Want advice on series/parallel battery cables size
Hi all,
I need to order some series/parallel battery cables. I have read a lot on this, used many voltage drop calculators, etc. and still would like some more experienced advice.
Here are the details and questions:
Detail 1. I have ordered a Cedar Creek 36CKTS. It has room for four GC-2 6V batteries. It has a electric only residential refrigerator. Pictures of a similar (2015 CC 32RL) setup can be seen Here. Please ignore the fact that the dealer wired it wrong (no parallel cables etc).
Detail 2. I will be supplying four Trojan T-125 batteries. The total battery bank capacity is 480 AH (20-Hr rate).
Detail 3. When the FW is not plugged into utility 120V AC, the refrigerator runs on a WFCO WF-5100 1000W inverter. It claims >80% efficiency. I figure it's max continuous draw (based on 1000W) will be 100A. Actual use will probably be closer to 40A, but I want to size the cables for the maximum possible draw.
Detail 4. I plan to add a 100A converter (Powermax PMBC-ADJ-100 or a Meanwell RSP-1500-15) with adjustable voltage output (set to ~ 14.8V) to do a daily battery charge when not plugged into utility 120V AC. It will be powered by two Honda EU2000i generators, running in parallel. I plan to plug the converter in to an electric outlet controlled by a mechanical timer (thanks Mex). This 100A converter will only be used for generator charging. The OEM WFCO 65A converter will be turned off during gen. charging and turned on when plugged into utility 120 AC electric. I may upgrade the WFCO converter, but that is another matter.
Detail 5. I will upgrade the factory battery cables if needed, at the time I add the 100A converter. It looks like they are 2 AWG, but I am not sure. The pics I linked to above show the dealer used 2 AWG series cables and they appear to be the same diameter as the factory cables.
Detail 6. I will probably buy the battery cables custom made from Genuinedealz unless I find a better source.
Detail 7. The cable lengths are 2' for the parallel cables and 1' (or less) for the series cables.
Question1. What size series/parallel battery cables should I buy? I am thinking 2 AWG minimum, and maybe bigger at 1 AWG, 1/0, or 2/0.
Question 2. What % voltage drop should I size the cables to? 1.5%, 1.25%, 1.0% ?
Question 3. What cable lug should I get? Genuinedealz (see detail 6 link) offers: Tinned Copper Lug OR Heavy Wall Tinned Copper Lug.
Thanks for your help.
Chris
I need to order some series/parallel battery cables. I have read a lot on this, used many voltage drop calculators, etc. and still would like some more experienced advice.
Here are the details and questions:
Detail 1. I have ordered a Cedar Creek 36CKTS. It has room for four GC-2 6V batteries. It has a electric only residential refrigerator. Pictures of a similar (2015 CC 32RL) setup can be seen Here. Please ignore the fact that the dealer wired it wrong (no parallel cables etc).
Detail 2. I will be supplying four Trojan T-125 batteries. The total battery bank capacity is 480 AH (20-Hr rate).
Detail 3. When the FW is not plugged into utility 120V AC, the refrigerator runs on a WFCO WF-5100 1000W inverter. It claims >80% efficiency. I figure it's max continuous draw (based on 1000W) will be 100A. Actual use will probably be closer to 40A, but I want to size the cables for the maximum possible draw.
Detail 4. I plan to add a 100A converter (Powermax PMBC-ADJ-100 or a Meanwell RSP-1500-15) with adjustable voltage output (set to ~ 14.8V) to do a daily battery charge when not plugged into utility 120V AC. It will be powered by two Honda EU2000i generators, running in parallel. I plan to plug the converter in to an electric outlet controlled by a mechanical timer (thanks Mex). This 100A converter will only be used for generator charging. The OEM WFCO 65A converter will be turned off during gen. charging and turned on when plugged into utility 120 AC electric. I may upgrade the WFCO converter, but that is another matter.
Detail 5. I will upgrade the factory battery cables if needed, at the time I add the 100A converter. It looks like they are 2 AWG, but I am not sure. The pics I linked to above show the dealer used 2 AWG series cables and they appear to be the same diameter as the factory cables.
Detail 6. I will probably buy the battery cables custom made from Genuinedealz unless I find a better source.
Detail 7. The cable lengths are 2' for the parallel cables and 1' (or less) for the series cables.
Question1. What size series/parallel battery cables should I buy? I am thinking 2 AWG minimum, and maybe bigger at 1 AWG, 1/0, or 2/0.
Question 2. What % voltage drop should I size the cables to? 1.5%, 1.25%, 1.0% ?
Question 3. What cable lug should I get? Genuinedealz (see detail 6 link) offers: Tinned Copper Lug OR Heavy Wall Tinned Copper Lug.
Thanks for your help.
Chris
