I was going to purchase an MC3 / MC4 crimper until...

[ILFE]

... I found Mike's post in a thread on this site:

Terminals should be crimped only. Proper crimping "cold welds" things together.

Solder wicks up the wire and makes it stiff, creating a "fulcrum" that flexes and breaks the wire at the end of the solder, with any small motion.

I used "Hydraulic Crimping Tool Kit 8 Ton Electric Wire Crimper " which is a metric size. I got mine off an eBay store - http://myworld.ebay.com/sarohs/&_trk...84.m1439.l2754 for about $100

After following the link to the eBay seller Mike dealt with before, I looked up the item in question (which I believe to be the same one he purchased): Hydraulic Crimping Tool Kit 8 Ton Electric Wire Crimper

Mike, did you buy terminals from this same seller? Or, did you purchase them elsewhere?

I am thankful for this site and glad there are members here like you, who contribute as you do, making a "newbies" life much easier.

Thanks,

[Naptown]

... I found Mike's post in a thread on this site:



After following the link to the eBay seller Mike dealt with before, I looked up the item in question (which I believe to be the same one he purchased): Hydraulic Crimping Tool Kit 8 Ton Electric Wire Crimper

Mike, did you buy terminals from this same seller? Or, did you purchase them elsewhere?

I am thankful for this site and glad there are members here like you, who contribute as you do, making a "newbies" life much easier.

Thanks,

that is over kill for what you want and really won't do the job properly. You need to look for an MC4 specific crimper. The crimp style is a bit different on these connectors. (also be prepared for a bit of sticker shock ours cost about $400 US but I have seen them for a little as 35 euro's

[russ]

Search for MC4 crimper tool on ebay - lots there and all price ranges. For home use a cheap one is probably OK but for commercial you should be looking at what Rich was pointing out.

[ILFE]

Thanks!

Thanks, guys.

Yeah, I just want to be able to build my own systems here. It (off grid power) will be necessary, due to the fact that the home is 5 kilometers from the nearest power lines. Considering this is Cambodia, and power here is anything but clean, constant, and reliable, that isn't a bad thing.