I was given some cable and I'm wondering if it's worth buying a crimper, maybe a hammer-type. My solar setup will need short runs from the panels (max 4m) and battery cables to the busbars and inverter. Spanish panels have MC4s I can't cut. The smaller cable's 5mm (20mm²), too thick for MC4s, can I still use this somehow?
Is it worth getting a crimper for my solar project?
- Thread starter Coops
- Start date
so what's the scenario
Member
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2025
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- 5
Yeah, get yourself a nice crimper, even a hydraulic one if the budget allows. 
Hammer types might do, but you'll go far with a crimp when it comes to safety and reliability. You can use that 20mm² cable with lug terminals instead of MC4s. 
Hammer types might do, but you'll go far with a crimp when it comes to safety and reliability. You can use that 20mm² cable with lug terminals instead of MC4s. 
TheBigFour87
Member
you can simply get some MC4 lug terminal adapter cables. These are short jumpers that will plug into your panels and give you a lug terminal to connect your larger 20mm² cable.
This lets you use your free cable for the high current parts of your system without messing with your panel's connectors
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Using 20mm² cable for just 4mtr panel runs is overkill, unless you've got high currents going on. You'd probably be better off sticking with the right kind of solar cable, which usually falls in the 4-6mm² range, for your panel connections. Save that heavy-duty for your battery and inverter setups.
