What is This Component Used for ? Crimping Kit

SageBrush
SageBrush Registered Users Posts: 19 ✭✭
in PV Installers Forum - NEC, Wiring, Installation #1
Hi all,

The MC4 connectors are quite spiffy, although I'm hesitant to start using them until I understand why my crimp kit came with these two metal objects I've outlined and magnified in the photo below.  Thanks!



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  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    They are plates for your crimper for some other type of crimps.

    A quick note, Try to buy 19 strand wire, much easier, in my opinion to crimp. If you already have 9 strand, it will be difficult, I usually clip one of the strands and watch as it crimps, sometime if it's having a hard time passing through the thick strands, you can twist the wire gently to get a proper crimp.
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,113 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 2017 #3
    They're MC-3 dies as detailed in the product listing title.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/ProsKit-MC3-and-MC4-Solar-Crimping-Tool-Kit-9-Piece-/112438137422?hash=item1a2dd5d24e:g:CDkAAOSwwzhZPAea
    You'll probably never use them. If you do you will find out one reason why they are obsolete. Inserting the contacts into the rubber housing of MC-3 contacts is nearly impossible without a special tool to expand the rubber. The only ones I have ever seen were very expensive. You are better off removing MC-3's and replacing them with MC-4's where you aren't concerned with warranty issues,


    Here's one of the tools,
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/Multi-Contact-OEM-MC3-Booting-System-Boot-Assembly-Tool-Kit-/290939321076?hash=item43bd55baf4:m:mRS7sBnukRiDMtcXYlFeuAQ

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    the small handle crimpers are only good up to about #10 wire, any larger, you need the 4' handles or hydraulic crimpers.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
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  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #5
    mike95490 said:
    the small handle crimpers are only good up to about #10 wire, any larger, you need the 4' handles or hydraulic crimpers.

    Mike, You can comfortably do up to 4 gauge with hand crimpers, (they are a bit longer than this!) and MC4 connectors are only listed for up to 8 gauge and they are rarely found in 8 gauge. Set is made for MC connectors.
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
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  • Lumisol
    Lumisol Registered Users Posts: 374 ✭✭✭
    #6
    Those are the dies to use in the crimper to give it a greater range of sizes.

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