Mobile Solar Power: Design and Install Your Off-Grid Solar Power System for RVs, Vans, Boats and Off-Grid Homes - A Handbook for Photovoltaics with Batteries. by Sitav Bhadra & Paul Holmes

Author:Sitav Bhadra & Paul Holmes [Bhadra, Sitav]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2020-11-26T16:00:00+00:00

Source: Victron Energy

Corrected Inverter AC Output Current (A) = 1.25 x Maximum AC Output Current (A)

​ = 1.25 x 6.96 A

​ ​ = 8.7A

As we saw earlier, we use the Corrected Inverter AC Output Current for cable sizing based on ampacity. We then verify the cable size based on voltage drop using the Rated Inverter Output Current.

AC Distribution Box to AC Loads and Charge Controller to DC Loads (THW cables)

Finally, we are at the last set of cables for your solar system! These are the cables that run from the AC Distribution Box to the loads such as the lighting circuits, sockets, and all other appliances. These cables may be already installed in an RV or a home. If they are not installed, we need to calculate the size and install them ourselves.

If there is a Consumer Unit with cables connected to the loads and sockets already in your home or RV we just need cables from the AC Distribution Box to be connected to the Consumer Unit. The size of this cable can be calculated using the usual cable sizing formulas based on the Inverter Output Maximum Current and the cable distance between the AC Distribution Box and the Consumer Unit.

The current rating of the appliance is usually specified in its manual or datasheet. We can also find the current rating from the Wattage of the appliance and its Rated Voltage. After finding the current, we simply do the sizing calculations as we saw earlier based on the copper wire ampacity ratings and voltage drop.

We need to apply a safety factor of 1.25 on the current rating to size the cables.

For AC appliances, the rated voltage depends on your country and type of connection (e.g. 120 V for the USA, 230 V for many Asian and European countries, etc.). While for DC appliances, it depends on the chosen battery bank voltage (e.g. 12 V, 24 V, 48 V, and so on).

Note that if a wire is planned to serve a circuit with more than one load, the current rating of all the loads must be added up.

Example calculation for a 75 W ceiling fan that operates with 120 V AC-

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