maxsawicky
Active member
i've realized my current solar set up is not correct. I replaced the PV panels, charge controller, but not the batteries until now.
For my new setup, I have Two 125ah AGM Vmax Batteries. previous owner welded under carriage battery trays, (p cool) one on the passenger side, and another on the driver side. I can only fit one Vmax battery in each compartment. This leads to cable length problems.
I will be wiring the two batteries in parallel, with 0 guage copper wire. These can be equal length. And will probably be somewhere around 60-70 inches (width of van underneath. Obviously the shorter the better, but we don't have a choice here.
I now understand that my cable/wire from my MPPT charge controller, to my batteries can not be going to one battery. one (lets say Positive(+) cable needs to go to the + terminal of one battery, and the Negative (-) needs to reach the other battery's negative terminal across the other side of the van.
My understanding of this is that this length cable can be quite long and is not a concern. I also understand they can be different lengths. (for instance, the + cable from MPPT to battery would be roughly 3-4 feet, but the negative length to the other side of the van will be closer to 10 feet. Is this correct?
Now for the most important set of questions. I believe I should also wire the 0AWG cables connecting the battery bank to my inverter in the same fashion. One cable from one battery, and the other cable from the 2nd battery across.
Can these large cables, from the battery bank, to the inverter be different lengths? If not, would the best option to make both the same, and map them out underneath to "take up length? It would save me a lot of work and time if they can be different lengths. Like in the above scenario, positive cable would be 5ft or less, negative will be closer to 15. Can they also be of substantial length? Im not quite understanding voltage drop yet.
I'm trying to make my batteries as equalized as possible as they charge or as they have a load on them. Or do i simply buy a battery equalizer?
thanks for the help
For my new setup, I have Two 125ah AGM Vmax Batteries. previous owner welded under carriage battery trays, (p cool) one on the passenger side, and another on the driver side. I can only fit one Vmax battery in each compartment. This leads to cable length problems.
I will be wiring the two batteries in parallel, with 0 guage copper wire. These can be equal length. And will probably be somewhere around 60-70 inches (width of van underneath. Obviously the shorter the better, but we don't have a choice here.
I now understand that my cable/wire from my MPPT charge controller, to my batteries can not be going to one battery. one (lets say Positive(+) cable needs to go to the + terminal of one battery, and the Negative (-) needs to reach the other battery's negative terminal across the other side of the van.
My understanding of this is that this length cable can be quite long and is not a concern. I also understand they can be different lengths. (for instance, the + cable from MPPT to battery would be roughly 3-4 feet, but the negative length to the other side of the van will be closer to 10 feet. Is this correct?
Now for the most important set of questions. I believe I should also wire the 0AWG cables connecting the battery bank to my inverter in the same fashion. One cable from one battery, and the other cable from the 2nd battery across.
Can these large cables, from the battery bank, to the inverter be different lengths? If not, would the best option to make both the same, and map them out underneath to "take up length? It would save me a lot of work and time if they can be different lengths. Like in the above scenario, positive cable would be 5ft or less, negative will be closer to 15. Can they also be of substantial length? Im not quite understanding voltage drop yet.
I'm trying to make my batteries as equalized as possible as they charge or as they have a load on them. Or do i simply buy a battery equalizer?
thanks for the help