wire question

I will solder the ends to ensure good connection between the two. The panels are rated at about 5.5 amps which will be maintained if connected in series. One strand is more than adequate to carry the amperage load even if they were connected in parallel for the 50 foot run I will use.
I would prefer series to minimize power loss but I will make provisions to convert to parallel if there is a possibility of shading one panel. One of my reasons for this set up is so that I can park in the shade and charge batteries by putting the panels in sunlight. By building the mounts on a pivoting base I will be able to track the sun during the day.

As stated above, I have more than enough wire to fabricate the harness. I know that I could just buy the wires but my Scottish ancestors would turn over in their graves at such extravagance. Besides that, I am the sort that will do crazy stuff just to see if I can.

You can do it, but the wire connections have to be perfect. The wire lengths also have to be exactly the same length.

Parallel feed are done with large power supplies quite often, but if the lengths are not identical one leg will carry much more current. This can result in a failure of the system.

But the best way is to use a single conductor.

Use separate #12 for each panel. I don't recommend parallel wire connections.

Perfectly OK and perfect calculation frizzen. Double up the wire and count down three numbers.

frizzen wrote:
I have 400 feet of 12 gauge. I am putting together a system that will not be permanently mounted. It will be on a pivoting stand that will sit on the ground.

It will work but...... make shure your connections are 100% or one wire could end up dealing with the load.

I have 400 feet of 12 gauge. I am putting together a system that will not be permanently mounted. It will be on a pivoting stand that will sit on the ground.

frizzen wrote:
According to the chart I am looking at 12 gauge AWG has cross section 3.31 mm squared and 9 gauge has area 6.63. Will two strands of 12 gauge between solar panels and controller carry the load equally and have the same voltage drop as a single strand of 9 gauge?

In my opinion, yes, but that is certainly a "messy" way of doing it. Bite the bullet and buy 8 ga. .....you probably won't find 9 ga. Anywhere.