I used #12 x3 SJ cable. It looks like a line cord you would find on a big power tool. I hooked two of the conductors together for the positive lead and used one for the negative. I thought of using #10 x2 but could not find a source at the time. I recently had to change out all my (120 watt) PV panels (they failed under warranty). I ran the numbers on #10 x2 and #12 x3 and the losses are almost the same. It really can be equated to the amount or weight or volume of copper per foot.
I used black plastic "strain reliefs" (actually little stuffing boxes) bought from the same place I got the panels, they were the same as the ones in the junction boxes on the panels. I think you can get them at electrical supply houses. They are under the panels and out of the sun. The panels are mounted 1/4" aluminum plate. I drilled, tapped and beveled the tops of the holes with a large countersink to accommodate an o-ring on each "strain relief". I have not had any trouble with any of them but they and the wires are all under the panels and not exposed directly to the weather. Norm S/V Bandersnatch Lying Julington Creek 30 07.695N 081 38.484W > [Original Message] > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Date: 11/4/2008 10:21:03 AM > Subject: Re: [Liveaboard] Wire size and through deck install question. > > Jim, > > Grab a West Marine catalog or an Ancor catalog. They both have tables showing 3% and 10% voltage drops in regard to current and wire size. What thru-deck connector did you use? I used Blue Seas CableClam and had no leaks. If you use one of these, make sure the cable is round, not flat. They don't seal well around flat cables... > > > Paul Esterle > > > -------------- Original message ---------------------- > From: Jim <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > In preparation for installing my solar panels, I'm going to run the > > wires perhaps this weekend. Each panel is 95W and I'll be running about > > 25' of wire, that's 50' round trip. I figured that #14 wire would drop > > about 8% of the voltage and I like a <5% drop, so I am planning on > > running #12. Does that sound reasonable? > > > > Also what's anyone use to get wires through the deck? I used on of > > those sealed thru-deck connectors for my coax and it leaked like a > > sieve. I had to paint silicone on it to stop the leaks, so I'm not > > impressed with that solution. If I wanted to have to use silicone, I'd > > just drill a hole in the deck. > > > > I plan on having a connector at the solar panel in a semi protected area > > so I don't probably don't want a connector on the deck. That'd just be > > another point of failure/problems. > > > > Suggestions? > > > > Thanks, > > Jim. _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://www.liveaboardnow.org/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardnow.org/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
