Voltage drop from solar controller

westend wrote:
It's difficult for me to understand how you have the controller output, batteries, system wiring, and converter all spliced together. I think it would be worth the trouble to rewire everything solar with 4 AWG welding cable, maybe repositioning the controller, and see if that gets you more power from the modules to the batteries.

You can just see the Morningstar controller in the rear of the panel it is mounted on. I drilled holes through the metal (aluminum) panel and bolted the controller onto it:

You must have missed me saying in earlier posts, that that is what I will do, when we get home. Meanwhile, down here in Mexico, I am trying to see how I can improve things without tearing everything out. This will NOT be an easy job:

I will have to remove the 4 GC batteries and their cables, remove the inverter (a MAJOR chore) then run new cable down alongside the sewer vent pipe, somehow through the floor, across to the other side of the rig, through and around the frame with attendant chafe resistant covers etc. I think. I may be able to go through the floor in the galley. I'll have to pull a cabinet or two to see just where I can go with what. There may be room for a controller in the same compartment as the Xantrex.

And being less than fit, I'll have to pay someone to do 90% or more of the work. (Unless I can con one or another of my nephews to help!)


You must have a much larger rig than we do, or carry a lot less stuff! Or both! :B You have more vacant space in that compartment than mine does when empty, and it contains the 50A cable, the Xantrex Inverter and the transfer switch. Oh, and the 30A extension cord and TV coax!