Samlex America SCW-20-2 - Manual

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2. The Negative (-) wire of the solar panel is terminated with a MC4 Male Connector (marked -). Connect
this to the MC4 Female Connector of the SWC-20-2 wire. Make sure that the locking tabs “snap in”
for a fi rm connection. The bare end of the SWC-20-2 wire will now be of Negative polarity.
3. Connect the two wires to the external PV circuit.
Warning!
Ensure that the polarity (+ or -) of the wires is identifi ed correctly before connecting to a circuit or a device.
Damage due to wrong polarity may not be covered under warranty.
Connecting two adjacent solar panels in parallel (Fig. 5)
To external
PV circuit
SCW-20-2 Kit
SBC-2 Kit
MC4 male
branch connector (+)
MC4 female
branch connector (-)
Fig. 5. Connecting two adjacent solar panels in parallel
Two or more solar panels can be connected in parallel to increase the current output at the same output voltage.
Fig. 5 above shows the arrangement for connecting two solar panels in parallel using the SCW-20-2 Connecting
Wire Kit and the MC4 Branch Connector Kit (SBC-2) sold separately. This arrangement is applicable if the two solar
panels are to be mounted adjacent to each other.
The output wires of the two solar panels are fi rst connected in parallel using the MC4 Male and Female Branch
Connectors. The outputs of the Branch Connectors are then connected to the SCW-20-2 wires for connecting to the
external PV circuit.
Connecting two solar panels in parallel when separated by a distance (Fig. 6)
To external
PV circuit
Female MC4
connector
Male MC4
connector SCW-20-2 Kit
SBC-2 Kit
SCW-20-2 Kit
MC4 male
branch connector (+)
MC4 female
branch connector (-)
Fig. 6. Connecting two solar panels in parallel that are separated by an extended distance
Fig. 6 above shows an arrangement for connecting two solar panels in parallel that are separated by an extended
distance. In this case, the following will be required:
• SCW-20-2 Connecting Wires Kit - 2 sets
• One MC4 Male Branch Connector and one MC4 Female Branch Connector sold separately as an
optional kit – Model No. “SBC-2” Kit
• One MC4 Male Connector and one MC4 Female Connector sold separately as an optional kit – Model
No. “MC4-2“
In this case, one Connecting Wire Kit “SWC-20-2” and the optional MC-4 Connectors Kit “MC4-2” are fi rst used to
bridge the extended distance between the panels. The optional Branch Connector “SBC-2” Kit is used to parallel the
two solar panels. The second Connecting Wire Kit “SWC-20-2” is used to connect to the external PV circuit.
In MC4 Female Connector (4, of Fig. 2), the internal mating contact insert (5 of Fig. 2) is a female cylindrical socket.
It has two “snap-in” type of locking tabs (6 of Fig. 2) that are inserted into the two slots (3 of Fig .2) in the MC4
Male Connector (1 of Fig. 2) for fi rm mating connection.
Wire is crimped to the contact inserts (2 and 5 of Fig. 2) using a special purpose crimping tool designed for MC4
connectors. After the wire has been crimped, the contact insert is required to be seated securely inside the housing
and the strain relief / seal (7 of Fig. 2) is to be tightened fully to provide a water-tight seal.
1. MC4 Male connector (marked “-”)
2. Male contact insert
3. Slots for accepting “snap-in” type of locking tabs of the mating MC4 female connector
4. MC4 Female connector (marked “+”)
5. Female contact insert
3. “Snap-in” type of locking tabs of the mating with the slots on the MC4 female connector
7. Strain relief and seal
1
2
6
4
5
3
7
7
6
3
Fig. 2. MC4 Male and Female Connectors
Note: Additional pairs of male/female MC4 connectors are also sold separately (Model No. "MC4-2 Kit")
Output wires and connections on the solar panel
Fig. 4 shows the output wires and connections on a solar panel. The output wires from the junction box of the
solar panel are terminated with the help of MC4 connectors. The Positive (+) wire is terminated with a MC4 Female
Connector (marked "+") and the Negative wire is terminated with a MC4 Male Connector (marked "-").
Warning!
When the surface of the solar panel / array is exposed to sunlight, a DC voltage appears at the output terminals
turning it into a live voltage source. For example, a 24 V nominal solar panel my put out an open circuit voltage of
around 45 VDC that may produce electrical shock. Multiple solar panels connected in series (to increase the output
voltage) will put out higher lethal voltages To avoid any electrical shock hazard during installation, make sure
that the solar panel / array is covered with an opaque (dark) material to block solar irradiation .
INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
The SCW-20-2 Connecting Wire Kit can be used to connect your solar panel / array to external solar / photo-voltaic
(PV) circuits which may include a Charge Controller, Combiner Box or Grid Connected Inverter.
Connecting to the output wires of the solar panel (Fig. 4)
Solar Panel
with MC4 connectors
SCW-20-2 Kit
To external
PV circuit
Use a piece of red sleeve or red tape
for identification as positive (”+”) wire
Fig 4. Connecting SWC-20-2 wires to the output wires of solar panel
1. The Positive (+) wire of the solar panel is terminated with a MC4 Female Connector (marked +).
Connect this to the MC4 Male Connector (marked -) of the SWC-20-2 wire. Make sure that the locking
tabs “snap in” for a fi rm connection. The bare end of the SWC-20-2 wire will now be of Positive
polarity. Use a piece of red sleeve or red tape near the bare end for identifi cation as the Positive(+) wire.