Wire Connection of devices diagram (How to)!

Sharp230
Sharp230 Registered Users Posts: 22 ✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Wire connections of solar equipment are fairly easy to understand if you spend a little time reading the instructions manual.
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Wire Connection of devices diagram (How to)!

    You bought this equipment new, right? Look in the boxes: Instruction Books!
    There should be one for the panels, one for the charge controller, one for the battery monitor, and one for the inverter. Each should have a wiring diagram for the particular device, including wire sizing and fuse/breaker recommendations. Look them over and you will see the places where one diagram connects to another, although it won't be readily apparent. Otherwise its basic wiring following the principles of good practice (i.e. keeping +/- straight, keeping AC from DC, using proper wire size, et cetera).

    Come on now; have a look at the books and see if they make sense! :D
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,660 admin
    #3
    Re: Wire Connection of devices diagram (How to)!

    I will make one suggestion...

    Think of the battery bank as the "heart" of your system... For the most part, when designing your system--The other circuits (loads/chargers) do not affect each other.

    Design the battery, battery cabling, and "bus/common" +/- points well (short/heavy cables, using smartgauge website wiring suggestions).

    Then each device is simply the interaction/requirements of the battery and the device itself (load or charger). The wire from the battery to the device has to be heavy enough to support the planned current * 1.25 (NEC derating factor). And use a fuse/breaker to protect that wire/branch circuit from over current.

    Do it for the Charger to the bus/common point
    Do it for Load #1 to the bus/common point
    Do it for Load #2 to the bus/common point
    rinse, repeat 'till all charging sources/loads have been addressed.

    The second order effects (i.e., does an AC inverter affect the MPPT charge controller) is usually not something to worry about, unless you did not take care of the first order effects (to small of cable, to long of cable run, sharing a single cable run to both charge controller and AC inverter input, etc.).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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