Best Inverter/Controller location

JoeContiRC

Lumisol said:

What's the thing in the diagram labeled inverter/controller then? Just a mislabeled controller?

My mistake - I believe I wrote above that I am not using an inverter .. sorry about that  

mike95490

JoeContiRC said:

Thank you for that - but I am running a 100% 12v system. No inverter here  

  [  You mean a 100% DC system at 12V.  I have a couple spots using 12V AC from a transformer. ]
Then each wire has to be thick enough to have less than 2% voltage drop under max load.    The cost of all that extra copper wire will likely be more than upgrading to an inverter to prevent the voltage loss problems.  Sorry.

JoeContiRC

mike95490 said:

JoeContiRC said:

Thank you for that - but I am running a 100% 12v system. No inverter here  

  [  You mean a 100% DC system at 12V.  I have a couple spots using 12V AC from a transformer. ]
Then each wire has to be thick enough to have less than 2% voltage drop under max load.    The cost of all that extra copper wire will likely be more than upgrading to an inverter to prevent the voltage loss problems.  Sorry.

I see your point and a valid one too - just trying to use what I have to power a hobby room with 3 strips of LED lights for about 10 hours a week - nothing else 

mike95490

Depending on the quality of the LED drivers, they may work ok. but you mentioned low voltages, did the light get low too ?

JoeContiRC

mike95490 said:

Depending on the quality of the LED drivers, they may work ok. but you mentioned low voltages, did the light get low too ?

I am getting 13.4v at the light toggle switch .. when I turn it on it drops by 1.1v - but I know that is due to the inadequate wires i am using until the new wiring gets here .. the whole lighting unit you see above it putting a 2.5A load on the system - voltage showing in picture was after a very long period of usage one evening.