I can't find MC4 connectors anywhere, and I've heard rumors of everything from a broken machine tool in their Swiss factory to Chinese projects ordering tens of thousands thus tying up the entire manufacturing capacity. I am hoping there is an alternative as it seems silly for such an important piece in this industry to be so proprietary.
I recently came across the Amphenol Helios H4 connectors... are these compatible with MC4 connectors? Could this really be a relief from being tied down to MC4?!
Comments
Yes, the Amphenol Helios connectors are a great solution for the MC4 supply shortage. They work perfectly with MC4 connectors and I have been using them on my projects for most of the summer. The only issue is that they do not have UL certification. This is only an issue for certain projects and does not effect any of my current residential or commercial installs. I know Greentech Renewables sells them, here is a link
https://www.greentechrenewables.com/product/amphenol-pv-100508-f
https://www.greentechrenewables.com/product/amphenol-pv-100508-m
Hope this helps. - Jon
Hi
We are selling MC4 and sollar accesories in the UK. Good lukc with all the installs.
MC4 pair = £2.80 each
MC4 Pair x 10 = £1.899 each
MC4 Pair x 100 = £1.36 each
Cross-mating any connector, regardless of the brands involved, is not a UL approved connection. It does not matter that both connectors may have independent UL approvals, as they were tested to their own, specific individual tolerances and specifications.
On a personal note, I have seen numerous connections failing due to cross mating issues. The issue is that the metallurgical chemistry of the contacts are going to be different unless they are from the same manufacturer. Over time, the difference in chemical composition causes oxidation and other issues that can lead to temperature rise and other problems. Another issue is that, as a company, Multi-Contact probably does not release tolerances for their products, as I'm sure Amphenol and other manufacturers don't either. This results in possible gaps in the contacts when cross mating, which leads to arcing, and ultimately connector failure.
I’ve personally seen these overheat in the field. They are not compatible. In addition, I’ve seen the remnants from installers using MC4 pins inside of H4 housings. This is also not UL approved, and results in arc faulting.