MC4 or SAE solar cable
Updated: October 2026
You are fitting a suitcase panel on a caravan, or you are about to extend a roof string, and amazon.co.uk has put both leads in one list. MC4 or SAE solar cable is not a preference. It is two plug families, plus XT60 as a third pattern in this set, and they do not mate. A locked photovoltaic connector is a poor daily plug. A 36 V SAE port is the wrong end for series roof modules. It is not a wiring diagram and not a lab test. The twelve rows are on the [solar cable comparison](/hub/electrical-equipment/solar-cable).
You are fitting a suitcase panel on a caravan, or you are about to extend a roof string, and amazon.co.uk has put both leads in one list. MC4 or SAE solar cable is not a preference.
You are fitting a suitcase panel on a caravan, or you are about to extend a roof string, and amazon.co.uk has put both leads in one list. MC4 or SAE solar cable is not a preference. It is two plug families, plus XT60 as a third pattern in this set, and they do not mate. A locked photovoltaic connector is a poor daily plug. A 36 V SAE port is the wrong end for series roof modules. It is not a wiring diagram and not a lab test. The twelve rows are on the solar cable comparison.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Connector | Listed voltage | Cable job | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Chedin Chedin solar extension, 1 m variant | MC4 male-female | 1,500 V | MC4-type pair | 8.0 | about £6.99 | View offer |
 XMSJSIY XMSJSIY SAE lead with switch, 14 AWG, 2.5 m | SAE with switch | 12–24 V | SAE lead | 4.7 | about £12.99 | View offer | |
 iGreely iGreely 6 mm² solar extension, 3 m red and 3 m black | Fitted plugs | 0.6/1 kV AC | MC4-type pair | 8.6 | about £19.99 | View offer |
On this page
Three plugs, not one solar cable
An MC4-type lead here is a photovoltaic connector pair: iGreely, both Chedin ASINs, IJIAMY, both terminated Solvazcable ASINs, and the Tonton flat lead. MC4 is a Stäubli product name. “MC4 compatible” is not approval to mix makers. BEAMA says DC photovoltaic connectors should be the same manufacturer and the same family. None of these ASINs is certified here. SAE in this set is capped at 36 V on the sidewall port, and the switch lead is a 12–24 V bullet. ELFCULB is XT60 to an M8 ring, with no voltage printed. Anderson SB50 is not one of these twelve ASINs. Cross-section is on 4 mm² or 6 mm² solar cable.
Roof string versus suitcase panel
Buy the MC4-type pair when the panel or the isolator already has that housing and the run is a DC string. Do not cross-mate two makers because the shells click. A roof array on a dwelling is a competent person’s installation. Buy SAE when the panel already has an SAE plug and the other end stays inside the voltage the listing states. Craig Solar sells an MC4-to-SAE lead that is not in our twelve. An adapter joins two low-voltage sides. It is not a way to land series modules on the 36 V port. The mating order is on how to connect a solar cable.
SAE polarity and how often you unplug
SAE brands do not all put positive on the same pin. The XMSJSIY port says its red and black marks are for reference only. Check with a meter, with the panel covered, before you leave a lead connected. This page will not describe how to swap the pins inside the shell.
Stäubli’s data table for their own MC4 is on the order of 100 mating cycles. Those numbers are not a test of the copies sold here. If you will break the circuit every evening, SAE or a proper isolator is the tool. The XMSJSIY switch lead can open a 12–24 V circuit without pulling the shell. Our SAE listings have no UK review text, so this is not owner praise.
The three low-voltage listings in this set
XMSJSIY B0FCRNLQFM is the SAE sidewall port, £9.00, listed at 36 V, 30 A and 360 W, with 4.5 from 2 reviews and no text. Do not land a series string on it. XMSJSIY B0FQTMXHNL is the SAE lead with a switch, £12.99, 14 AWG, 2.5 m, on a 12–24 V bullet, while the voltage attribute says 12 V. The stored texts are not from the UK. ELFCULB B0F96PY4KL is XT60 to an M8 ring, £15.99, 1.5 m of 10 AWG, with no voltage printed and no review text. It is not an MC4 extension. The stronger MC4-type review file is on best solar cable.
Common questions
Can I plug an SAE lead into a roof string?
No. The SAE port in this set is listed at 36 V, 30 A and 360 W, and the SAE switch lead is a 12–24 V bullet. A series string is a higher DC voltage and a different connector family. An MC4-to-SAE adapter does not make the SAE end safe on that string. If you cannot state the open-circuit voltage, stop and ask a competent person.
Is XT60 the same as MC4?
No. XT60 is a different plastic shell, used here on the ELFCULB lead between a female XT60 and an M8 ring, 1.5 m of 10 AWG, at £15.99. It will not mate with an MC4-type housing. The saved listing does not state a voltage or a current for that ASIN, so do not borrow the 36 V figure from the SAE port. Five stars from four reviews, with no text, do not identify the job.
Can I unplug an MC4 every weekend on a campsite?
That is a poor plan. The shells lock, they are not a switch, and breaking them under load arcs. Stäubli’s own connector is listed at about 100 mating cycles, which is their figure, not a test of these copies. For a daily break on a 12–24 V panel, use SAE or the switched SAE lead, after you have checked polarity.
What is an Anderson plug doing in this conversation?
UK portable panels often use an Anderson SB50 instead of SAE or MC4, including folding panels sold for 12–24 V systems. Anderson is not stocked in this comparison. If that is the socket on your panel, buy the matching Anderson lead. Do not adapt it by forcing SAE pins, and do not treat an MC4-type pair from this table as the same thing. A controller is still required on those portable kits. The plug shape does not replace it.
Which three ASINs in this set are the low-voltage ones?
XMSJSIY B0FCRNLQFM is the SAE sidewall port at £9.00, listed at 36 V, 30 A and 360 W. XMSJSIY B0FQTMXHNL is the SAE lead with a switch at £12.99, 14 AWG, 2.5 m, 12–24 V in the bullet. ELFCULB B0F96PY4KL is XT60 to an M8 ring at £15.99, with no voltage printed. None of the three has UK review text.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources are listed below. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures checked on 21 October 2026.
- Tratos, BS EN 50618 (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- BASEC, solar photovoltaic cables (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- Prysmian PRYSUN datasheet (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- MCS installation guide (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- MIS 3002, solar PV systems (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- BEAMA technical bulletin, DC PV connectors (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- Stäubli, cross-mating of PV connectors (retrieved 21 October 2026)
- Approved Document P (2013) (retrieved 21 October 2026)