hi all techies my first question on this forum I have a bt50 tray back with aux batt under tray and 125w solar panel on roof racks on vehicle I want to run cable from solar to a controller in rear of vehicle another from controller to + - on a bus bar another cable from bus bars to the aux batt another cable from bus bar to inside of tray connected to a 50 amp Anderson plug to run portable fridge question is will solar panel charge aux batt while I am drawing power for fridge or should I run cable direct to aux batt from controller and from aux batt back to Anderson plug not using a bus bar sorry it is so long I hope I have explained it clearly enough for you to understand
Jaahn said
11:03 AM Oct 21, 2015
Hi WWS, Thanks for posting here. As well as helping you, it may help others who wish to get more knowlege too :)
To be correct the controller/regulator should connected to the battery directly, with good large wires, so it can sense the battery voltage correctly without being influenced by the other current users. The closer they are the better. Then you can run a "bus"(large wires) from the battery to connect the other items which will use current, your fridge with the anderson plug. Any other items could then be added as needed to the bus.
It may work OK to do it the other way if the size of the wires is large so the voltage drops are insignificant, but why not do it the best way first up. Also the wiring of the solar panel should be a good size for the same reason. Note fuses or breakers will be needed for safety at the battery for the bus.
jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 12:16:53 PM
wws said
03:08 PM Oct 21, 2015
thanks jaahn for your reply I was thinking of running 8b&s to the controller which would be in the tray up front and about 1mtr long and running 6b&s from controller to aux batt about 2mtrs the solar panel will only fit 8b&s or would the controller be too far from the batt would there too much voltage drop using 6b&s
Aus-Kiwi said
07:04 PM Oct 21, 2015
Stand corrected but is 6 B&S 13.5 mm sq ? Check the amps it can carry .. On the DC side of inverter...
Jaahn said
10:23 AM Oct 22, 2015
Hi,
Here is a tech sheet from Redarc to look at for calculating cable sizes.
hi all techies my first question on this forum I have a bt50 tray back with aux batt under tray and 125w solar panel on roof racks on vehicle I want to run cable from solar to a controller in rear of vehicle another from controller to + - on a bus bar another cable from bus bars to the aux batt another cable from bus bar to inside of tray connected to a 50 amp Anderson plug to run portable fridge question is will solar panel charge aux batt while I am drawing power for fridge or should I run cable direct to aux batt from controller and from aux batt back to Anderson plug not using a bus bar sorry it is so long I hope I have explained it clearly enough for you to understand
Hi WWS,
Thanks for posting here. As well as helping you, it may help others who wish to get more knowlege too :)
To be correct the controller/regulator should connected to the battery directly, with good large wires, so it can sense the battery voltage correctly without being influenced by the other current users. The closer they are the better. Then you can run a "bus"(large wires) from the battery to connect the other items which will use current, your fridge with the anderson plug. Any other items could then be added as needed to the bus.
It may work OK to do it the other way if the size of the wires is large so the voltage drops are insignificant, but why not do it the best way first up. Also the wiring of the solar panel should be a good size for the same reason. Note fuses or breakers will be needed for safety at the battery for the bus.
jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 21st of October 2015 12:16:53 PM
Hi,
Here is a tech sheet from Redarc to look at for calculating cable sizes.
http://www.redarc.com.au/handy-hints/how_to/calculate_wire_gauge/
Others may comment also to help you get it right.
There is plenty of other stuff on this useful site too.
Jaahn
-- Edited by Jaahn on Thursday 22nd of October 2015 10:38:49 AM