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28-05-2013, 15:41
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Coast USA or out cruising
Boat: Lock Crowther 150
Posts: 665
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Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
Hi,
I am adding two Sunpower 245's in parallel to my 12V electrical system. It is roughly 30' one way from the panel to the charge controller (OutBack Flex 60). The panel is rated at 40.5 volts. I should be looking at a wire gauge chart for 40.5Vs, not 12V, right?
Here is my math: 2 x 245W panels= 490W
490W/40.5V=12 Amps
One way distance 30' x2= 60'
According to a wire gauge calculator website @ 3% loss I need 8G wire. Does this sound correct?
From the charge controller to the batteries is 15'. This voltage would be stepped down to 12V.
490W/12V=40.8 Amps
15' x 2= 30'
@ 3% loss, I would need 4G wire.
Does this sound correct?
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28-05-2013, 17:40
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Oriental, NC
Boat: Mainship Pilot 34
Posts: 1,461
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Re: Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
Well, you are approximately correct and there is nothing unsafe about your wire sizes. Is your panel rated at 40.5 V at its maximum power point (Vmp)? I would have thought that the voltage would be lower and the current higher. It is the current at the maximum power point (Imp) that you should size your wiring from the panel to the controller. Take the Imp and double it for two panels and use that in your calculations.
Make sure that you put a fuse or circuit breaker near the battery sized for 50 amps. There is no need (contrary to a lot of bad advice on this site) for another fuse at the panels. 8 gauge wire is plenty big to handle all of the current that the panels can put out.
David
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28-05-2013, 17:52
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Coast USA or out cruising
Boat: Lock Crowther 150
Posts: 665
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Re: Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
Quote:
Originally Posted by djmarchand
Well, you are approximately correct and there is nothing unsafe about your wire sizes. Is your panel rated at 40.5 V at its maximum power point (Vmp)? I would have thought that the voltage would be lower and the current higher. It is the current at the maximum power point (Imp) that you should size your wiring from the panel to the controller. Take the Imp and double it for two panels and use that in your calculations.
Make sure that you put a fuse or circuit breaker near the battery sized for 50 amps. There is no need (contrary to a lot of bad advice on this site) for another fuse at the panels. 8 gauge wire is plenty big to handle all of the current that the panels can put out.
David
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Hi David,
The Vmpp is 40.5V. The Imp is 6.05A. So I need to size for 6.05A @ 40.5V, right?
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28-05-2013, 18:11
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#4
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always in motion is the future
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 19,058
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Re: Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrybas
Hi David,
The Vmpp is 40.5V. The Imp is 6.05A. So I need to size for 6.05A @ 40.5V, right?
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No, you just need to size for 6A times 2 (panels) = 12A. Voltage has no meaning for determining cable diameter as long as the cable insulation value is high enough (but that is 600V normally so fine).
12A with 3% voltage drop puts you at AWG6, but only just so you could get away with AWG8 with may be 4-5% voltage drop.
If you have no other panels connected yet, you could go for a series connection of the two panels which gives 6A @ 81V. Your controller can take that and the required cable goes down to AWG8.
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28-05-2013, 18:39
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Eastern Tennessee
Boat: Research vessel for a university, retired now.
Posts: 10,406
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Re: Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
Jedi is correct. You gauge wire for the current, the run, the percentage drop and sometimes the temperature. The insulation must be rated for the voltage and the type of environment.
__________________
David
Life begins where land ends.
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28-05-2013, 19:50
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Coast USA or out cruising
Boat: Lock Crowther 150
Posts: 665
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Re: Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
Ahhhh, it all makes sense now. Thanks for the help!
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28-05-2013, 19:56
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Coast USA or out cruising
Boat: Lock Crowther 150
Posts: 665
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Re: Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
Quote:
Originally Posted by s/v Jedi
If you have no other panels connected yet, you could go for a series connection of the two panels which gives 6A @ 81V. Your controller can take that and the required cable goes down to AWG8.
[/IMG]
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Yes, it is just the two panels. Is it correct that the two panels wired in series makes them more susceptible to the effects of shading? They are mounted on top of the bimini, so its fairly clear, except for a backstay and mast shadow.
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28-05-2013, 22:57
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#8
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 1,109
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Re: Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
Quote:
Originally Posted by David M
Jedi is correct. You gauge wire for the current, the run, the percentage drop and sometimes the temperature. The insulation must be rated for the voltage and the type of environment.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by s/v Jedi
No, you just need to size for 6A times 2 (panels) = 12A. Voltage has no meaning for determining cable diameter as long as the cable insulation value is high enough (but that is 600V normally so fine).
12A with 3% voltage drop puts you at AWG6, but only just so you could get away with AWG8 with may be 4-5% voltage drop.
If you have no other panels connected yet, you could go for a series connection of the two panels which gives 6A @ 81V. Your controller can take that and the required cable goes down to AWG8.
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I'm sorry, but you are both wrong.
The percentage of voltage drop, is in fact related to the Volts in the circuit.
A 24 volt circuit with a 12 amp load, # 6 wire, with a run of 30 feet one way is 1.22%
A 12 volt circuit with a 12 amp load, # 6 wire, with a run of 30 feet one way is 2.44% double what the 24 volt % drop is.
A 48 volt circuit with a 12 amp load, # 6 wire, with a run of 30 feet one way is .69% half what 24 volt % drop is.
Lloyd
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28-05-2013, 23:11
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,185
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Re: Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
I don't think his 12v panels are going to push at 48 volts.
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29-05-2013, 04:32
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Location: East Coast USA or out cruising
Boat: Lock Crowther 150
Posts: 665
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Re: Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
Quote:
Originally Posted by rebel heart
I don't think his 12v panels are going to push at 48 volts.
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No, but close.... Vmpp= 40.5V. This is from the panels to the charge controller, before its stepped down to 12V by the charge controller.
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29-05-2013, 04:53
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#11
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always in motion is the future
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 19,058
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FlyingCloud1937
I'm sorry, but you are both wrong.
The percentage of voltage drop, is in fact related to the Volts in the circuit.
A 24 volt circuit with a 12 amp load, # 6 wire, with a run of 30 feet one way is 1.22%
A 12 volt circuit with a 12 amp load, # 6 wire, with a run of 30 feet one way is 2.44% double what the 24 volt % drop is.
A 48 volt circuit with a 12 amp load, # 6 wire, with a run of 30 feet one way is .69% half what 24 volt % drop is.
Lloyd
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Ah, the mad scientist, telling us we're wrong again
Mr Ohm dictates us that the voltage drop over the wire equals the wire resistance times the current, regardless of voltage of the source. Mr Ohm does not allow for opinion being different than his law
When we operate the panels at a higher voltage, the current goes down (again Mr Ohm) and with it the voltage drop.
__________________
“It’s a trap!” - Admiral Ackbar.
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29-05-2013, 05:42
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#12
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Nearly an old salt
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 22,801
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Not to mention that the power loss , which is actually stuff thrown away , is I squared R
Dave
__________________
Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
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29-05-2013, 07:04
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 361
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Re: Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
Currant does not necessarily go down with higher voltage. Size your wires based on the demand of your controller. Use a wire chart for the distance.
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29-05-2013, 08:01
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#14
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always in motion is the future
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 19,058
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Re: Confused on Wire Gauge from Panels to Charge Controller
Quote:
Originally Posted by Zil
Currant does not necessarily go down with higher voltage. Size your wires based on the demand of your controller. Use a wire chart for the distance.
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It does for solar panels which is the topic here.
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