Recommended Tools for building a quality solar power system

Do not buy cheap tools. You will thank yourself for years, and building a system will be MUCH EASIER. 

Wire Strippers

Precision Wire Stripper

8-22 gauge wire
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Large Gauge Wire Stripper

Remove insulation on all wires up to 4/0 gauge! I only use it to strip insulation on extremely large wires, and use my automatic wire strippers for smaller wires. 
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Crimpers

Ratcheting Crimper
Works well for standard size crimp connectors up to 10 gauge wire

A required tool for any system. 

Does not work that well with waterproof connectors. Use the blue crimper to the right instead. 

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High quality manual force crimper
I use this crimper when I am dealing with a non standard size connector. The long arms provide a lot of leverage and I can usually crimp nearly everything under 8 gauge. 

Not required if you are build a single system, but a great tool to have around. It can do everything. 
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3 Point Crimper
Allows you to crimp up to 4/0 gauge wire! Gives a perfect crimp each time.

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Hammer Type Crimper
Can crimp up to 4/0 gauge wire, and it is much cheaper than the 3 point crimp tool. If you plan to build only one system, this is the tool for you. If you want to build multiple systems for years, but the 3 point crimper. 

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Cable Cutters

Klein High Leverage Cutter
For cutting large gauge wires. This tool will last forever. Can cut anything.

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Hakko Micro Cutter
Great for trimming small solder joints/ wire strands etc. Super useful to have around

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Crimp Connectors

Standard Size ​Crimp Connector set
There are cheaper crimp connector sets available, but they are junk! Spend the extra money and buy a high quality set of connectors. The cheap chinese ones will fail and I have had it happen before. This is what I currently use:
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Large Size Crimp Connector Set
Use this set to connect large wires together, such as inverter or solar charge controller wires. 
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Heat Shrink and Heat Gun

High quality heat shrink
with Adhesive

Protect large and small terminal connector joints with heat shrink. Simply slip some on and heat it up with a heat gun. 

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Heat Gun w/ Dual Temperature Control

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Multimeter

This thing has everything! And its super cheap. About ten years ago, if I wanted the features that this meter has, I would have to spend 300 dollars. This thing is almost 20 dollars and has:

  • 【Digital multimeter 6000 true rms】auto/manual range, large backlit lcd with ncv ac/dc voltage current resistance capacitance frequency temperature duty ratio diode transistor continuity on-off measurement.
  • 【Ce rated safety lcd mulimeter】low battery voltage indication, 600V cat iv, 1000V cat iii, double fuse. Data hold, overload protection on all ranges, safely accurately troubleshoot a variety of automotive and household electrical.
  • 【Protective case & stand & slot】soft non-slip orange rubber sleeve protection against knocks/bumps; built-in stand for hand free check screen when meter placed at 45°; test probes slot to place your probes.
  • 【User friendly details】automatic polarity display, unit symbol display; screw-on back cover for easy removal; protective cover on probe for multi-use; flashlight, automatic turn off; hanging holes to hang meter in a right place.
  • 【Multimeter set】test leads (1 pair) & 10A small banana plug to alligator clip & 1 k-type temperature probe & 2 1.5V aaa battery, widely served in home school lab factory for professional electricians technicians home users.
Anyone working with electronics needs a multimeter.

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