Battery Interconnect Cable Size, and Link to DC Wire Size Calculator.

[Zardiw]

DC Wire Size Calculator: http://www.solar-wind.co.uk/cable-sizing-DC-cables.html

Designing a new battery bank for 24V system that will use 12 2V L16's.

Now I realize that the wire size running about 11 ft to the inverter needs to be about 0 to 2/0 for 2% loss.

But what about the short cables between batteries?

Assuming this could draw up to say 175 amps, can the short wires between batteries be smaller?

From the Wire Size Calculator ( http://www.solar-wind.co.uk/cable-sizing-DC-cables.html ) it says that 175 Amps at 24V running for .3 meters (about 12 in) is 7AWG.

So can I actually use 7 Gauge on those short ones.......seems illogical to go that small.... I was thinking maybe 2 Gauge but maybe that's overkill.

Any thoughts on this?

Thank you

z

[J.P.M.]

Sounds like a fluff/giveaway question on an EE 101 circuit design exam. I'd think an electrical engineer such as you claim to be would be able for figure that one out, but maybe things have changed.

[bcroe]

Laws of physics never change. As has been stated here before, a couple factors will set minimum
wire size. One is the acceptable system losses in operation, the other is using a wire large enough
to survive the losses without damage. Bruce Roe