I'm going to install 2 6V AGM batteries in my van (Sprinter) and they will be located beneath the floor just in front of the driver's side rear wheel well. I would like to put a converter/charger/distribution panel in the space under the front passenger seat. This would require a run of about 10 feet from the batteries to the converter/charger. Is this feasible? If so, what size cable would you recommend?
10 feet is no problem but size is important. I would run as large as possible to avoid as much voltage drop as possible. At least 6 AWG but even bigger if it will fit. Welding cable is the best IMO and its flexible. Don't forget to fuse it.
When sizing wire you need to know -
The maximum charging current ( amps ) the wires will be expected to carry.
The maximum load ( amps ) you will place on the batteries. Wire Gauge Load carrying capacities
Look at the 'Maximum amps for power transmission' column
For a 10ft run you should go up one size from the table.
You should fuse the positive cable at the battery.
2000 Sea Breeze with 1998 CRV Toad in Dawson Creek - Start of Alaska Highway
Don't Forget - USS Liberty, June 08, 1967
RET Army , DW Donna , Summer (Furkid) . Class A, 2000 Gulf Stream, DIRECTV, YAMAHA 2400 GEN , TOW 97 Wrangler. Garmin GPS 2720 . "Living Our Dream". NASCAR FAN (20,18,11,29,31) Love CO & NM
It really depends on your inverter. I had one that said 2 or 3 feet is max. running 2/0 cable or warranty is void. While it can be done, the bigger the inverter the bigger the wire. What size inverter do you have?
I would recomend 6 gauge wire because it is not to expensive and good for about 50 amps. I would also recomend a 50 amp circuit breaker at the battery +12 volt line and the charger, so if the wire does get pinched by the frame, it will shut off. You should run a #6 wire to the frame ground and to the fuse panel, for the lowest voltage loss while charging and in use. Make sure that the frame ground is bare metal, by filing or sanding away the paint below the connection (I attached to the bare steel of the frame under my RV).
If you will be installing a large inverter, then a slightly larger wire might be used, depending on the inverter size and the loads that you want to run.
You can use a 40- 60 amp charger to recharge the batteries from shore power. It needs to be in a dry area that is clean and cool. If you plan on usually having shore power, and not recharging from a generator, then a 20 amp charger will be enough, if it is a high quality one, like the Procharger 20. It does not have a cooling fan, so it is silent.
If you will be installing a charger/inverter, then you will not need a sepperate charger. A 1,000 watt inverter might require #1 or 0 wire between the batteries and the inverter.
Fred.
Money can't buy happiness but somehow it's more comfortable to cry in a Porsche or Country Coach!
Thanks for the help! It looks like 6 guage should work and 4 would be better. If I'm correct, the two 6V AGM batteries (220 amps) will provide about 110 amps of usable power. The converter/charger (3 stage-35amp) will be used occasionally to recharge the batteries when we plug in to shore power at a campground (one night). Although we camp out in the boondocks (up to a week at a time), our battery use should be modest. A propane refrigerator, fantastic fan, furnace (catalytic with ventilation system), electric-flushing portipotti, water pump, CD/radio, 2 overhead lights, and 2 hotpoints (used for charging small batteries or a laptop) will be wired to the house bank. The van's alternator is 90 amps, so I'm hoping it will efficiently charge the batteries as we drive from one location to another. Do you think it would be wise to upgrade to a larger alternator? We may also charge the laptop computer, cell phone, GPS, or batteries while driving. We do not plan to get an inverter or generator, but may add a solar panel if needed.
When consulting wire charts be aware that there are two wire gauge standards in use; AWG and SAE. American Wire Gauge (AWG) is the standard and the SAE wire gauges are about 10% smaller, so have less current carrying capacity. If the chart, or wire, is not labeled AWG it is probably SAE.
Offline
Online
, DW Donna 
, Summer (Furkid) 
. Class A, 2000 Gulf Stream, DIRECTV, YAMAHA 2400 GEN 
, TOW 97 Wrangler. Garmin GPS 2720 
