I've got four solar panels, each rated at 40 volts and 400 watts, connected in parallel. I'm trying to connect them to my Anker F2000 power station, which can take up to 20 amps and 1000 watts. However, I'm running a long cable (about 164 feet) from the panels to the power station, and I've noticed that when I connect the cable, the input power drops drastically from around 650 watts to only about 200 watts. Could the cable length be the issue, or might it be due to using old AC extension cords for the connection? I'm grateful for any insights on this!
3 Answers
Sounds like you might be experiencing voltage drop issues from the long cable! If the cable gets warm, that's a good sign it's not beefy enough for your setup. The gauge of the wire matters a lot, and using standard AC extension cords, especially if they’re 16 AWG, can lead to significant resistance and power loss.
If you can, try to minimize the distance or upgrade your wires to 12 AWG or even lower!
Definitely consider the wire gauge and length here. Using regular extension cords for solar setups isn't ideal because they can't handle the current without overheating and losing efficiency. As for your 650W output from four panels, I’d check your connections and insist on solid, proper ones to minimize resistance.
Also, don't overlook the possibility that your panels might not be producing their full potential due to shading or dirt.
Exactly! Ensuring all your connections are tight and in good shape is crucial for maximizing output.
You're on the right track thinking about wiring! Normally, if you're set up to run four panels in parallel like you are, you would need to use thicker cables to handle the total amperage without significant losses. Also, running panels in series could help you avoid such losses altogether, provided your power station can handle the higher voltage.
Yep! Just be careful about the voltage limits of your power station before making that change!
Good point! Series connections help reduce the current, which allows for smaller wire sizes and reduces losses over long distances.
Yeah, 16 AWG is only really suitable for up to 10 amps safely, so it's definitely going to slow down your power transfer, especially over such a long distance.