MC4 Crimp tool

[DaveDE2]

Can anybody recommend an inexpensive MC4 crimp tool? I've only got a dozen or so crimps to make, then this thing will probably live at the bottom of my tool box until they bury me. Thanks.

[ncs55]

The cheapest ones that I have seen are the Eclipse brand for about 40-50 bucks. But you have to order them. I opted for the Knipex, German made crimpers. It is a very nice and well built tool. But I use mine daily.

[ButchDeal]

Can anybody recommend an inexpensive MC4 crimp tool? I've only got a dozen or so crimps to make, then this thing will probably live at the bottom of my tool box until they bury me. Thanks.

another option is to buy ready made extension cables of double the length you need. They have a male and female connection. Cut it in half with the cut end in the J-Box and you have factory crimped MC4 connections on the other end.
This is what I did for my home job.

[SunEagle]

To me it sounds like good advice to spend that 50 bucks to know your wiring isn't going to quickly fail and take down a system costing thousands of dollars.

Going with an inexpensive tool could give you false sense of security that you have saved some money only to find out it didn't do the job which ends up killing the whole system.

When it comes tools IMO it is not wise to be penny wise and pound foolish.

[DaveDE2]

To me it sounds like good advice to spend that 50 bucks to know your wiring isn't going to quickly fail and take down a system costing thousands of dollars.

Going with an inexpensive tool could give you false sense of security that you have saved some money only to find out it didn't do the job which ends up killing the whole system.

When it comes tools IMO it is not wise to be penny wise and pound foolish.

Right on, I could easily solder them here in the lab but I think I'll take ncs55's (and your) advice and get a crimper. Thanks.

[Mike90250]

soldering connections only makes sense in a lab setting. Soldered high amp connections introduce several new failure mechanisms.