Global Connector Manufacturer Introduces New Renewable Energy Product

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An electrical connector manufacturer with nearly 70 years in the industry continues to grow its product offerings, keeping connectors from becoming the limiting factor in increasingly large electrical systems. Stäubli Electrical Connectors will be introducing a new solar connector next year to improve upon its original MC4 cable coupler, addressing North America's rising need for cable components that can handle the larger size, greater power output, and higher line current of today's photovoltaic (PV) systems.

"The new cable coupler bridges the gap between existing connector products and the increased demands of new, innovative module technologies," says Brian Mills, Stäubli's North American head of renewable energy, explaining that bifacial and half-cell configurations have been driving electrical Balance of System (eBOS) line currents to levels that are substantially higher.

Slated for release in Q1 of 2023, the UL 6703 Certified MC4 Cable Coupler for 6AWG Cable has a larger wire gauge, making it ideal for large-scale products. It's an expansion of Stäubli's proprietary MC4 connector technology, now with the capability to connect 6AWG through for greater PV system output. The coupler is rated for 1,500 Volts and 95 Amps DC, and can accommodate bare or tinned copper conductors of 6AWG, in addition to low-strand-count conductors.

It has full-barrel crimp construction for its copper contacts and will be compatible with Stäubli's other MC4 or MC4-Evo2 products. Stäubli's MULTILAM technology gives each connector multiple points of contact and continual spring pressure. These design characteristics allow the coupler to achieve high connection quality and energy transfer with minimal contact resistance for eBOS and renewable energy applications like outdoor solar farms.

Stäubli holds the trademark for the MC4 coupler, and this product has made more than one billion connections across the globe.

This article was sponsored by Stäubli Electrical Connectors, a company offering worldwide support to clients in the robotic, connector, and textile sectors. For more details about their new solar connector, visit Stäubli's website.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of Staubli