Solar panels

molly2 Wild Motorhomer Posts: 377 Likes: 53	Solar panels Oct 10, 2015 13:51:13 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by molly2 on Oct 10, 2015 13:51:13 GMT Can someone advise what size cable to use ,from 10 amp solar controls to battery ,and to link 2 batteries 85 AMP please quote in amps thanks Bazz .

n brown Wild Motorhomer Posts: 2,288 Likes: 1,470	Solar panels Oct 10, 2015 14:58:51 GMT molly2 likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by n brown on Oct 10, 2015 14:58:51 GMT i'd use 6mm from the controller and 10mm for the batteries-no idea what amps that is !

horshamjack Wild Motorhomer Following the geese, Posts: 279 Likes: 32	Solar panels Oct 10, 2015 22:14:52 GMT Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by horshamjack on Oct 10, 2015 22:14:52 GMT 6mm be ok to the controller but I think 10mm is borderline tbh I would go for 16mm for the batteries
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Firefox
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Solar panels Oct 11, 2015 12:46:03 GMT molly2 and horshamjack like this

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Post by Firefox on Oct 11, 2015 12:46:03 GMT

I think I used 30 Amp cable for mine (6mm is about 35Amps I think).

Divide the the wattage of the panel say 100 W by charging voltage 14V say ... gives about 7 amps.

That's a theoretical maximum - usually you'll be lucky to get 50 W or even 30 W out of the panel so more like 2 to 3 amps.

But to make the most of your power on a charging circuit, you want to oversize many times to reduce heat losses.

So 6mm/35 Amps will work and easily take the current, but better would be 10mm/60A or 16mm/90A .... a small extra cost for a bigger cable and you will be making the most of your meagre British sun charge.

Remember to put an inline fuse in the cable of less than the cable rating. Probably a 30A fuse would be fine.

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n brown Wild Motorhomer Posts: 2,288 Likes: 1,470	Solar panels Oct 11, 2015 13:45:23 GMT Firefox and molly2 like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by n brown on Oct 11, 2015 13:45:23 GMT sometimes you're restricted by the size of the connections on the controller

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Solar panels Oct 11, 2015 23:51:51 GMT

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Post by Firefox on Oct 11, 2015 23:51:51 GMT

True. This was a problem I had installing the smart charge relay for someone.

I put in a 70 amp cables but the connections are little screw things and designed for a 30 A cable. It can be got round - putting in modified spade connectors with big cable hole crimps, then folding over the spade, jamming in the slots and clamping down - quite a bit of work though.

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Post by molly2 on Oct 10, 2015 13:51:13 GMT

Post by n brown on Oct 10, 2015 14:58:51 GMT

Post by horshamjack on Oct 10, 2015 22:14:52 GMT

Post by Firefox on Oct 11, 2015 12:46:03 GMT

Post by n brown on Oct 11, 2015 13:45:23 GMT

Post by Firefox on Oct 11, 2015 23:51:51 GMT

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