Wire Size

hemmjo
hemmjo Solar Expert Posts: 90 ✭✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
I need to make some cables to send down to the Dominican Republic for a mission I work with. We need a temporary generator/charger/battery/inverter set-up for refrigeration. We already own the generator, charger and refrigerator. So all we need to get this going is an inverter and batteries. The cables I need will connect the batteries to the charger, and batteries to the inverter. In the spring we will be able to add solar panels and a charge controller to eliminate the need to run the generator every few days.

The charger, Iota DLS-30, does not specify wire size but max output is 30amps.
The inverter, MorningStar SureSine 300-115 calls for #6 wire.

I am confused by a couple of wire size charts I have found to choose wire size for the charger.

http://www.solar-electric.com/electrical-characteristics-awg-copper-wire.html

According to the chart above, max for #6 is 37 amps
According to the chart below, max for #6 ranges from 50-75 depending on insulation.

http://www.cerrowire.com/ampacity-charts

I can use all #6 for this project since the lengths are so short, but I am wondering why the difference in specifications?

Thanks,

John
Two systems in the Dominican Republic  http://villagemountainmission.org/
installed Feb 2014 at 19.796189° -70.893594°, Classic 150 + WBJR, KISAE SW1210, MN Battery Monitor, IOTA DLS 55/IQ4,  4- Solar World 275w, 4-6v x 225ah Trace Batteries
installed Feb 2015 at 19.795733° -70.893372°, same components  as above
Honda PowerMate PC0497000, 7000/8750w generator - powers the well and chargers maybe once a week






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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Wire Size

    don't buy any more yet!

    look into a combo Inverter/charger, that can be programmed to use 80% of the generators rated capacity, 30A of charger @ 120V is only about 500W when you factor in the POWER FACTOR of the Iota.

    And unless you KNOW for a fact, that the suresine WILL START your fridge, in most cases, even it's 600w surge, can't do it.

    There are a couple of great threads here, one about Generator Sizing and one about Generator Support (assist) of loads, by the inverter.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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