MC4 connectors

[team karst]

I had to cut one out and jury rig a fix at sea. It had clearly overheated due to high resistance/corrosion internally. Should these be used on saltwater boats?
Also, this feed is from just a two panel series leg.

[Maine Sail]

Use genuine Multi-Contact brand terminals the knock-offs fail at a very high rate..

[team karst]

I see now that Staubli of Switzerland invented and holds the Trademark.

[Emmalina]

Looks more like the crimp failed to me ! Carry spares

[sailorboy1]

I had one burn out couple years ago. I cut it out and just replaced with shrink butt connector.

[Wotname]

Agree that it looks like a faulty crimp or lack of waterproofing - both of which are poor workmanship, not the fault of style of connector.

[SV Confianza]

Not a true expert here but it might be a sign of a problem somewhere else. If that wire is heating up because of resistance somewhere, it could manifest at a connection.

Smarter people feel free to correct me.

[team karst]

Originally Posted by sailorboy1

I had one burn out couple years ago. I cut it out and just replaced with shrink butt connector.

That is my plan.

[smac999]

looks like it burnt where the wire crimps into the connector, and not where the pins meet...

[smac999]

Originally Posted by SV Confianza

Not a true expert here but it might be a sign of a problem somewhere else. If that wire is heating up because of resistance somewhere, it could manifest at a connection.

Smarter people feel free to correct me.

no, the high resistance is at the exact point of the melting.... it would not be somewhere else.

[Smokeys Kitchen]

Buying the ones you are directed to on Amazon from Maine Sail’s Site helps him out as well. ��

[Scubaseas]

I agree with the poor crimp theory. You need to use a crimper designed for MC4 connectors.
If you go to butt connectors, they use a different crimper depending on if heat shrink tube or not.
Talking with a solar installer the "bad" connections they get are all from not crimping properly. But they use real connectors, not cheap Chinesium ones.