Hey everyone! I'm building a solar power system for my minivan camper and ran into a bit of a snag. I originally bought some 8 gauge wire but accidentally ordered 10 gauge when I had to redo the system. I was wondering if it's safe to use the 8 gauge wire from my solar panel to the charge controller, and then switch to the 10 gauge wire from the charge controller to the battery. I've got a 120A fuse for safety, and my solar panel is a 100W unit. Would this setup be safe or should I make some changes?
2 Answers
Honestly, you should be fine with that setup. Just make sure to check the current coming from your 100W panel. At 12 volts, that's roughly 8.33 amps, which means the 10 gauge will handle it with no problem. If your main fuse is rated for 120A, it's more than enough protection. Just keep an eye on the connections to ensure they don’t get hot!
Yeah, as long as you’re only using one 100W panel, you're good to go with that. The 10 AWG wire can handle up to 40 amps, way more than what your system will draw. The 8 AWG is even better at 55 amps, so you’re in a safe zone there. just remember that heat can mess with wire ratings, so keep an eye on it during use!
Thanks! I’ll keep that in mind about the heat.
So are you saying the 10 gauge is safe for that current?