Can I butt splice a solar panel wire?

[HereWeGo]

Installing a Renogy flexible panel on top of the RTT. The lead wires are too short to route under the RTT to make a MC4 connection. I really don't want the MC4's hanging out on the top of the RTT (wind, rain, UV). I will use metal connectors with a heavy-duty crimp tool and solder the ends, then a couple of layers of adhesive heat shrink. Is there anything special about solar wires that would make this a bad idea?

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[AverageJoe]

Do it. If it is just twisted wire in insulation, it is a simple splice.

 

[xman1564]

Installing a Renogy flexible panel on top of the RTT. The lead wires are too short to route under the RTT to make a MC4 connection. I really don't want the MC4's hanging out on the top of the RTT (wind, rain, UV). I will use metal connectors with a heavy-duty crimp tool and solder the ends, then a couple of layers of adhesive heat shrink. Is there anything special about solar wires that would make this a bad idea?

id be afraid to coment on it? some people on here go into atack mode when you coment?

 

[HankB]

Use the proper size for the wires heat shrink crimp connectors. I’ve been using them on boats for about three decades now without problems. I’ve even used them in bilges where they could be submerged from time to time

We had a solar panel on the cabin of the current boat when we bought it. The lines were spliced with heat shrink connectors and had been in service for about 8 years. When I removed the panel the circuits were still fine but the panel had deteriorated over time and would no longer keep the batteries up. So the connectors outlasted the solar panel.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Installing a Renogy flexible panel on top of the RTT. The lead wires are too short to route under the RTT to make a MC4 connection. I really don't want the MC4's hanging out on the top of the RTT (wind, rain, UV). I will use metal connectors with a heavy-duty crimp tool and solder the ends, then a couple of layers of adhesive heat shrink. Is there anything special about solar wires that would make this a bad idea?

100% what the others have said. I use marine type sealing heat shrink on many of my Jeep connections. They seal with a glue that melts when you shrink it but you likely already know that. A good crimp or a good Western Union joint and sealing heat shrink.
(I like a good quality crimp)
Hank said it - solar panels only last so many years - bet your connections last longer.

 

[AverageJoe]

Hehehe...Ditto on the Western Union Splice! That takes me back to my college electronics classes in the 70's. Best cable splicing method ever invented (at the time). And still a good one now!

 

[Free2roam]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2035388330...ar=504060822003&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Not sure if this helps
Or this
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2937265629...ar=593906691088&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[HereWeGo]

100% what the others have said. I use marine type sealing heat shrink on many of my Jeep connections. They seal with a glue that melts when you shrink it but you likely already know that. A good crimp or a good Western Union joint and sealing heat shrink.
(I like a good quality crimp)
Hank said it - solar panels only last so many years - bet your connections last longer.

Thanks for chiming in Bill, and Hank and Joe. I've had a boat for 30 years and have done hundreds of marine heat shrink connections. I have never dealt with solar and wasn't sure if there was something special about it. I didn't think there would be, but had to make sure. Thanks!!

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