2009 Lance 830 Solar wires????

Multiple sources, including both the manufacturer and installer, advised 8 AWG wire for my 150 watt panel. It works nicely, but I don't know if something smaller would also have worked.

I have a Lance 830 and have installed solar on it, another TC and several boats. I did mine a little differently. 2 batteries, 2 panels, 2 controllers, and a battery switch. I used 2 pwm controllers, partly for cost considerations and partly because of panel size. That aside, I used the blue wire you found for one panel and installed another larger wire and plug for the second panel. I found good access for wiring in a second location behind the pantry. I have had it for 2 years like this with good results and we go out for months. We are very frugal, LEDs etc, and trying like heck to avoid cold weather and we can easily go a week, (100 watts) with sun,before needing the genset. I am preparing to add a third panel to extend our time without the genset. With our setup, if either side fails I can combine or separate the batteries and use just one panel or battery. I actually had a panel destroyed on one of my boats. This is much more simplistic than many others but I learned a long time ago, plan for the worst. I do think mppt controllers are great, and more efficient, but not for me. Fwiw I would not use just one 12 gauge wire for 200 watts. I am picture challenged here but if you pm me your email I will send you pictures. Chris By the way, and I know many will not agree, but here goes. Inverters are not our friends. Except for some small electronics, for which we carry a 100 watt inverter we are completely 12 volt, and yes, we have a tv and DVD player. Obviously for the charger and ac, if you want them, you need power, not an invertor.

Yep, my factory controller is mounted in that upper cabinet. What a find that was. One of these days I'll add another panel, but I'll run out of water before the batteries die.
Gman

I installed a 15a fuse on the roof near the panels to make sure the inside wires were protected



link to my install

page 3 has the photos
http://tinyurl.com/zbwwwhv

Buzz,

Did you add a fuse or is it already installed by Lance?

Thanks for the info

anutami wrote:
Something in here....

that be them, blue and white two pair. one from the roof the other to the back of the battery compartment

Both Corey and myself are running the 200 watt Renogy kits with those wires. Mine has ben on for a year with no issues. We put his on last week and its doing everythin he wanted it to do.

A pair of 100 watt panels is around 10 amps under good conditions; 12 AWG is rated for it but loss will be a little high. I'd run 10 AWG while you have it open.

anutami wrote:
is that 12ga wire sufficient for a 200watt solar system

You should be fine, but I wouldn't go much higher. Check the ampacity charts.

The first 830 I did was a single 100w panel, and the second was (2) 100w panels, both using the stock wiring. I thought about rewiring the 200w system thru the fridge, but I have other projects to start and it works fine.

Thanks so much

Yep right there


Confirmed by removing the solar plug


Now the next question, is that 12ga wire sufficient for a 200watt solar system or should I just run my own wires through the fridge vent?

Nolan