What size cable?

[The Simpsons]

We are replacing our solar controller so that it will trickle charge the vehicle battery (lockdown) once the hab battery hits 70% and then share solar charge until both are 100% charged. My issue is the controller is located at the rear of the van approx 70cms from the hab battery but the vehicle battery is approx 9 m away as the cable route would go. Batt 1 and batt 2 direct into the charge controller. Max rated battery output is 10amps. I have tried to calculate the appropriate cable size with results from 4mm to 16mm........this idiot must be doing something wrong any advice would be gratefully received. I will be adding a 10amp inline fuse. Help please lol

 

[Stealaway]

The controller connection will probably only take max 6mm cable .

 

[Lenny HB]

Most dual solar regulators only give 1 to 2 amp trickle charge to the starter battery so size of cable not critical. You are only trying to keep the starter battery topped up so 2.5mm sq would be more than enough. Bear in mind if you use thin walled auto cable the size includes the insulation so 4mm cable is actually 2.5 mm.

 

[The Simpsons]

Cheers Lenny HB

 

[XxAnthxX]

You’d probably be more likely to suffer from voltage drop getting to the battery rather than cable damage due to the amperage the cable can handle.

I always found this site quite informative and it has a cable calculator.

Cable Size Calculator - Cable sizing and selection | 12 Volt Planet

Cable Size Calculator - Read our guide to selecting cable of the correct type and size for your automotive, marine or leisure wiring application. Auto and Marine Electrical Components from 12 Volt Planet

www.12voltplanet.co.uk

I wouldn’t over think it too much tho and usually the bigger the better......Oooo errrrr ?

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[ManTheVan]

You probably already have cabling running to your starter battery from the distribution/fuse box in the garage. When we fitted our Battery Master (which does this function at a fraction of the price of a dual-charge controller) the connections were all found inside the CBE distro box and fitting took under 4 mins.

Search for threads on BM fitting and you’ll find the pics. Good luck!

 

[The Wino]

You probably already have cabling running to your starter battery from the distribution/fuse box in the garage. When we fitted our Battery Master (which does this function at a fraction of the price of a dual-charge controller) the connections were all found inside the CBE distro box and fitting took under 4 mins.

Search for threads on BM fitting and you’ll find the pics. Good luck!

I thought that if everything else is working well just add a battery master or the road pro thing that claims to do the same