MC4 to XT60i wiring guide
What is the difference between MC4 and XT60i?
XT60i keeps the XT60 power contacts and adds a signal pin. Stations can use that pin to identify the cable type or enable higher solar input. MC4 is the locking connector most solar panels use. In our catalogue, 3 of 7 verified stations have an XT60i solar input.
“XT60i is a variation of the XT60 connector that includes an additional signal pin.” sapphirebattery.ca
| Station | Port | Voltage window |
|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | Solar Charging input 1 | 11 to 60 V |
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | Solar Charging input 2 | 11 to 60 V |
| EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 | Low-PV Input | 11 to 60 V |
| EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 500 | Solar Input | 11 to 50 V |
Which gauge of MC4 to XT60i cable should I buy?
Buy 10 AWG if you can, particularly on long runs. At 10 A over a 20 ft run, 10 AWG copper drops about 0.4 V and 14 AWG about 1.0 V. That lost voltage matters most for a single 12 V class panel near the port’s minimum voltage. The table below covers common lengths.
| One-way length | 10 AWG | 12 AWG | 14 AWG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 ft | 0.20 V | 0.32 V | 0.51 V |
| 20 ft | 0.40 V | 0.64 V | 1.01 V |
| 30 ft | 0.60 V | 0.95 V | 1.51 V |
| 60 ft | 1.20 V | 1.91 V | 3.03 V |
| 120 ft | 2.40 V | 3.81 V | 6.06 V |
Does a MC4 to XT60i cable change the voltage limit?
No. A cable only carries the panels’ voltage, so it never protects a port. A string that breaches the station’s maximum in the cold will still breach it through any adapter. Check the string’s cold open-circuit voltage first on the pair page for your station and panel, then choose the cable.
Example: EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus with the EcoFlow NextGen 220W Bifacial