AfterShock
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2021
- Messages
- 21
I did notice what you're saying, especially about the MC4 and solar wires. The diagram I went with does have a disclaimer saying the solar panel and wiring can differ. It's a bit misleading because you see a 150/100 MPPT and up to 1200W system on a 50A breaker switch and 10 awg wires and MC4 connectors.As you start to learn more you'll see some things in those videos that you probably would not include in your build. For me it was the fact that audio circuit breakers were used by the YouTube channel instead of properly rated DC circuit breakers.
When I measure wire, I really lean on the conservative side, so thicker the better. I look at wire and connector Ampacity. For example most MC4 connectors are rated 30 amps or less, so once I have more than that those are out. I also look at voltage loss over distances. I wanted to set my system up 1S6P, but voltage loss became too large for a reasonably sized wire run of 50' each way, so I went with 3S2P. There's a couple other things, but this is the calculator I use:
Voltage Drop Calculator
This free voltage drop calculator estimates the voltage drop of an electrical circuit based on the wire size, distance, and anticipated load current.www.calculator.net
Since fusing and wires is such a critical thing, its best you work through that yourself, but you'll get plenty of help here.
I bought 4 x 200W panels so my plan is to have 2 separate arrays in series and have 2 + and - wires in 10 awg come down from the roof. I bought 2 single stud bus bars to join them and use 6 awg wire to the breaker box, which is a 63A breaker, then 6 awg wire again to the bus bar (victron Lynx). The rest of the diagram seems to work perfectly other than not having a need for the Orion unit.