Those exposed lugs are protected, they are naked for photo purposesView attachment 150571 Bob,
I did the same. Used 2/0 between batteries and heat shrink to differentiate.
Any reason to use larger wire between the batteries than leaving them?what color wire when wiring pos to neg when wiring in series? Does it make a difference?
Also, the runs are short. What size wire between batteries for 6 6v bank. Coming off the ends I’m using 1 aw
I think they only need to be protected if there’s anything else in the compartment that might cause a short, but probably a good idea regardless.Those exposed lugs are protected, they are naked for photo purposes
The larger the wires, the lower the resistance, the lower the voltage loss. Even on the short distances.Any reason to use larger wire between the batteries than leaving them?
I get that, just wondering if bigger wire for such a short run actually makes any difference.The larger the wires, the lower the resistance, the lower the voltage loss. Even on the short distances.
The wires should be able to easily handle the maximum load on the battery bank.
What size are the wires leading away from the bank?
I kinda think it is a lot more trouble. You need to buy the thicker cable, and the bigger lugs, and crimp them, and fit them in. The difference from 2/0 to 4 is 17mV at 100 A. Why not just use AWG 4 everywhere, assuming it's not the run to the windlass?so there's not really much extra trouble in using the thicker cable.
I was thinking from the standpoint of not needing to run the cable around sharp bends through hidden locations. Good point that it does make the terminals a little harder.I kinda think it is a lot more trouble. You need to buy the thicker cable, and the bigger lugs, and crimp them, and fit them in
The calculators I find say 2/0 has a drop of 16mV per foot at 100A, but AWG 4 is 50mV per foot. 50mV per foot will add up quickly if running from a high output alternator, starter, or even autopilot motor (admittedly less than 100A, but still not insignificant).The difference from 2/0 to 4 is 17mV at 100 A
Maybe I made a mistake. I made a spreadsheet and used published values of Ω/1k'. Let me check.The calculators I find say 2/0 has a drop of 16mV per foot at 100A, but AWG 4 is 50mV per foot. 50mV per foot will add up quickly if running from a high output alternator, starter, or even autopilot motor (admittedly less than 100A, but still not insignificant).
Makes sense. Fair enough.Yes, O.K., using good-old George Ohm's Law, I calculated that there's a difference in voltage drop of 17 mV going from 2/0 to 4AWG over one foot at 100 Amps. That's one way. Your calculator must be giving you the round-trip loss for 1', as 2/0 drops 7.8mV over 1' at 100A. (100A * 78E-6Ω = 7.8E-3V).
For 4AWG, you you drop 25mV one way at 100A. So, yes, maybe that is something to be concerned about. If you are charging at high current for any length of time, you should use remote sense of the regulator, and the second batt in a two batt bank would be charged 25mV lower. I don't think it would be a big deal for a momentary 100A load, like a windlass.