SOLAR MELTDOWN......almost a FIRE!!!

[aczlan]

Mr. Lyford, that is a great idea. Now, I'm always thinking of the "easiest" or least risk way of doing something sooo..... Instead of cutting the 10 GA red wire and putting it on a terminal strip with lugs etc.....What if I just ran a smaller 16GA wire back up to the fuse box where the HOT wire originates? Wouldn't that be the same result? If it's a bad idea please tell me, thanks

If it were me, I would take the wires that are currently in two pieces to connect to the voltmeter and replace them with a single wire to go from point A to point B. Then add another pair of wires that is dedicated to the voltmeter.

Aaron Z

 

[crazyal]

If it were me, I would take the wires that are currently in two pieces to connect to the voltmeter and replace them with a single wire to go from point A to point B. Then add another pair of wires that is dedicated to the voltmeter.

Aaron Z

I would take this one step further. I would wire the panels directly to the batteries (unless you really want the ammeter telling you how much current your panels are sending to the batteries) and then have a separate wire with a small fuse on the positive line going to the voltmeter. The less connections the better when transmitting power. With a fuse going to the voltmeter you are protected in case something shorts across the two terminals. You have 4 batteries that will produce hundreds of amps of power if something is shorted. I would also use electrical contact grease, like No-OX, on each connector.

 

[Boeing]

I would wire the panels directly to the batteries (unless you really want the ammeter telling you how much current your panels are sending to the batteries) and then have a separate wire with a small fuse on the positive line going to the voltmeter.

Crazyal, sounds good BUT please clarify...panels directly to the CONTROLLER then the batteries.....right? And about this fuse....The big fuses I have off the panels are TWO, 20 ampers....should I use a 20A in line fuse to protect the Vmeter? I bought a 30V range V meter (and a 30 amp Amp meter) Thanks

 

[Boeing]

AaronZ, the single wires to the V meter can be lighter gauge, right? And another fellow recommended an "inline" fuse going to the meter....that sounds like a good idea. Would have prevented the issue that I had. Thanks

 

[GLyford]

Yes, the single wires to the meter can be a lighter gauge, and the size of the fuse in those wires should be whatever matches that size wire. It is there to protect those wires (and the meter)...unless the meter is rated for less, then it should be whatever matches the meter. I suspect something like 2A would be plenty...?