MC4 vs MC4 Evo2 vs Amphenol H4 vs Tyco Solarlok vs Renogy: PV Connector Compatibility, Intermateability Listings and How to Identify What Is on Your Module
Sep 10, 2026
Summary: "MC4" names a Staubli product, and most connectors called MC4 are lookalikes from other manufacturers that fit mechanically but are not listed to mate with genuine MC4 or with each other. NEC 690.33(C) requires mated PV connectors to be of the same type from the same manufacturer, or listed and identified as intermateable; mixing brands that merely click together is a code violation and the leading cause of rooftop arc faults in field studies. Staubli MC4 and MC4 Evo2 are listed intermateable with each other by Staubli. Amphenol H4 (UTX) is listed intermateable with Staubli MC4 by Amphenol under UL 6703, the one widely accepted cross-brand pairing. Tyco Solarlok, Multi-Contact MC3, Huber+Suhner Radox, and most import MC4-compatibles are not intermateable with anything but themselves. Identify the connector by the molded marking on the housing, the shape of the locking tabs and the coupling nut, and the UL 6703 file on the datasheet; when a module arrives with an unlisted connector, cut it and crimp a listed one from the array's family rather than adapt.
The families
| Connector | Manufacturer | Listing | Voltage | Current | Listed intermateable with | Identifying marks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MC4 (PV-KBT4 / PV-KST4) | Staubli (formerly Multi-Contact) | UL 6703, TUV | 1000 V (1500 V versions) | 30 A at 12 AWG, 20 A at 14 | MC4 Evo2; Amphenol H4 per Amphenol's listing | MC4 and Staubli or MC molded on housing; two locking tabs released by a spanner; ribbed coupling nut |
| MC4 Evo2 | Staubli | UL 6703, IEC 62852 | 1500 V | 30 to 45 A, 8 to 14 AWG | Original MC4 (per Staubli) | Evo2 molded; larger nut; unlock requires the Evo2 tool; higher-temperature housing |
| H4 / UTX | Amphenol | UL 6703, TUV | 1500 V | 30 to 45 A | Staubli MC4 (Amphenol listing); H4 only | Amphenol H4 or UTX molded; single-piece locking sleeve |
| Solarlok | TE Connectivity (Tyco) | UL 6703 | 1000 V | 30 A | Solarlok only | Rectangular locking clip; keyed positive and negative housings; TE or Tyco marking |
| MC3 | Multi-Contact (legacy) | UL 6703 (older) | 1000 V | 20 A | MC3 only; no positive lock | Smooth round housing, no locking tabs; obsolete, not permitted for new work under 690.33(C) locking requirement |
| Radox Solar | Huber+Suhner | UL 6703 | 1500 V | 40 A | Radox only | H+S marking |
| PV-CN / MC4-compatible imports | Various (Renogy, BougeRV, Jinko OEM, Longi OEM, etc.) | Some UL 6703, many CE or TUV only | 1000 or 1500 V | 30 A | Their own brand only, unless the datasheet names another | Often unmarked or brand-marked; tabs and nut copy MC4 geometry |
Module manufacturers specify the connector on the module datasheet and it is frequently an OEM connector from Jinko, Longi, Canadian Solar or their suppliers (Renhe, QC4, Tonglin, Jiangsu Zhonghuan), not Staubli. That is why an array of new modules with factory leads and installer-crimped MC4 jumpers is, technically, mixed unless the module's datasheet lists Staubli MC4 as intermateable.
What NEC 690.33 requires
- 690.33(C) Type: mating connectors of the same type from the same manufacturer, or listed and identified for intermateability; the listing is the connector manufacturer's, on the datasheet or in the UL file, not the installer's judgment.
- 690.33(D) Interruption: connectors on circuits above 30 V that can be opened under load must be rated for interrupting current, or require a tool to open, or be marked Do Not Disconnect Under Load; MC4-type connectors satisfy this with the spanner tool requirement.
- 690.33(A), (B): polarized, guarded from contact, locking type. MC3 fails the locking requirement.
- 690.31(A): conductors and connectors listed for the environment; UL 6703 covers UV, temperature and IP67 or IP68.
Why mixing fails
Lookalike connectors copy the outside geometry and keep the mating pin and socket diameters within a fraction of a millimeter, but contact spring force, plating, and the seal groove differ. A mixed pair mates with a contact area smaller than either design intended. Resistance is higher, the joint runs hotter under 10 to 15 A of string current, the housing softens, the seal admits moisture, corrosion raises resistance further, and after a few seasons the joint arcs. Fire investigations of rooftop PV routinely trace ignition to a mixed or unlisted connector pair. Insurers and AHJs have caught up; expect the connector question on every inspection.
Identifying a connector in the field
- Read the housing. Staubli molds MC4 and its part number; Amphenol molds H4; TE molds Solarlok; many imports have only a lot code or nothing.
- Look at the locking mechanism. MC4 and its copies use two tabs on the female housing that a spanner pinches; H4 uses a sleeve; Solarlok uses a rectangular clip.
- Check the coupling nut. Evo2's nut is larger with a different rib pattern; 1500 V housings are often marked 1500V DC.
- Find the module datasheet; the connector line names the manufacturer and model and sometimes the listed mates.
- If it cannot be identified, treat it as its own family: replace it or terminate the string with a connector of the array's family, crimped on the module lead.
What to do with a mismatch
| Situation | Correct fix | Not acceptable |
|---|---|---|
| Modules ship with OEM connectors, jumpers are Staubli MC4 | Cut the OEM connector, crimp Staubli MC4 (or the OEM family) on the lead; or buy jumpers in the OEM family | Plugging OEM into MC4 because it clicks |
| Replacing a damaged connector on a Solarlok array | Solarlok replacement from TE | An MC4 with an adapter |
| Extending an MC4 array with H4 jumpers | Acceptable per Amphenol's listing; keep the datasheet in the job file | Assuming any other brand is equivalent |
| 1000 V connector found on a 1500 V string | Replace with 1500 V listed connector of the array's family | Leaving it because it fits |
| Old MC3 array being expanded | Re-terminate to MC4 at the combiner; MC3 is not locking | MC3 to MC4 adapter cables |
Adapters and pigtails that convert one family to another exist; they contain a mixed pair inside and do not resolve 690.33(C) unless the adapter itself is listed as intermateable with both, which almost none are.
Quick answers
Are MC4 connectors from different brands compatible? Mechanically often yes; legally and electrically no, unless one manufacturer lists the other as intermateable under UL 6703. NEC 690.33(C) prohibits mixing otherwise.
Is MC4 Evo2 compatible with MC4? Yes. Staubli lists Evo2 and original MC4 as intermateable.
Is Amphenol H4 compatible with MC4? Yes, per Amphenol's UL 6703 listing of H4 with Staubli MC4; this is the one widely accepted cross-brand pairing.
What connector is on my solar panel? Read the housing marking and the module datasheet; many modules use OEM connectors that are not Staubli MC4 even though they look identical.
Conversions Tech stocks genuine Staubli MC4 and Evo2 pairs alongside UL 6703 listed CT connectors in 1000 and 1500 V, kept in separate bins and labeled by family, and factory-crimped jumpers in either family. Crimping: MC4 crimp procedure; system voltage: string sizing and 1500 V and Evo2.
