home depot stranded wire ok for DC?

YostFMX
YostFMX Solar Expert Posts: 94 ✭✭✭
i bought some home depot 0 awg stranded wire for linking batteries together, the only thing is there is only 19 strands. each strand is pretty big, is that bad for DC? i used home depot 10 awg stranded wire (19 strands) for my little 45 watt panel on my rv. that works ok, not sure if there is a power loss? but it works... ill post a pic of the 0 awg tonight. the guy at home depot said people use it for AC...

Comments

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Re: home depot stranded wire ok for DC?

    A couple threads to check out:

    Suitable array to controller cable?
    Ampacity vs. cross sectional area

    Questions?

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • YostFMX
    YostFMX Solar Expert Posts: 94 ✭✭✭
    Re: home depot stranded wire ok for DC?

    From what I read you don't have to use stranded wire for DC. I was told you always had too! So this is fine than I guess...
  • Windsun
    Windsun Solar Expert Posts: 1,164 ✭✭
    Re: home depot stranded wire ok for DC?

    The stranding of the wire has nothing to do with AC or DC, it is all a matter of flexibility and connections.
  • kevin
    kevin Registered Users Posts: 9
    Re: home depot stranded wire ok for DC?

    it doesn't about use the stranded wire in AC or DC, the thing what you need consider is current.perhaps in most of the time,you can design 4A per Square millimeter.
  • oil pan 4
    oil pan 4 Solar Expert Posts: 767 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: home depot stranded wire ok for DC?

    Wire that size will be good in both the size and construction departments.
    How much power do you plan to push through it?

    Also see:
    http://www.powerstream.com/Wire_Size.htm
    When there is any quesion about wire size I go there.

    Solar hybrid gasoline generator, 7kw gas, 180 watts of solar, Morningstar 15 amp MPPT, group 31 AGM, 900 watt kisae inverter.

    Solar roof top GMC suburban, a normal 3/4 ton suburban with 180 watts of panels on the roof and 10 amp genasun MPPT, 2000w samlex pure sine wave inverter, 12v gast and ARB air compressors.

  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    Re: home depot stranded wire ok for DC?

    stranded wire can be used instead of solid wire where one wants more flexibility and resistance to breakage and does not have a dc or ac only statis. both solid and stranded wire can be used in both ac and dc applications