chadmichael
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2022
- Messages
- 52
I understand that fuses protect wires themselves from currents higher than they can carry. This prevents a possible over heating of the conductor which could cause a fire. I also understand that a fuse can be thought of as protecting a device from burning up or being damaged. Mostly, I have thought about this in the context of circuits attached to the battery. As I understand it, my 340A/12v LIFEPO array could discharge a lot of current if a circuit attached to it were to undergo a short circuit. This makes sense to me.
With regard to the panel array, my reading suggests that they can't discharge all that much power. My battery specs show "Short Circuit Voltage(Isc): 6.10 A". Since I have four 100 W panels, configured in two serial strings of two, I calculate the total maximum short circuit current to be 12.20 A. My solar panel connector wires, running between my panels and my charge controller, are 10 feet of 8 AWG. This wire can easily carry the 12.20 A of a short circuit scenario.
So, what would I be protecting with a fuse in this case?
The battery isn't involved in this equation is it? I mean, it's on the other side of the charge controller and there is a fuse on the wire between the controller and the battery array. I guess I've been assuming the charge controller prevent current from traveling upstream from battery side of controller to panel side of controller.
With regard to the panel array, my reading suggests that they can't discharge all that much power. My battery specs show "Short Circuit Voltage(Isc): 6.10 A". Since I have four 100 W panels, configured in two serial strings of two, I calculate the total maximum short circuit current to be 12.20 A. My solar panel connector wires, running between my panels and my charge controller, are 10 feet of 8 AWG. This wire can easily carry the 12.20 A of a short circuit scenario.
So, what would I be protecting with a fuse in this case?
The battery isn't involved in this equation is it? I mean, it's on the other side of the charge controller and there is a fuse on the wire between the controller and the battery array. I guess I've been assuming the charge controller prevent current from traveling upstream from battery side of controller to panel side of controller.