[C320-list] solar panel wiring

[islgirl3 at aol.com]

Scott,From what I know you do need a special MC4 crimping tool. Also, where do you plan to terminate the output of the controller, directly to the battery or at the charger connection to the battery?
Rich Nuzzolo
897
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Scott Thompson <surprise at thompson87.com>
To: C320-List <C320-List at Catalina320.com>
Sent: Tue, Apr 16, 2019 3:11 pm
Subject: [C320-list] solar panel wiring

I'm installing new PV solar panels on a new bimini and need to make a 
below-decks connection between the standard solar panel wiring (single 
connector 10 gauge wire with insulation rated for outdoor use exposed to 
the weather) to standard two-conductor DC boat wiring used internally to 
the hull. The connection will be made inside the starboard lazarette 
above the fuel tank after bring the cables down the backstay and then 
into the vent on the starboard side of the transom. The panels (3 in 
series) will be outputting a maximum of about 150 watts combined at 
about 30 volts DC total. Call it 6 amps rounding upwards from the actual 
specs. I'm thinking of making the connections using the standard MC4 
connectors that seem to be the standard for solar panel wiring. However 
I'm not sure whether these can be crimped onto the standard DC wiring 
that runs from the transom to the MPPT solar charge regulator near the 
batteries. Has anyone done this? Suggestions for an alternative 
connector? I want connections I can disconnect so that I can attach a 
smaller solar panel during winter layup.

Also, do you really need a special crimping tool for the MC4 connectors? 
Seems like some careful work with needle nose pliers would work fine.

-- 

Scott Thompson
Surprise, #653 (1999)