460 watt solar setup: wire sizes?
I want to change out my old 50 watt panel and 10 amp controller with at least one and hopefully two 230 watt 24 volt panels and whatever controller would be best. Right now the roof on my fifth wheel ...
Forum Discussion
smkettner wrote:
I have three 225w panels in series 675w and #10 wire.
Imp is about 7.5
Alright, trying to re-check my case (again), 2*245W in series, Vmp 60.4, Imp 8.1.
64ft total run of both leads, 10ft is wasted on the loop from the one panel to the J-box on the roof, but in the best scenario the total run is still over 50ft. Modest 26ft trailer, not a 40ft MH. 25ft total run?? I wish...
Southwire voltage drop calculator that everybody is using, suggests:
AWG 10 = 1.8%
AWG 8 = 1.2%
.... drum roll...
KCMIL 6 = 0.76% - can you believe this guys? KCMIL 6 is nonsense, 0.1" diameter. They probably meant AWG 6.
Bottom line - to keep under 1.5% including post-controller loss, I need AWG 6.
