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<p>I did some research on the modules we've used over the past 15+
years to see if we had potential mismatched connector issues.
We've used Amphenol H4 connects since the advent of locking solar
connectors. We had assumed they were compatible back then.<br>
</p>
<p>Solarworld switched from MC4 to H4 somewhere back 2013 to 2015. I
didn't even notice. SW 280s through SW 300 looks like H4, while SW
270s and back to the long, skinny SW 165s are MC 4, but its not
that clear, as I found a spec sheet for an SW 260 with an H4. <br>
</p>
<p><u>Conclusion: Basically we can't be sure.</u></p>
<p>Hanwa Q cell, looks like their 60 cell mods run the MC 4 or MC 4
compatible (whatever that means) while their 72 cell mods
apparently use the H4/ UTX <br>
</p>
<p><u>Conclusion: Total confusion in the field.</u></p>
<p>Jinko? They don't even list the connector type on any of the
spec sheets I have for the past few years.</p>
<p><u>Conclusion: No way for a designer/ installer to know
beforehand what connector to use in the field.</u></p>
<p>Basically this is a total break down of responsibility for the
solar industry; a complete lack of standards. Why hasn't an
organization like NEMA stepped in to standardize the connectors
like all AC connectors have been, going back for over a century?
<br>
</p>
<p>I made a very wrong assumption that when our industry adopted the
MC 4/ H4 locking type connectors that they were standardized and
compatible. I can only hope that my systems running at
relatively low voltage (<150 vdc) will not have issues. <br>
</p>
<p><br>
</p>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760</pre>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 9/4/19 4:26 PM, Jerry Shafer wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:CAMUFgmU7UbDmdyWXVhdsOiVcTxAfEbdGR7BXK0oMVt1eup4Qkg@mail.gmail.com">
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
<div dir="auto">Just to add, l had a lab and l did testing on
connectors, we found that most of the aec issues were under low
light. This appeared to be when iradiance was low and once the
irads went up the issue was less likely, this was because the
Male-female contact was not tight enough and under lower power
it would arc instead of heating up and expanding. I used a IR
Camera but could see little change due to the plastic.
<div dir="auto">Then l used an IV curve tester and shaded
partially shaded the module after several repeat testing the
connectors got warm. I would suggest making your own connector
pull out tool to check the contact pressures. This is where
you may find your problem components. It appears that early am
testing had lower volts and the inverter pushed the current up
and causes the loose connector to fail due to the lower
volts. </div>
<div dir="auto">This testing was done both in the field 1/2 meg
and lab testing results were very close.</div>
<div dir="auto">The modules used for testing were Trina and the
field inverters were ABB and Fronius</div>
<div dir="auto">Sorry for the long note</div>
<div dir="auto">Jerry</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
<div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Sep 4, 2019, 2:52 PM
Steven Lawrence <<a href="mailto:lawrencesteven@gmail.com"
moz-do-not-send="true">lawrencesteven@gmail.com</a>>
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0
.8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr">
<div>Everyone,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Just to add to this, I've seen multiple melted
connectors that couldn't be traced to anything other than
mixing manufacturers. I've seen some connectors where you
can clearly seeing arcing on the pin itself and nowhere
else. The crimps and the housing were fine. I've
postulated it had to do with slightly different metals
expanding/contracting at different rates. I've made it a
very hard rule at my company to never mix manufacturers of
connectors. When we order modules, we specifically have
the PO call out the manufacturer of the connector (can't
just be "MC4 compatible"). Typically we order that same
brand of connectors, but sometimes we end up getting 6"
jumpers made by a harness company (there are some
connectors out there that can only work with #12 wire.
Can't use them on #10 homeruns). It's drastically cut
down on the number of melted connectors. We've averaged
maybe 1 or 2 on 6MW projects over a year with this hard
requirement versus 100+ we had on a 1MW rooftop project
that mixed multiple manufacturers.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Steven Lawrence<br>
</div>
</div>
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