18 Gauge Wire to Deep Cell Battery

[Texsox]

New guy here and hoping someone has a better plan that what I have.

I've been searching and can't seem to find an answer. I have a simple system for landscape lights. I'm using an extra deep cycle battery, panel, and charge controller that I had in my RV. So far it's easy. But as soon as I look at those 3/8" terminals and the lights with 18 gauge wire leads I'm stumped.

So far my best idea is a new controller with a load out. The downside is I was hoping to have two circuits. One dusk to dawn for the landscape lights and a second line to my shed with a switch for daylight use.

 

[Rednecktek]

OK, so the 18AWG wires are pretty low amperage but if they're LED's that's probably not a problem. Depending on what your SCC can provide out of its LOAD ports you're probably fine if you don't have a huge amount of lights. Many SCC's have a day/night setting for their LOAD ports which makes landscape lighting easy.

As for the circuit to feed the shed, just pull that directly off the battery and call it a day. Use a heavy enough wire to support what loads you're going to want in there, but again LED lights aren't going to need much.

 

[400bird]

Is the problem specifically connecting the 18 awg wire to the 3/8" studs?
There's plenty of options for that. Here's the first appropriate result I found on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/HKS-PCS-Ring-Terminals-22-16/dp/B09QKMK7YV/

 

[Texsox]

Is the problem specifically connecting the 18 awg wire to the 3/8" studs?
There's plenty of options for that. Here's the first appropriate result I found on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/HKS-PCS-Ring-Terminals-22-16/dp/B09QKMK7YV/

I swear I've searched Amazon for that exact product multiple times since December. Thank you. Order placed.

I have a dusk to dawn sensor laying around and was considering using that and not getting a new controller, but the controller will allow me to turn the lights off earlier if I want.

@Rednecktek Yes, they are 3W LED. I'm using a 100 amp hour deep cycle battery with a 100 watt panel so I shouldn't have a problem running around 10 to 15 of them for a few hours each night. I wish I had a better location to mount the panel, but for a few reasons it's where it will have to be, but it will only be in direct sunlight about six to eight hours per day.