my cheapo off grid system

[Sunking]

You illustrated the connection for the charge controller being made at a different battery terminal than the connection for the inverter. They are at opposite ends of the diagonal wiring. I'd like to piggy-back on Dave's question... was that intentional, or just a cleaner looking drawing?

Just to clean up the drawing and a take on this link, Method 2.

[almac]

Yes but made with 6-volt batteries like you will be getting soon. You did say you bought 4 6-Volt golf cart batteries right? You operate at 12 volts right? That is how you would hook them up.

operating at 24v. you can see the latest configuration pic here. yes planing on getting 4 x t105 trojan equivalent golf car batteries before winter. they will be c105 century batteries but are identical to the trojan t105. so the double fuse holder inetdog mentioned sounds like what i will need. with an extra single fuse for the second charge controller DSCN0014.JPG

[almac]

That means that if you short the system at the inverter the batteries blow; if you short the system at the charge controllers, the wires to the charge controller start burning. Neither is a notably good outcome, or indeed much of an improvement.

yes thanks for pointing that out, will be sorting the breaker / fusing issue next.

[sensij]

Not sure I follow you Dave. It is on the Diagonal to force balanced charge and discharge currents when you are not using buss bars.

You illustrated the connection for the charge controller being made at a different battery terminal than the connection for the inverter. They are at opposite ends of the diagonal wiring. I'd like to piggy-back on Dave's question... was that intentional, or just a cleaner looking drawing?

[Sunking]

This is the first time I can recall seeing a double diagonal cabling with inverter and CC on opposite diagonals.
Is there any particular merit to this connection other than allowing the use of four single fuse holders, on each four battery terminals, instead of two double fuse holders on two terminals?

Not sure I follow you Dave. It is on the Diagonal to force balanced charge and discharge currents when you are not using buss bars.

[Sunking]

[COLOR=#252C2F][FONT=Helvetica][SIZE=13px]thanks, so in this diagram is this 2 x 12v batteries in parallel ?

Yes but made with 6-volt batteries like you will be getting soon. You did say you bought 4 6-Volt golf cart batteries right? You operate at 12 volts right? That is how you would hook them up.

[jflorey2]

the cables that carry high current are 200 amp and short in length securely bolted onto the battery terminals.. i thought that was obvious.

That means that if you short the system at the inverter the batteries blow; if you short the system at the charge controllers, the wires to the charge controller start burning. Neither is a notably good outcome, or indeed much of an improvement.

[inetdog]

Look at the diagram below. It will show you how to protect the wiring and how to connect it so as to force even charge and discharge currents to flow through the batteries. The fuse sizes are for demonstration purposes only and may or may not be what you need. In this example would be 15 amp Charge Controller and 1000 watt 12 volt Inverter. Your actual sizes will most likely be different.

This is the first time I can recall seeing a double diagonal cabling with inverter and CC on opposite diagonals.
Is there any particular merit to this connection other than allowing the use of four single fuse holders, on each four battery terminals, instead of two double fuse holders on two terminals?

[almac]

OK Almac I am going to try to help you. You might think I am being tough on you, and I am. No one on this Forum will do more to help you than me. I am trying to get your attention you have a problem on your hands. I will try to show you how to do this safely and actually work. Four things are jumping out at me.

1. No Over Current Protection Devices like fuses or breakers.
2. Improper wire/cable terminations. Example Alligator Clips
3. Batteries on and near wood.
4. Poor workmanship. Looks like a Rats Nest.

So let's start with the Big Item that posses the most clear and present danger, No fusses. Look at the diagram below. It will show you how to protect the wiring and how to connect it so as to force even charge and discharge currents to flow through the batteries. The fuse sizes are for demonstration purposes only and may or may not be what you need. In this example would be 15 amp Charge Controller and 1000 watt 12 volt Inverter. Your actual sizes will most likely be different.

