Battery Cabling for Parallel Bank

[mitiempo]

Here is a metric/awg conversion chart that might help.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Ian R

Beware of the whitworths cable sizes, their 4mm cable for eg. is really 1.84 sq.mm. The 4mm may be the diameter ? Both sizes are on the cable drum but the catalogue lists it as 4mm. Auto cable is also in mm not sq.mm.

Thanks for the alert on Whitworths. The maths doesn't make sense so who knows?

BTW, Ted's right, I think Whitworths battery wire is untinned.

Yes wire sizing is confusing in Oz, everyone is doing their own thing and outside the main commercial electrical industry, there doesn't appear to be common standards. Some outlets just simply sell wire by amp rating....???

Throw in circular mils and the mess gets messier.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by tedsherrin

Gee Wotname, are you suggesting I drive down SOUTH?
What shop is in Hobart you'd suggest I can get it at?

Bet you didn't even know there was even a road south

Sorry, can't help with Hobart shops, just a tourist when I'm there (but that is about to change)!

I know there is a Whitworths but I think you are right, the battery wire they stock is untinned, maybe worth asking though.

[Ian R]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Bet you didn't even know there was even a road south

Sorry, can't help with Hobart shops, just a tourist when I'm there (but that is about to change)!

I know there is a Whitworths but I think you are right, the battery wire they stock is untinned, maybe worth asking though.

The whitworths battery cable I have seen is tinned.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Ian R

The whitworths battery cable I have seen is tinned.

I stand corrected, Thanks Ian R.

I must keep up to date with my shopping or refresh the memory bank

Their catalogue numbers 2 BS tinned cable are 197609 (black) & 197610 (red).

[Gybe]

I bought a copy of Sailboat Electrics Simplified by Don Casey a few years ago and it has come in very handy. If it does not have the exact diagram it does a good job of talking you through the basic principles so you can figure out your specific application. Good luck.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

Ted

2 awg will actually handle 178 amps in an engine compartment.

But the larger issue is distance - the less voltage drop the better. Here's a link to a good calculator. AWG by wire length/amps calculator
Just plug in the numbers and the answer appears at the bottom.

cheers.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by Wotname

I stand corrected, Thanks Ian R.

I must keep up to date with my shopping or refresh the memory bank

Their catalogue numbers 2 BS tinned cable are 197609 (black) & 197610 (red).

I think you misunderstood me. I knew Whitworths sold it Tinned, but our local shop Tamar Marine doesn't. But I also didn't know there was a Whitworths in Hobart, so now I may take a trip down the dreaded South.

[Rustic Charm]

Not happy today, whilst doing make over checked water levels then put on maintenance charger for about 8 weeks whilst I make a new battery box and today I found all batteries very low on water. Taken about liter of water in each one. Each battery 130 amp. What is the likely damage?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by tedsherrin

Not happy today, whilst doing make over checked water levels then put on maintenance charger for about 8 weeks whilst I make a new battery box and today I found all batteries very low on water. Taken about liter of water in each one. Each battery 130 amp. What is the likely damage?

Suspect the charger of being the culprit. How old are the batteries? were the plates sticking up out the water or were they still submerged? Don't worry too much unless they were new batteries....

cheers,
Nick.

[Rustic Charm]

I ve just finished topping them up and the four batteries took 7 liters of water so yes they were high and dry. My charger is a new expensive cetek m300 too..

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by tedsherrin

I ve just finished topping them up and the four batteries took 7 liters of water so yes they were high and dry. My charger is a new expensive cetek m300 too..

And the charger was the only thing connected to the batteries? no solar panels, windgen? If so, you need to check out the charger with a multimeter while it recharges the battery bank. The batteries must have been boiling to loose that much water in such a short time.

cheers,
Nick.

[Rustic Charm]

Ok, well I've now 'read the instructions' and it is there in black and white. When first using the charger the unit may automatically go into recondition mode, if so 'check water level regulary' due to the high voltage use being used. .. I just hope I havn't done any perm damage.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by tedsherrin

Ok, well I've now 'read the instructions' and it is there in black and white. When first using the charger the unit may automatically go into recondition mode, if so 'check water level regulary' due to the high voltage use being used. .. I just hope I havn't done any perm damage.

What?! They should put that on a big red label right on the unit itself!

cheers,
Nick.

[Jbaffoh]

Originally Posted by tedsherrin

Ok, well I've now 'read the instructions' and it is there in black and white. When first using the charger the unit may automatically go into recondition mode, if so 'check water level regulary' due to the high voltage use being used. .. I just hope I havn't done any perm damage.

I just downloaded the manual, and didn't see that mentioned anywhere.

Were the electrolyte levels topped up when you started the charger?

What settings did you apply to the charger? In Automatic mode, it sounds like the reconditioning phase is brief. But if you set it to Recondition mode, you could have been cooking them at 16 volts for 8 weeks. The fifth light would have been lit.

What puzzles me is that you've been seeking battery advice here for 10 days, and working on your system for 8 weeks. During that time you didn't check your batteries and charger, and you didn't even read the manual until now? That's a good way to murder a battery bank.