How to wire a solar junction box and assemble PV cables

Learn how to repair, replace or rewire a solar junction box, as well as how to assemble PV wire for the rest of your solar electric system using MC4 connectors.
⏱️Timestamps:
0:06 Intro
0:33 An overview of junction boxes
0:46 Cutting and stripping PV wire
1:22 Connecting PV wire in a junction box
2:51 Introduction to MC4 connectors
3:13 Components of an MC4 connector
3:29 Positive and negative polarity for MC4 connectors
4:20 Installing an MC4 connector on PV wire
7:09 Preparing PV extension cable
8:21 Pairing and joining MC4 connectors
9:21 Disconnecting MC4 connections
9:57 Other videos and resources
🗎 Publication:
Working on Solar Wiring and Fusing (EB-2023-0676)
go.umd.edu/EB-2023-0676
For more information, visit: go.umd.edu/FarmSolar

[@sean8900]

Perfect! Thanks!

[@Jerbrown]

great vid

[@CharlieArehart1]

Thanks for the very helpful video, Drew. But if you may ever edit/revise it, note that at 5:35 you don't actually show sliding the seal and strain relief into position before covering them with the end-cap, which could be confusing to folks getting started with things. That said, you DO show it more clearly on the next connection at 6:45. Not a huge deal for people who see both, though it would have been less noticeable if it was the first which had been shown completely. :-)

[@knightofcydonia1192]

Would there be a detriment to using 8 gauge instead of 10 for a 12-volt 100W panel in a parallel array of 4x of these 100w panels, besides that it might be hard to find typical housing of a general solar junction box that would accommodate 8 AWG wire? I've seen others use 12 and it always bothered me, but seeing you used 10, I figured I would pop the question.

[@jordz3871]

What kind of wire is that you used in solar panels

[@kurtjohnson3805]

You advocate that male pins go in female connectors but this is inconsistent with information published elsewhere. How does one resolve opposing viewpoints. Is there a standard associated with MC4?

[@ptchjamie]

www.donrowe.com/v/vspfiles/pdf/mc4-2_owners_guide.pdf

[@Jeremy-lg4eb]

Thats the only way they work.... I don't know where you got that they work any other way but thats not the case.

[@SebrinaQiu]

Just a friendly reminder. The picture you showed there seems to be wrong. I mean the picture of male connector and female connector need to be reversed.

[@Jeremy-lg4eb]

male metal connector in the female MC4, Female metal connector in the male MC4. Its not rocket science..
They do not need reversed.