What do you need to know about Solar Connectors?

Solar Connectors are made of solar cables. These are used as interconnection cables in photovoltaic
power generation. A solar cable connects the solar panels and other electronic components in a
photovoltaic system. These cables are UV resistant as well as weather resistant. These cables can
be used in areas where there is high temperature and can last up to 25 years.

You can buy solar cables from 0.5 SQMM to 300 SQ MM.

Properties of Solar Connectors/Cables

• UV resistant - complete protection against the ultraviolet rays
• Withstand rough conditions, up to 30 years of life
• Resistant to high temperature, weather, and ozone
• They are Halogen-free - It produce low smoke emission, is less toxic and corrosive on fire
• Flame and Fire retardent
• Highly flexible for easy installation
• These cables can be recycled and satisfy the newly formulated environmental regulations
• Installation becomes easy with a color code (red, blue)
• Can be connected to common connectors
• UL, TUV, UTE, IMQ-certified

Solar Cables - Must-Have Features

The required features of Solar Cables include chemical features, electrical features, thermal features,
mechanical features, and the TUV Certification.

When it comes to chemical features, the cable should be resistant to weather, acids & alkalines, and
mineral oils.

Electrical features - The voltage rating should be 1.5 (1.8) KV DC / 0.6/1.0 (1.2) KV AC. High voltage
test: 6.5 KV DC for 5 minutes.

Thermal features - The maximum conductor temperature of operation must be -120° C during 20000
hours and the minimum operating temperature should be - 40° C.

Mechanical features - The solar cable should be resistant to any kind of impact, tear and corrosion,
the bending radius should be 4 times of overall diameter in minimal and the safe pulling force must
be 50 N/sq mm.

Solar photovoltaic industries use different types of connectors or non-connector junction boxes.

Types of Solar Cables

The different types of solar connectors are as follows:

• MC3
• Radox
• Tyco Solarlok
• MC4
• SMK

MC4

First introduced in 1996, it was one of the widely used connectors then. It was widely used in Europe
and especially Germany when these solar panels were not so common.

Radox

Radox was widely used on the REC series of panels. Radox connectors looked similar to small MC3s
and optionally had a twist-lock connection.

Tyco Solarlok

Tyco Solarlok is one of the first connectors that met all the NEC requirements.

MC4

MC4 is one of the most common and popular connectors found today.MC$ is similar to MC3 when it
comes to electrical components.

SMK

SMK is the new entrant in this category and is the MC4 clones. Sharp and Kyocera panels are
examples for the same.