Question for ya.. I notice that the manual for my Inverter says recommended AC Wire Gauge is 8 AWG. Ok.. So If I look around and I find 8 AWG on Amazon which discusses how good it is for Car Audio ..am, I on the correct product?? Is Car Audio pushing High AMPS? Or is it a different Beast? Thanks
Wire Size/Type?
- Thread starter rjpear
- Start date
For AC you need triplex wire meant for AC. You do not want audio wire for anything electrical. Get the right wire with the right insulation for the right use.
If this is for mobile or marine then you want a really high quality marine grade wire such as:
baymarinesupply.com
If this is in a home then solid core wire would work. It's basically the same wire used for the outlets in your house except 8AWG is much thicker than the 12 or 14AWG in your house wiring.
If this is for mobile or marine then you want a really high quality marine grade wire such as:
Marine Grade Flat Triplex Wires
Triplex wire for marine and other DC applications. Tinned, stranded conductors resist corrosion and vibration for use in harsh environments, and extended service in normal applications.
baymarinesupply.com
If this is in a home then solid core wire would work. It's basically the same wire used for the outlets in your house except 8AWG is much thicker than the 12 or 14AWG in your house wiring.
iamrich
Solar Addict
It easiest to just buy ready made cables for that leg. The battery to inverter cable should be as short as possible.
8 Gauge AWG Battery Cable Wire - Solar Marine Power Inverter Car Pure Copper
www.windynation.com
FYI - The OP is asking about the AC wires, not the DC wires.It easiest to just buy ready made cables for that leg. The battery to inverter cable should be as short as possible.
8 Gauge AWG Battery Cable Wire - Solar Marine Power Inverter Car Pure Copper
www.windynation.com
Plus, 8AWG for the DC wires is likely too small and would only be good for a 12V 500W inverter or smaller.
iamrich
Solar Addict
Ah, I didn't catch that from the OP. For the AC side I would just use THHN Copper Stranded Wire from Home Depot or similar. It's like $0.50USD a foot.
John Frum
Tell me your problems
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What guage of THHN is $0.50USD?
iamrich
Solar Addict
OP mentioned 8 awg. My bad, $0.84 a foot. I guess copper went up in the last couple of months. Seems like I bought some just recently for $0.50
Southwire (By-the-Foot) 8 Red Stranded CU SIMpull THHN Wire 20490999 - The Home Depot
Southwire's THHN and THWN-2 is a multi-purpose building wire used in conduit and cable trays for service, feeders and branch circuits in commercial and industrial applications. It is also used as a conductor
www.homedepot.com
jeffreyhuffman
New Member
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Is this wire from HD a good option for a long run from PV to Inverter? I've checked the calculator to confirm 8 awg meets the need. Is this equivalent to AWG 8? (It's about $200 cheaper than the same length roll of AWG 8, so far as I can tell.)OP mentioned 8 awg. My bad, $0.84 a foot. I guess copper went up in the last couple of months. Seems like I bought some just recently for $0.50
Southwire (By-the-Foot) 8 Red Stranded CU SIMpull THHN Wire 20490999 - The Home Depot
Southwire's THHN and THWN-2 is a multi-purpose building wire used in conduit and cable trays for service, feeders and branch circuits in commercial and industrial applications. It is also used as a conductorwww.homedepot.com
Southwire 500 ft. 8 Red Stranded CU SIMpull THHN Wire 20490912 - The Home Depot
Southwire Type THHN or THWN-2 conductors are primarily used in conduit and cable trays for services, feeders and branch circuits in commercial or industrial applications as specified in the NEC 2. When
www.homedepot.com
jeffreyhuffman
New Member
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- Nov 24, 2021
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Ah, right. Sorry.
- 24 panels (6S2P: each pair of wires supports 199.8 vmp, 19.22 amps, 3840 watts)
- LV6548 inverter
- ~150' from PV combiner box to LV6548
- All off-grid.
- Powers a yurt used solely for recreation. Currently contains fridge, lights, cell booster, ceiling fan, vacuum, etc. powered by 400w system. (No AC.)
12VoltInstalls
life passes by too quickly to not live in freedom
No.
PV wire is UV stable and has Schwarzenegger sheathing.
Not for a big inverter feeding a panel. Might not even be big enough depending on chart/calc method; 8ga is 40A if conservative.
jeffreyhuffman
New Member
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- Nov 24, 2021
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Could you provide a link to "Schwarzenegger sheathing"? I searched for that term without success (but will keep searching).
Each pair will support 19.2 amps, so I could double and still be under 40. Is that the correct way to think about it?
12VoltInstalls
life passes by too quickly to not live in freedom
Colloquialism. Just meant it’s tough, strong stuff.
Sortof. So basically you have two strings supplying 20A each? 320W panels? The amps seem high but I don’t know anything so…I don’t know everything!
I don’t know what you mean by ‘double.’ Add more panels to double?
iamrich
Solar Addict
Yes, that is the same wire on a spool and will work fine assuming it is going in conduit. Not a good choice if you are just burying or laying on the ground. My brain automatically assumes conduit, apologies...Is this wire from HD a good option for a long run from PV to Inverter? I've checked the calculator to confirm 8 awg meets the need. Is this equivalent to AWG 8? (It's about $200 cheaper than the same length roll of AWG 8, so far as I can tell.)
Southwire 500 ft. 8 Red Stranded CU SIMpull THHN Wire 20490912 - The Home Depot
Southwire Type THHN or THWN-2 conductors are primarily used in conduit and cable trays for services, feeders and branch circuits in commercial or industrial applications as specified in the NEC 2. Whenwww.homedepot.com
200VDC/20A over 150 feet I think I would probably go 10awg. You are probably looking at a 4% voltage drop.
Bigger wire is always better, except when you are pulling out your credit card...
The wire you linked above is 8awg.
Southwire
(Brand Rating: 4.6/5)
500 ft. 8 Red Stranded CU SIM pull THHN Wire
- #8 AWG commercial wiring for outlets, switches and other loads
- 8 Gauge THHN wire contains Copper (CU) Conductors
- #8 THHN comes stranded with variety of colors and lengths
The original posted question from OP, rjpear, said AC wire. Not panel wire. but thanks to 12voltsinstall I have been awoke to my slip-up. But you are in wrong question.. Go back to post #1 and read it again.
I see the confusion now. In post #17 I thought your post #12 was in reply to post #11 and I mistakenly referred to the new guy in post #11 as the OP. The guy in post #11 really should have started their own thread. That would have avoided a lot of confusion since this thread now contains 2 unrelated discussions.
