Best Solar & Wind Power Parts & Accessories in 2022

Last update: December 30, 2022

BougeRV MC3 MC4 Solar Crimping Tools for 2.5-6.0mm² Solar Panel PV Cable Review:


These wires are what I bought to attach two solar panels to my Goal Zero 1000. I also had to acquire a crimper for the connectors as well as some Anderson PowerPole 45 amp connectors. To keep the two cables together and manageable, I additionally wrapped them in mesh sleeving.Although the cable looks adequate, I had hoped for considerably greater flexibility. The copper is really quite finely stranded and thick. Although a little snug, the connectors function. I didn't think the connectors would lock together when I initially tried to connect them to my panels. I struggled to get them to lock, but I did.Positives: The cables have a nice appearance and have pre-installed connectors on one end that are gender-appropriate for my panels.Negatives: * Stiff cable (not a big problem but makes them a bit awkward to deploy). Tight couplings were made considerably easier by covering them with cable wrap. This could be advantageous. Given their tightness, it is challenging to get them to latch into the connectors on your panel. They did lock, but it required considerable work, raising worries that they would shatter when joined.The link to the sleeving I used to wrap the cables for convenience of use is provided below:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073YLDMMF/ref=ppx yo dt b asin title o01 s00?ie=UTF8



BougeRV MC4 Connectors Y Branch Parallel Adapter Cable Wire Plug Tool Kit for Solar Panel Review:


There are F/MM and M/FF in this set. Both must parallel a single set of two panels. I only received one of the two when I ordered these, so I had to contact the vendor, who then provided me the other. It is difficult to determine where the error originated, but it was fixed.These were placed outside by me, and they have now been there for more than seven months with ice and snow from the roof falling on them. Rain and snow have not required any adjustments, and they have continued to work normally. I'm really happy with these and would purchase them again if necessary.



Renogy Solar Panel Mounting Z Bracket Mount Supporting for RV, Roof, Boat, set of 4 Units Review:


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Signstek MC3 MC4 Solar Crimping Tools for 2.5-6.0mm² Solar Panel PV Cable Review:


This crimping tool has the writing "iwiss" (sp) written comically on the side. Having said that, the tool was incredibly effective for me. I used it to crimp more than 100 MC4 connectors, and each one went pretty much without a hitch. The tool has a strong ratchet mechanism and appears to be well-made. Although I can't answer to its long-term endurance, it should be excellent for small batches.When performing the crimp, you must insert the wire while holding the pin between the jaws. I discovered that if you slightly compress the pin, you can crimp it till the ratchet disengages while still having room for the wire to be inserted.



WindyNation 10 Gauge 10 AWG One Pair 3 Feet Black + 3 Feet Red Solar Panel Extension Cable Wire MC4 Connector Review:


The 10Guage may be thinner than I had anticipated. I believed I desired these. In the end, I am aware that I want a method for quickly disconnecting the battery and the panels. I have MC4 plugs on my panels. As a result, my husband made an Anderson Y conversion for the two 50 watt solar panels I have. Now all I have to do is unplug the Andersons from both ends, essentially close the flexible solar panels I constructed at home in the shape of a bookcase, wheel the battery away from inclement weather, etc. No longer confined to attempting to unlock the MC4s with specialized tools. Having said that, buy a brand-new 30 foot pair of Windy Nation shoes. I'll probably try to sell something on Amazon. We examined the single cable, the double wires inside, and the conversions with both panels, and everything is in working order. Since I sometimes camp alone, without my husband, a girl companion, or visitors, I often need to respond quickly if the weather changes. It's also simpler to cope with a quick system than the MC4's. The MC4s are obviously well-liked for residential use, however I was having trouble with them while traveling. I do hope that my husband's creation could be purchased in a high-quality commercial edition. He spent a full day building it before realizing he had switched a plug. We know it's good, but if someone were to tamper with it without permission—and not us—I'll mark it with some red electrician's tape to help.



Renogy 9In 12 AWG Solar Panel and Controller Connector Adaptor Wire MC4 Extension Cables Review:


These were bought to use with a Suaoki 100W flexible panel, and they connect without any issues. The thickness of the wire seems to be just a hair thicker than 12 gauge, but not nearly 10 gauge. The average thickness is.950", or around 11AWG. It is probably a mistake in how they changed the wire's size to American standards because the wire looks to be from a Chinese firm. Another explanation is that the increase in size was produced by the wire's end appearing to have been tinned. I finally decided to connect it to utilizing a 10 gauge (45 Amp) Anderson Power Pole connector. It did not play; it crimped on. For 12 and 14 gauge wire, the 30 amp connectors were too tiny, preventing some strands of copper from fitting into the connector.It was more convenient than creating my own cable assembly because I only needed this one set of connectors.Despite claims to the contrary in several reviews, I don't notice any polarity marks on mine. In the end, I marked the connectors with silver Sharpie to match the markings I had made on the panel for polarity.



Renogy MC4 Y Branch Connectors Solar MC4 Connectors Y connector Solar panel mounts in Pair MMF+FFM Review:


All MC4 connectors cannot be used with these wrenches. I bought these wrenches and MC4 connectors from Amazon Prime. When attempting to install and tighten the connectors, the wrenches slipped on the gland nut. They slipped so much that I was able to tighten them by hand instead of using wrenches. I was about to return the wrenches when I discovered that Renogy also produces MC4 connections. The wrenches fit well on a pack of Renogy connectors that I bought as a result. The gland nuts used by Renogy connections have torx-like lobes, which offer a perfect way to secure the tool to the nut. As a result, when tightening, the wrench does not at all slip on the nut. I deducted a star simply because I believe there should have been a warning that these wrenches are for Renogy connectors and might not function on other MC4 connectors in the product description. The product description lead me to believe that MC4 was a standard and that this wrench would work with all MC4 connectors. In addition, the contact material on the Renogy connections seems to have a nicer silver coating than the other connectors I bought. Anyway, I hope this prevents you from making the same mistake I did. Although I am relatively new to the different solar product manufacturers that are available, Renogy has so far been a good experience for me.