Advice on deep cycle setup?

JohnnyGood wrote:
Hi All,

Controller and wires arrived today. Panels should be waiting for me tomorrow.

I plan to install everything tomorrow morning/afternoon, including solenoid (leaving only 2 fuses that are arriving later this week).

Here are some questions:

1. On the controller - is it more important to have it in a place where it's close to the battery/inverter (first pic - you can see the battery below), or an extra 16" away but more accessible/visible to me (second pic)?

My instincts are to put it in the first place/picture (less accessible/visible, but closer).

2. What gauge wire should I use to connect the battery to the controller? (Manual does not say)

3. If the inverter is closer to the controller than the battery, should I just connect the controller in to the inverter posts, instead of going the extra distance to the battery? One fuse that is arriving later this week will go between the battery pos and the inverter pos (not sure which side the solar should be on).

4. It's wise to try to make the solar electrical cables as short as possible, right? I can run them in a diagonal across the inside roof of my rig, although it would be nicer to run them along a support (increasing their length by maybe 2', but hiding them and protecting them a little more).

5. How important is it to have the solenoid in place before the solar is wired in/activated?

Suggestions welcome and appreciated.

Thanks,

L

1&3. Closer is always better. Since you have 4AWG already it won't matter if you connect at the battery end or the inverter end. You should use the smart-phone app to monitor the controller.


2&3. 10AWG is plenty all the way, both to and from the controller. The solar side doesn't need a fuse because 10AWG can carry the solar ISC. The battery side can use a 15A fuse. Some people fuse both sides so they can pull fuses as a substitute for switching the lines off.

4. You will have Volts to spare with 10AWG to pass ISC.

5. The solenoid separates the batteries so one cannot run down the other. Without the separator you could draw down both. Again, the possible v.s. probable decision.

HTH;
John