Up grading my Solar Conductors
I've been working on running new solar conductor from the roof to the pass thru near the batteries. Here is what I've done. From the existing Zamp Combiner box(to be replaced) it I fished the #4 condu...
Forum Discussion
CA Traveler wrote:Vintage465 wrote:One of the reasons I choose serial panel connection - 62' of 10ga wire for 3 panels with a 0.6% voltage drop.SidecarFlip wrote:
One thing that has always bothered me is the puny wiring that comes in every solar kit and I don't care who makes them. Heavier the wire, the lesser the voltage and amperage drop is over distance. I'm going to install a kit (probably Zamp) but I'll substitute neoprene insulated stranded welding cable for puny wires with tinned and soldered on copper lugs too.
ORV actually does better than most with 8ga wire. I tend to think the newer ones are 6ga. I installed 4ga and I'm moving the controller down near the batteries. I was losing right at a 1/2 volt on my charging voltage. Too much.
I'm thinking you meant to type "Series" and not "Serial". Either way, if I don't get what I'm looking for by doing this, I will upgrade to an MPTT type controller and go series to stiffen up the rig. Right now I figured I'd get all the wiring done the way I want it and move the existing controller down by the batteries and see how she performs. My existing controller comes up 4 volts short of being able to handle my panels in series. I still get a little brain wounded by trying to mentally sort out the volts vs amps, series vs parallel thing. Better volts with series, better amps with parallel. The more I study or get lectured, seems like it comes down to watts and getting them watts to the battery.
