Error in manual for Pecron e2000 solar generator?

wwjda2z

Hello, I'm trying to set up a 6 panel (1200 watt) system for a friend using the Pecron E2000LFP. I think the manual has an error in the wiring for the 6 panel diagram, but I want to make sure I'm thinking right.

The attached image shows part of the manual's 6 panel wiring diagram. It shows a positive plug from the panel linked to the male housing on the unit's "MC4 Charging cable". Below that is shown an example of every other diagram in the manual - the positive plug is linked to the female housing on the "MC4 Charging Cable".

I messaged Pecron's support and they sent a simple reply to 'assemble it as shown in the manual', but I find it hard to believe that the 6 panel setup is meant to reverse the polarity compared to all other configurations. I think the upper image has mistakenly reversed the black (-) and red (+) lines. Am I missing something?  

 

wwjda2z

I can provide additional information if that would help. The E2000LFP manual in question is available here:

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0509/5263/4556/files/pecron_E2000LFP_user_manual_100V_120V_-20220919.pdf?v=1666418684

BB.

Welcome to the forum wwjda2z,

You are correct, on the page with 6x panels, all of the panel plugs are reversed polarity from the rest of the manual--And they also have reversed the polarity on the power cables to the controller....




From our host, the general connection polarity is:

Note: "Male vs Female" descriptions of connects can be fraught with disagreement... I will call the upper left with the red wire (positive) as male, and the upper right is female because of the plastic housing... But referring to the internal contacts, the physical metal "socket" is positive, and the other physical pin is negative...

So describing the MC4 connector as male/female depends if you are talking about the plastic shroud/nose or the plastic receptacle, or the metal pins themselves.

Referring to an MC4 specification (always go back to the original specifications):

https://dnmsolar.com/product.php?product=146 (note "Female connector with metal pin")


https://www.achasoda.com/upload/filestorage/alibaba/img/2826/1577435246321.jpg

Note this mfg. calls the same connector as male...

And two different brands, don't even agree... That did not clarify anything.

The confusion of Male/Female connectors has led to confusion (years/decades?) ago as to +/- and Male/Female polarity confusion with at least one solar panel mfg. too... Here is a good company, Kyocera and their polarity specs:

https://asia.kyocera.com/products/uploads/Spec_Sheet_KK275P-3CD3CG.pdf

Which agrees with the majority of the manual drawings and disagrees specifically with the 6x wiring drawings' polarity.

I would guess that the manual is wrong on the 6x panel page... But you are correct that you should get them to tell you which drawing polarity is correct for their unit. Unless you are willing to take the (probably small) risk of damaging your charge controller if the "guess" is wrong. Major solar panel manufacturers have gotten this wrong before.

-Bill "sorry for the long post" B.

mike_s

BB. said:

Referring to an MC4 specification (always go back to the original specifications):

Yes, but you haven't referenced the original specification. The MC4 was created by Multi-Contact (now Staubli). Here's their datasheet. It's clear that gender is based on the contacts, not the shroud. That's the common convention for connectors, although obviously some screw it up. Any manufacturer who says otherwise is just plain wrong.

BB.

Thank you Mike,

That is what I expected (contact based M/F). I did look up the Tycon spec--And they did not even mention M/F of connectors.

-Bill

wwjda2z

Thank you BB for corroborating. Feels much safer to have a second brain chime in when I'm working on $1200 worth of someone else's equipment The system is now hooked up and working as expected. Thanks so much! I think Pecron hasn't noticed the issue because most people use premade wiring which you can't hook up backwards. I was custom crimping all the wiring myself.

The male/female thing is probably always going to be confusing since laymen like me will constantly be referencing them based on the visible 'shroud' even though the pins are opposite. In automotive work (my trade) we always refer to plugs as male/female based on the plastic shroud. It would not be functional to refer to a plug based on its pin gender since you can't see the pins 50% of the time and don't want to take the time to check them 100% of the time. No matter how correct, calling the male MC4 shroud a 'female' is probably a losing battle since most people will think 'male' at first glance.

Thanks everyone!