cruz-in
Southern Maryland
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Hi Team,
A while back I posted the evolving wiring diagrams of my battery/inverter/solar upgrade and you all provided lots of great inputs. Here are the finals of the wiring diagrams for the upgrade. The first is the Battery/inverter upgrade wiring only. The second image includes the solar. Breaking them apart like this in Visio makes it easier for me to do the work. The first phase will be the battery/inverter upgrade to be followed by the addition of the solar as shown in the second image.
BATTERY/INVERTER UPGRADE (PHASE 1)
BATTERY/INVERTER UPGRADE WITH ADDITION OF SOLAR WIRING (PHASE 2)
Comments would be appreciated....
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westend
all over
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Looks very tidy, I wish I had the patience and skills to diagram like that. Nice work!
Oh, why did you go with two charge cotrollers instead of one with larger ampacity? Just curious.
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mangler
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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I would love to see pictures of the install itself.
I am also curious why you went with two battery banks instead of one wired in parallel. More amp-hours without switching - less wiring - and less hardware (charge controllers) required.
How far is your inverter from your batteries? You show #2 wire to the batteries - that seems a bit light compared to some of the comments I just got before building out my new Magnum inverter. Check here for those comments and some pics...
Prior inverter install post.
Travelling with the wife and two kids (16and14)...
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smkettner
Southern California
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You will enjoy using the microwave during quiet hours. Or are you brewing morning coffee?
Does the Samlex really call for only #2?
Why make the ground #0?
On edit:
Looks like #2 is correct for a max of 1.2 meters or just 4'
That is battery to inverter.
* This post was
edited 07/08/12 11:08pm by smkettner *
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mena661
Southern California
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I agree #2 is pretty light for that inverter. I'm also curious why the gnd is #0.
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3 tons
CA.
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My microwave would not run properly on 0 AWG, this inspite of mfg's recommendation (Aims 1500w sine)...I would recommend erring with at least one size oversize on your cables to 00 size (or larger...). The up front cost difference is only slight when compared to doing a more costly performance driven retro-fit.
Also no need (but OK) for ground to be 0 AWG...The most important aspect is properly sized cables to feed your inverter where 250dc amps and low voltage error codes can easily develop.
3 tons
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cruz-in
Southern Maryland
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Hi Team,
Thanks so much for all the inputs.
1) I will most definately post picts.
2) The batteries are broken into two banks because configured like this they fit very nicely on each side of the forward compartment under the propane slides. Using a space that is of relatively limited use now and leaving most of the forward compartment free. .
3) 0 AWG on part of the ground leg is due to having parallel 2AWG wiring (both ground and supply) running to the split battery bank. This way the inverter power feed (with the exception of the very short run from fuse box to inverter) is at least dual 2 AWG.
4) Speaking of 2 AWG, for the distances i am dealin with, Samlex reccomends 2 AWG. Also since I have the batteries split into two banks, I am only drawing half the inverter input current thru each 2 AWG (equivelent of running dual 2 AWG to single battery bank).
5) Two charge controllers is nothing fancy...just economics. I got them for about $100 on ebay.
6) Purpose of taking the time to create this drawing was two fold. First it allowed me to do just this, get lots of great feedback from you all. Secondly, it allowed me to accurately figure what was needed and order proper amouunts of supplies (love genuinedealz.com) online and save a bundle. Oh and I am also not smart enuff to just wing it.
Thanks tons for all the inputs. The design is the result of lots of input from you all.....
* This post was
edited 07/09/12 05:11am by cruz-in *
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3 tons
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"Speaking of 2 AWG, for the distances i am dealin with, Samlex reccomends 2 AWG".
What are the actual cable lengths (round trip lengths)?
"Also since I have the batteries split into two banks, I am only drawing half the inverter input current thru each 2 AWG (equivelent of running dual 2 AWG to single battery bank)".
Does this mean that you'll be using both banks when using the inverter?
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cruz-in
Southern Maryland
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3 tons wrote:"Speaking of 2 AWG, for the distances i am dealin with, Samlex reccomends 2 AWG".
What are the actual cable lengths (round trip lengths)?
"Also since I have the batteries split into two banks, I am only drawing half the inverter input current thru each 2 AWG (equivelent of running dual 2 AWG to single battery bank)".
Does this mean that you'll be using both banks when using the inverter?
1) about 3 feet from batteries to inverter.
2) yes, I will be using both banks when using the inverter. Wanted a Battery disconnect switch and I just had that multiposition switch on hand from a previous project. I do not forsee too many instances when I will use the functionality of only choosing one set of batteries.
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3 tons
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cruz-in wrote:3 tons wrote:"Speaking of 2 AWG, for the distances i am dealin with, Samlex reccomends 2 AWG".
What are the actual cable lengths (round trip lengths)?
"Also since I have the batteries split into two banks, I am only drawing half the inverter input current thru each 2 AWG (equivelent of running dual 2 AWG to single battery bank)".
Does this mean that you'll be using both banks when using the inverter?
1) about 3 feet from batteries to inverter.
2) yes, I will be using both banks when using the inverter. Wanted a Battery disconnect switch and I just had that multiposition switch on hand from a previous project. I do not forsee too many instances when I will use the functionality of only choosing one set of batteries.
Got it, a GOOD plan for length...However, I doubt that the Samlex (really a re-branded Cotek unit) cable recommendation (2AWG) assumes the use of a microwave (depending on size), or other highly inductive load. Samlex has a experienced, working knowledge type inverter techy (well skilled beyond theory), that you might consider verifying your plan with. I applaud your overall plan, but see a commitment to the 2AWG cable size as throwing caution to the wind. However, my point of view would be moderated depending on how you plan to use your inverter.
Best Regards,
3 tons
* This post was
edited 07/09/12 04:45pm by 3 tons *
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