Are MC4 connectors a good quick disconnect?

Looks like MC4 series are great Connectors when combining multiple solar panels...

A typical 120WATT SOLAR Panel will provide around 5-6 DC AMPS when in high SUN so when combining several panels you want to consider how much DC current is being produced to go through these MC4 combiners... Four 120WATT Panels i.e. will produce up to 24AMPS DC CURRENT.

Have never used the MC4 but I like the idea of the series being plug and play depending on how many panels you have in the mix...


The AMATEUR RADIO ANDERSON series connectors would be another great setup as well...

ANDERSON POWER POLE connectors

I order everything from AMAZON and get get a great delivery time being a PRIME member...

Roy Ken

Joel_T wrote:
Are MC4 snap type connectors the ticket?

No as they should not be connected/disconnected used under load.

And even with no load they don't seem to be mechanically robust so continual use might not work out.

they are good connectors. I use them on my portable panels. Not sure I'd call them "quick disconnect" but they do come apart easily but the snap in tangs must be retracted first.

the short cables attached to my panels have MC4's. then I have a short adapter that is MC4 to anderson. my extension cords are all anderson as is the trailer connector. The anderson is a true quick disconnect.

I connect my panels in series and have a MPPT controller in the trailer pass through. With the MC4's it easy to hook up one, two, three or more panels in series then to the MC4 to anderson adapter. this way I only run a max of about 5 amps down the extension cord (#10) to the trailer and even with 150ft of extension cord, IR loss is reasonable.

They suck,... are hard to connect (crimp) onto new cables.
I had 2 of them fail, I forget what happened.
And I had one of those 2 into 1 adapters fail break.
I ended chopping them all off, solder everything in combiner boxes.
We go to the moon and back, and we can't make a better connector than that ?

I used Anderson SB50 Powerpole connectors that I purchased at Powerwerx.com.

You can fabricate a cheap combiner box using standard outdoor plastic enclosures with two bus bars mounted inside. Use weatherproof fittings as box entry for the MC4 cables. Alternative is to buy one of the purpose built combiner boxes.

Very difficult to beat Anderson Powerpole connectors for temporary distribution.

RJsfishin wrote:
They suck,... are hard to connect (crimp) onto new cables.
I had 2 of them fail, I forget what happened.
And I had one of those 2 into 1 adapters fail break.
I ended chopping them all off, solder everything in combiner boxes.
We go to the moon and back, and we can't make a better connector than that ?

I've had very good luck with the MC4's used with my portable panels. I don't connnect/disconnect under load, and you do need to pinch the tabs to disconnect a pair. However I've used them for over 4 years, probably over 250 connect/disconnects, been pulled on and abused and haven't had a failure.

I crimp them onto cables with a industrial caliber crimper with the correct crimp die and they have been very robust.

I use them to easily series connect multiple portable panels. then to a mc4 to anderson adapter for the extension cords.

However, proper connections to the wire does need top quality crimpers, not the typical hardware store/harbor freight crimper.

i use the anderson connector for the extension cable and connecting to the trailer.

I am now using MC4 snap- ins but you do need long fingernails to undo them, which I do not always have, so I agree, then they 'suck'.

I like wire- nuts for real quick -connects, but a better way might be actual on/off switches, which are cheap too if you get cheap ones.

It depends how often you need to quick- connect, if they are in the rain, how long are your fingernails, etc. Try something, and if you don't like it try something else! Eventually you will get it right for you.

I also use Anderson Power Poles.