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2/0 vs. 4/0

RTL44

RTL44

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I am preparing to hook up my battery banks (2 banks, each w/4 100A 48V 5.12kWh server rack batteries) to my Sol-Ark 15k inverter. According to Sol-Ark (I emailed support twice to verify), I only need 2/0 cable for each bank. Can anyone triple check this for me before I buy the cables? I will be running 6, no more than 7 feet from the bus bars to the inverter.

It's not a HUGE amount extra to get 4/0, but I don't want to waste $ either.


Thanks in advance!


D_NQ_NP_2X_959548-MLM49023064162_022022-F.jpegScreenshot 2022-09-20 at 10.52.41 AM.png
 
The Sol-Ark could pull up to 250A continuous so 125A per battery bank. 2/0 is fine. I would recommend using Class K or M welding cable. The fine strands make it super flexible and easy to work with. Note: That type of fine stranded cable requires a crimp lug with a slightly larger ID because the wire expands more when stripped. Sometimes the lugs are called DLO type since diesel locomotive cable also has very fine stranding.
 
BentleyJ said:
I believe the inverter only puts out 12kW, that's what I used for the calculation anyway.
Click to expand...
Sol-Arks are tricky like that.
12000 ac watts / .85 conversion factor / 48 volts low cutoff = 294.117647059 inverter amps
294.117647059 inverter amps / .8 fuse headroom = 367.647058824 fuse amps
That means 4/0 awg pure copper wire with 90C insulation and a 400 amp fuse on the inverter circuit.
2/0 awg with a 300 amp fuse is fine to each bank.
 
Thank you all for the fast and great responses
John Frum said:
Sol-Arks are tricky like that.
12000 ac watts / .85 conversion factor / 48 volts low cutoff = 294.117647059 inverter amps
294.117647059 inverter amps / .8 fuse headroom = 367.647058824 fuse amps
That means 4/0 awg pure copper wire with 90C insulation and a 400 amp fuse on the inverter circuit.
2/0 awg with a 300 amp fuse is fine to each bank.
Click to expand...

The Sol-Ark 15K has 2 - 200A breakers for each (of the 2) battery terminal blocks.
 
RTL44 said:
Thank you all for the fast and great responses


The Sol-Ark 15K has 2 - 200A breakers for each (of the 2) battery terminal blocks.
Click to expand...
The either run 1x 4/0 to one of the breakers and jumper between terminals or...
Use 1x 1/0 awg on each breaker.
I too tired to compute the voltage drop, so here is a tool so you can verify the voltage drop yourself.

Interactive Wire Size Calculator

Battery Chargers, Inverters, Solar Components, and Wiring Supplies for Boats, RVs, and Off-Grid Applications.
baymarinesupply.com baymarinesupply.com
 
4/0 on everything in my install peace of mind and low loss were worth the cost difference
 

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I have some 2/0 that I was going to use but decided otherwise I’d like to sell.
 

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