External Connection to Solar Panels

[FASTLIKEJUDY]

Hello, We are adding solar to our toy hauler.  Our panels will be portable.  Is there a nice, weatherproof MC4 connector panel we can mount on the side of our toy hauler for relatively frequent connection and disconnection.  I would prefer one with 10 gage, 2 ft pigtails to conenct to the charge controller.  Thank you for your assistance.
KRR

 

[John61CT]

No need to stick to MC4.

I'd go with Andersons myself, or a marine trolling motor connector if I were paranoid about water.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Also, MC4's are not rated for frequent plugging and unplugging with high levels of current, but Andersons are.

Here is an adapter and they also sell various mating receptacles.

https://powerwerx.com/solar-mc4-and...MInJWbx7XH2wIVTbjACh02pQhvEAQYAiABEgJAn_D_BwE

 

[FASTLIKEJUDY]

Thank you, I had not thought of the Anderson connector.  That is the path I am taking, they work well on my fathers snow plow hookup.

Thanks again
KRR

 

[Almost There]

My portable panels are connected with regular extension cord wire and plugs that were specifically wired with the correct polarity. First the MC4 connectors that were on the panels were wired to a pair of MC4 pig tails. The other end of the MC4 pig tails are wired to male connectors and plugged in to a 3 way - it was clear plastic so we could see the color of the wiring and used it as the baseline for everything else for polarity.

The 3 way is only a 3' cord so that plugs in to a 25' extension cord that had both ends replaced so as to guarantee polarity. 

The van is wired with a Marinco "Inlet Charger' outlet (it's male) and is hardwired to the solar charger.

Since both the 3way cord and the inlet charger are both male, the extension cord has female connectors on both ends. This effectively prevents it from being used as a regular extension cord.

I did this because both MC4 and Anderson connectors are difficult for me to connect and disconnect due to older arthritic hands!

 

[John61CT]

Super ***SUPER*** dangerous, no one else do this please.

Never repurpose mains AC connectors for other purposes, could easily kill someone down the road.

Would get you jail time in well-regulated jurisdictions, quite rightly.

In the U.S. would just wipe you out financially, not harsh enough a deterrent IMO.

 

[Almost There]

John61CT, it is not a 'Mains' connection at all.

There is no connection to anything except the solar panels.

Obviously you are misunderstanding the connections.

There is no liability problem whatsoever since the only connections are from my property (the solar panels) to my property  (the rest of the solar system).

 

[John61CT]

I stand by what I said, if you are using AC wiring ends for anything but their intended use.

I realise in America you'll get away with it.

Doesn't make it right, when you're dead and gone can still kill someone.

A licensed electrician in a more developed country could literally get you arrested.

But your rig your choice, just warning others not to follow your example.

Post in the expedition portal or caravanners forum, plenty of savvy sparkies there know their stuff will back me up.

They already think we Yanks are stark raving loonies anyway, this'll just confirm it.

 

[B and C]

I use a 50 foot 12/3 regular extension cord to place my portable panels remotely. I put a male 120V connector on the panel and a female 120V connector going to my solar charge controller. I use a three way 120V adapter to tie my permanent and portable system together in parallel. I wired using the green and white wires as my conductors as those are normally neutral and ground and have the larger blades. The black wire (which I don't use) is the hot wire normally. This allows me to use my extension cord as an extension cord also (giving it two uses) and by only using the green and white wire nothing will happen if some dumb a** decides to plug the solar panel into the mains. I am really glad I don't live in an over regulated jurisdiction.

 

[highdesertranger]

LOL Almost There is not a yank, she is a canuck. highdesertranger

 

[DannyB1954]

In the USA you can also use a plug designed for 230 Volts on your solar. Not likely anyone will have an outlet that they can plug it into, (one barb is sideways so it won't plug into a 120 Volt outlet ). I wouldn't worry about what someone else would do with it anyway. It is your rig and it is low voltage. If you sell the thing, you can cut the plugs off and let them figure out what they want to use. I don't see a shock hazard anyway. If anything it would just ruin the equipment.

One thing on the wire, if using an extension cord wire get the large gauge one. For a 100 feet, I would use 10 gauge. Not because the high amperage rating but because the thinner the wire is, the more electrical resistance you will have. This drops the voltage at the other end.