I've waged a 3-month battle with our purchasing department to get the Rennsteig crimpers into our stock. It's much less expensive, better quality, and does a tighter crimp than the MC tool. But.if you actually read the 4-page crimping instructions for MC4 connectors, Multi-Contact is highly specific that only their expensive tool is to be used. (On which they're making about a $200 profit per crimper.) Therefore, any cable ends assembled with the Rennsteig tool could be deemed non-NEC compliant. But really, when was the last time an inspector demanded to see the tool you used to produce your interconnect cables?
I eventually won this battle. We're happy to offer a wide range of Rennsteig crimping, stripping, and cutting tools for MC4, MC3, and Tyco connectors, plus a selection of dies so one crimper can handle all the different connectors. Cheers, Doug Pratt DC Power Systems From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Marco Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 6:19 PM To: 'RE-wrenches' Subject: [RE-wrenches] Rennsteig Crimper Tool With all the changing connnectors, it's tough to keep up with having the right tools. To use the MC4 locking connector from Multi-Contact, you need to use the MC4 crimper pliers. Multi-Contact wants almost $400 for one while distributor is asking for something close $500. However I did find one from a company called Rennsteig Tools out of Ohio. They're selling them for $225/each. Question: does anyone have experience with this particular tool and the MC4 connector? thanks, marco ProVision Solar, Inc. Marco Mangelsdorf, President 69 Railroad Avenue, A-7 Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 (808) 969-3281, (808) 934-7462 fax www.provision-solar.com <http://www.provision-solar.com/>
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: [email protected] Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
