Wire gauge recommendation
To get the most efficent charging to my batteries, with cost kept in mind, what wire gauge should I use between the batteries and charger? I have a pair of 6v gc batteries. They're about 12-15 fee...
Forum Discussion
Señor Johnm1 :)
My battery philosophy for my personal use operates in the following manner...
I have an "X" size generator. Compute that with an "X" ampere hour battery bank. Running at 1,200 RPM my Kubota is going to use "X" pounds of fuel per hour, completely unloaded.
At a 2 Kw load "X" pounds of fuel...
At a 4 Kw load "X" pounds of fuel...
What is the "safe" charging level of a proposed A/H battery bank? Wattage or amperage at 14.8 volts bulk charging level.
My first thought was a unitary 12 cell bank.
Max charge level around 318 amperes at 28.8 volts or roughly 9,000 watts.
The Kubota is turbocharged, the generator laughs at a 17 Kw load.
I'm supposed to "be happy" with a generator that starts off at 50% load then squats on it's --- for the remainder of the charge cycle?
Maybe someone else, but not me.
I had Rolls twin the batteries. But I could no longer charge at max acceptance rate. I had to limit amperage to 600 amperes to keep the machinery capable of living long enough to grow gray hair and whiskers. Tens of thousands of hours.
This doubling of the battery bank allowed me to utilize 35-40% depth of discharge rather than the max of 50% depth of discharge. Check a Rolls depth of discharge / life cycle chart and gasp. Longevity was dramatically increased.
I recharge double the capacity with a measured 17% increase in fuel consumption.
Yet when push comes to hurricane, I have double the ampere hours available for emergency use. I'm going to risk $7,000.00 worth of lobster and food if the generator somehow does not operate. The doubling of the battery bank also bought me "time" twice the length, regardless of economizing the load.
I used insanely large cable from batteries to inverter. The shed is 33' in length. No way in hell was I going to confine the Trace inverter in close proximity to the 24 batteries. The inverter is nine feet and change distant. It's intake is a baffled and filtered (home furnace filter) with deflectors and drains out of the south side wall. Not only is it fan cooled, the ducting provides natural convection cooling.
Generator and various AC and DC controls are another subject entirely. I designed the system so an adult with a sixth grade education could successfully manage it with confidence. My daughter hates it, but she too can operate the system.
I used 350 MCM wiring on the D.C. Think of 0000 wiring with an added 50%. The inverter can draw 8,000 watts starting duty. I limit charging to 500 amperes except in an emergency where I load the Kubota until the turbo can be seen glowing at night. I have a belt driven 40" fan to exhaust engine and generator radiator heat out of the hatch I use as a doorway. The fan exhausts so much air, hydrogen concentration is negligible. I have a pair of 1/4 horse fans as standby units.
Not answering your question but I have lockoff drains feeding a common, that empty the engine, and C750L Luberfiner filter to fill a five gallon pail with lid and bung. Reminds me I have yet to change over the battery lighting to LED.
Recap: When the generator would be loafing charging a single bank, it is not loafing charging a parallel bank. No @#$%^&! generator of mine is going to spin at 10% duty. When it runs, it is working......period.
My battery philosophy for my personal use operates in the following manner...
I have an "X" size generator. Compute that with an "X" ampere hour battery bank. Running at 1,200 RPM my Kubota is going to use "X" pounds of fuel per hour, completely unloaded.
At a 2 Kw load "X" pounds of fuel...
At a 4 Kw load "X" pounds of fuel...
What is the "safe" charging level of a proposed A/H battery bank? Wattage or amperage at 14.8 volts bulk charging level.
My first thought was a unitary 12 cell bank.
Max charge level around 318 amperes at 28.8 volts or roughly 9,000 watts.
The Kubota is turbocharged, the generator laughs at a 17 Kw load.
I'm supposed to "be happy" with a generator that starts off at 50% load then squats on it's --- for the remainder of the charge cycle?
Maybe someone else, but not me.
I had Rolls twin the batteries. But I could no longer charge at max acceptance rate. I had to limit amperage to 600 amperes to keep the machinery capable of living long enough to grow gray hair and whiskers. Tens of thousands of hours.
This doubling of the battery bank allowed me to utilize 35-40% depth of discharge rather than the max of 50% depth of discharge. Check a Rolls depth of discharge / life cycle chart and gasp. Longevity was dramatically increased.
I recharge double the capacity with a measured 17% increase in fuel consumption.
Yet when push comes to hurricane, I have double the ampere hours available for emergency use. I'm going to risk $7,000.00 worth of lobster and food if the generator somehow does not operate. The doubling of the battery bank also bought me "time" twice the length, regardless of economizing the load.
I used insanely large cable from batteries to inverter. The shed is 33' in length. No way in hell was I going to confine the Trace inverter in close proximity to the 24 batteries. The inverter is nine feet and change distant. It's intake is a baffled and filtered (home furnace filter) with deflectors and drains out of the south side wall. Not only is it fan cooled, the ducting provides natural convection cooling.
Generator and various AC and DC controls are another subject entirely. I designed the system so an adult with a sixth grade education could successfully manage it with confidence. My daughter hates it, but she too can operate the system.
I used 350 MCM wiring on the D.C. Think of 0000 wiring with an added 50%. The inverter can draw 8,000 watts starting duty. I limit charging to 500 amperes except in an emergency where I load the Kubota until the turbo can be seen glowing at night. I have a belt driven 40" fan to exhaust engine and generator radiator heat out of the hatch I use as a doorway. The fan exhausts so much air, hydrogen concentration is negligible. I have a pair of 1/4 horse fans as standby units.
Not answering your question but I have lockoff drains feeding a common, that empty the engine, and C750L Luberfiner filter to fill a five gallon pail with lid and bung. Reminds me I have yet to change over the battery lighting to LED.
Recap: When the generator would be loafing charging a single bank, it is not loafing charging a parallel bank. No @#$%^&! generator of mine is going to spin at 10% duty. When it runs, it is working......period.
