at least (Votronic MPP 250 Duo), is large so getting 2 cables in wasn't an issue. On the image below the entry points for the solar cables (+ and -) are the 2 left hand side large green ones. I'm fitting another cable in there too for a 'portable' panel connector shortly and there's plenty of room for all 3 cables in each one, the only thing I'll do is remove the existing cables and then twist all the ends together first before putting them in, this will ensure that they are all clamped in well so none can pop out.

41HyMPz3RWL._SX355_.jpg
 
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Silver-Fox said:
Just coupling the two together with the provided cables.
Then use a connector that takes just a pair of cables to the controller.
I bought from Photonic and was guided by the sales chappie :)
Click to expand...
As the cables with my solar panels were long enough to go down direct to the controller I didn't bother coupling them together and creating another joint, but obviously if the cables need to be lengthened then that's a good solution.
 

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