Panel to Solar Controller Wire Size
As some of you already know, I'm piecing together a solar system. Controller is a Morningstar 45A PWM. Panels will be two 12V 150W wired in parallel. I'm going to be using a combiner box on the roof, ...
Forum Discussion
My 130w array on roof to front of trailer where the PWM controller is wiring runs about 35 ft (so that's 70ft) It is #8 "pre-wired for solar." I have a couple feet each wire of #8 from controller to battery. That's a 2.69% drop (0.35v) array-controller
http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html?material=copper&wiresize=2.061&voltage=13&phase=dc&noofconductor=1&distance=35&distanceunit=feet&eres=8&x=44&y=8
The panel Isc is 8.2a and I get that on the battery posts as measured by Trimetric.
Based on that, it seems like going way fat on the wires some people are doing is not necessary, but of course it doesn't hurt (except maybe in the wallet)
http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html?material=copper&wiresize=2.061&voltage=13&phase=dc&noofconductor=1&distance=35&distanceunit=feet&eres=8&x=44&y=8
The panel Isc is 8.2a and I get that on the battery posts as measured by Trimetric.
Based on that, it seems like going way fat on the wires some people are doing is not necessary, but of course it doesn't hurt (except maybe in the wallet)
