Victron 150/100

[Ruben]

In the victron 150/100 charge controller manual states to use 35 mm2 wire / 2 awg to connect to the battery pos and neg busbar

Opinion about using 25mm2 wire/ 4 awg which is also capable of supporting the max of 100amps which the charge controller can send to the batteries and is easier to get into the connector from the charge controller

let me know your opinions

 

[gnubie]

You need to pay attention to the temperature rise vs insulation temperature rating and also voltage drop across the cable under what ever amps you expect to see flowing. The voltage drop actually applies across the entire wiring from SCC to battery posts. If you have too much drop your batteries won't be charged as you expect them to be. They still will get charged obviously.

If the only load is the battery as the battery comes to fully charged the current will reduce allowing the voltage to rise back up again at the far end (less current, less drop) but it may never reach the point you wish it to. This can have consequences for lithium where the BMS may not start cell balancing until cell voltages rise to a certain point.

If you have additional loads pulling current from the SCC, which cause voltage drops relating to the total current through the wires, it only makes that situation worse.

So: insulation temperature rating and voltage drop

 

[HaldorEE]

What gnubie said. Question, how long (round trip) will your wires be? If short I would be ok with smaller gage. If long, you should consider larger diameter wires. Total voltage drop (and temperature rise) in wire is what matters.

 

[Ruben]

Distance is less then 3 ft , i think im just gonna use the 35mm2 wire ti be on the safe side

 

[HaldorEE]

Total of 6ft wire round trip? 4 awg should be fine for wiring that short.

 

[snoobler]

I have a 150/100, but I never push more than 3kW through it for the time being at 48V, so about 65A max. I'm using 2X 8awg wires equivalent to 5awg (it's what I had laying around).

 

[HaldorEE]

Thicker is never wrong as long as you can horse it into place.

My 150A Daly BMS uses 6 awg wire for the internal battery connection. Kinda offended me until I thought about how little voltage drop that is actually going to cause. I am going to cut off the 5/16" ring terminals since they are too small, I will shorten these wires and install 3/8" ring terminals after the battery pack is finished so the wiring is the perfect length.

I have read (famous last words), that as long as you have less than a 3% voltage drop in your wiring you are able to ignore it.

I am still using 2 AWG wires for the inverter wiring cables. These are going to be about 4 ft long (8 ft round trip). I am buying these premade since I want Anderson SB175 connectors for the battery (I plan on moving my battery into my air conditioned house during the Phoenix summer heat when I am not using the van). I can get these with 1/0 wires, but I honestly don't think that is necessary with as short wires as I am using.

Anderson SB175 Copper Battery Cable Assembly 2 Gauge AWG w lug/terminal/clamp

www.batterycablesusa.com

I haven't ordered these yet snubie, should I get the 1/0 wires?

 

[Ruben]

My results today as i wired the 150/100 victron

my set up :

10x 240watt panels
24 volts
24 x 190 ah batteries ( 12 pairs )
6000w running /12000 w peak inverter 24-220v
3000w running / 6000w peak inverter 24-110v
150/100 victron charge controller
Aili battery monitor ( which is to small ) i need a victron bmv 712 smart

future plans : add 4 more 240w panels
100/50 victron chrge controller ( have
It allready)

 

[HaldorEE]

My results today as i wired the 150/100 victron

my set up :

10x 240watt panels
24 volts
24 x 190 ah batteries ( 12 pairs )
6000w running /12000 w peak inverter 24-220v
3000w running / 6000w peak inverter 24-110v
150/100 victron charge controller
Aili battery monitor ( which is to small ) i need a victron bmv 712 smart

future plans : add 4 more 240w panels
100/50 victron chrge controller ( have
It allready)

That is quite a system. I think 4 awg might be a bit small for you.

 

[snoobler]

Yeah. you're pushing 100A, and you'll do it for hours, so 4awg is marginal. 2awg would be my choice.

 

[HaldorEE]

Yeah. you're pushing 100A, and you'll do it for hours, so 4awg is marginal. 2awg would be my choice.

Not bad advice.

I was joking with Ruben. Imagine using 4 awg wire with his system.

 

[Ruben]

Inverters and batteries