thanks, so in this diagram is this 2 x 12v batteries in parallel ? so if it was 4 x 6v batteries in series the inverter and charge controller cables would come off the same terminals, with the fuses on the negative and positive cables near the battery terminals. with my 24v system the charge currents get up to 25 amps from each charge controller ( there are two) so 30 amps fuses should suffice , the inverter is a 2000w so based on the 12v diagram would need 100 amp fuse for the inverter. thats number 1
number 2 now have 200 amp cables bolted to the battery terminals, will do the same for the charge controller cables.
number 3 iv seen other members here put batteries on wooden pallets, whats the go with wood?
number 4 yes i agree the tangle of spaghetti cabling was a fire hazard

while fooling around with different cabling and battery configurations i have made some observations, the battery voltage drop when running a large load is alot more with the longer lighter battery cabling, even with a larger battery bank. with the 150AH bank and the 200 amp shorter cables the voltage drop is about 1v running 1400w. before with the 250AH bank and the spaghetti tangle of 25 amp cables the voltage drop was 2-3v

[Sunking]

OK Almac I am going to try to help you. You might think I am being tough on you, and I am. No one on this Forum will do more to help you than me. I am trying to get your attention you have a problem on your hands. I will try to show you how to do this safely and actually work. Four things are jumping out at me.

1. No Over Current Protection Devices like fuses or breakers.
2. Improper wire/cable terminations. Example Alligator Clips
3. Batteries on and near wood.
4. Poor workmanship. Looks like a Rats Nest.

So let's start with the Big Item that posses the most clear and present danger, No fusses. Look at the diagram below. It will show you how to protect the wiring and how to connect it so as to force even charge and discharge currents to flow through the batteries. The fuse sizes are for demonstration purposes only and may or may not be what you need. In this example would be 15 amp Charge Controller and 1000 watt 12 volt Inverter. Your actual sizes will most likely be different.

[almac]

Interesting. In what way do you think what you posted is better than your previous system?

the cables that carry high current are 200 amp and short in length securely bolted onto the battery terminals.. i thought that was obvious.

[SunEagle]

ok thanks for the fback on my latest battery configuration, sunking would you outline a basic set up using 4 x t105 6v batteries for a 225AH 24v bank? that would be 4 x batteries in series, the cabling needed and fusing. thanks,

having logged in and read the comments concerning the FIRE HAZARD my wiring posed , i immediately dismantled the set up , and until i buy 4 x t105 batteries , will use the 3 deep cycle batteries remaining with STURDY CABLING and CONNECTIONS., to give me some capacity of 150AH. 2 x 100AH deep cycle batteries in parallel , in series with the trojan 150AH golf car battery. [ATTACH=CONFIG]n304875[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n304876[/ATTACH]

There are a few issues that I see with your system but the one that catches my eye is the connections between the CC and batteries.

I would replace those "clamp" type connectors. They do not make a solid connection and will increase the circuits resistance. Better to go with terminals on the end of the cables so they can be securely connected to the batteries.

[jflorey2]

having logged in and read the comments concerning the FIRE HAZARD my wiring posed , i immediately dismantled the set up , and until i buy 4 x t105 batteries , will use the 3 deep cycle batteries remaining with STURDY CABLING and CONNECTIONS.

Interesting. In what way do you think what you posted is better than your previous system?

[almac]

True Mike, but you busted my chops on his other thread for being to SNIPPY. I remembered this post from last year. This guy is an extreme danger to himself. If he lives in a community with a FD is a danger to the public. It is a Rat's Nest and no OCPD to be found. Not to mention sulfuric acid on wood furniture on a wood floor.

Been a while since I took a chemistry class but organic materials and acid do not play well together. Basic recipe for an explosive.

ok thanks for the fback on my latest battery configuration, sunking would you outline a basic set up using 4 x t105 6v batteries for a 225AH 24v bank? that would be 4 x batteries in series, the cabling needed and fusing. thanks,

having logged in and read the comments concerning the FIRE HAZARD my wiring posed , i immediately dismantled the set up , and until i buy 4 x t105 batteries , will use the 3 deep cycle batteries remaining with STURDY CABLING and CONNECTIONS., to give me some capacity of 150AH. 2 x 100AH deep cycle batteries in parallel , in series with the trojan 150AH golf car battery. DSCN0010.JPG
DSCN0011.JPG

[Sunking]

It's always nice to have an example of what not to do. With it all in the same thread, it's priceless. Even after a couple smoke events, he still keeps going.

True Mike, but you busted my chops on his other thread for being to SNIPPY. I remembered this post from last year. This guy is an extreme danger to himself. If he lives in a community with a FD is a danger to the public. It is a Rat's Nest and no OCPD to be found. Not to mention sulfuric acid on wood furniture on a wood floor.

Been a while since I took a chemistry class but organic materials and acid do not play well together. Basic recipe for an explosive.