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03-22-2018, 12:35 AM
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#1
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Journeyman
2016 25' International
Amherst
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 956
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Y connecters vs. Combiner Box
All,
I'm prepping for a solar install in April and researching it to death.
Most people seem to use combiner boxes, but Renogy kits just use a series of MC4 Y connectors to get from all the panels to just a pair of conductors heading down into the trailer.
There's something appealing to me about the Y connectors since it makes the system totally modular (I could pull off a panel just by disconnecting a Y rather than opening up a box... no tools needed ) but I'm not sure of any downsides.
Any thoughts on this?
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03-22-2018, 06:45 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master  
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Y connecters vs. Combiner Box
I’m doing both. Existing panel is in combiner, the two I’m adding will use MC-4 connectors then one set of wires into combiner that is already on roof. There are several other wires for antennas that I pass through the box for convenience. One hole, multiple uses....but I’m running out of places to put the cable glands. I’d love a much bigger box but I’ll run with what I have for now. Gets crowded in there[emoji18]
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it. 
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03-24-2018, 03:47 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2022 25' Flying Cloud
NCR
, Ontario
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 3,102
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i got these off amazon
10 pack male/email pair with pins for $14
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03-24-2018, 03:59 PM
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#4
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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I used MC4-Y connectors
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03-24-2018, 04:00 PM
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#5
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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How many watts are you adding.
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03-24-2018, 05:39 PM
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#6
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Journeyman
2016 25' International
Amherst
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 956
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GMFL
How many watts are you adding.
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400 watts
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03-24-2018, 06:23 PM
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#7
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thiel
400 watts
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I would go with a combiner box for four panels. I just used 2 panels on my install and that’s way I used the MC4-Ys on mine.
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03-24-2018, 07:52 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1966 24' Tradewind
1995 34' Excella
Lynchburg
, Virginia
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,226
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GMFL
I would go with a combiner box for four panels. I just used 2 panels on my install and that’s way I used the MC4-Ys on mine.
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For 2 panels, why did you not just wire them in series? No Y connector needed.
Dan
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03-24-2018, 08:52 PM
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#9
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Overkill Specialist
Commercial Member
2020 30’ Globetrotter
2014 23' International
Dadeville
, Alabama
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 4,516
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TouringDan
For 2 panels, why did you not just wire them in series? No Y connector needed.
Dan
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Because parallel is the way to go. Better overall results and out put with the whole system not going down due to shadows.
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03-25-2018, 12:31 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2018 25' Flying Cloud
Portland
, Oregon
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,320
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There are these 4-way cables as well. I’ll use a combiner box on mine since it will be 500watts.
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04-15-2018, 10:47 PM
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#11
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Journeyman
2016 25' International
Amherst
, Massachusetts
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 956
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I discovered a detail here: MC4 connectors are designed for 10 gauge wire or smaller. I had hoped to step up to 6 awg as soon as possible to preserve voltage... and that means I can't really use MC4s for my entire run.
SO... I have to run 10 awg MC4 connected wires to a combiner box, then run the 6awg out of the combiner.
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