Quick-Connects - The good, the bad and the ugly [RE-wrenches]

[Joel Davidson]

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Jay, Thank you for your feedback. Anyone else want to ring in?

At the Long Beach show, Multi-Contact was promoting their PV-KST4 (female), 
PV-SBT4 (male) and PV-SSH4 lock clip.

The September 2007 issue of Photon International has a detailed article 
about their module connector testing. Scores ranged from (1.4) very good, to 
(2.5) satisfactory, to (3.5) sufficient, to (6) poor. Tyco Solarlok (1394461 
and 1394462) scored (2.0) good. The old non-locking M/C (KST3 and KBT3) 
scored (2.5) satisfactory, the locking M/C scored (3.1) satisfactory and 
most Chinese connectors scored poorly.

The good/bad news, depending on your politics and your purse, is that the 
Chinese PV manufacturers will get better. They are moving up the learning 
curve faster than the Japanese did and copying almost everything they 
photographed at the show. The bad news is connectors are another part that 
will fail in the field. Use the highest quality connectors and spend more 
time putting connectors on properly and inspecting their assembly and 
installation. Don't let the California incentive 10-year turnkey warranty 
bite you. I strongly recommend that someone other than the assembler or 
installer check all shop and field connectors and connections.

Joel Davidson

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jay Peltz, Peltz Power" <jay at asis.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 9:11 PM
Subject: Re: Quick-Connects - The good, the bad and the ugly [RE-wrenches]


>
> Hi Joel,
>
> I have used MC2, MC4, Tyco.
>
> I like the new Tyco: you can open the junction box and install new  leads 
> if needed.  Also the metal connector seems very solid. Also  will take 
> various wire insulation thickness.
>
> The MC4, has a very flimsy metal connector, I don't like it at all.   Only 
> pro is that it'll take various wire insulation thickness  really  easily.
>
> The MC2, I know its not long for this world but sure liked this one. 
> Solid metal connector, flexible, small,
>
> jay
>
> peltz power
>
>
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>
> 


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