solar wiring question

jimtiffany

jimtiffany

Novice
I bought a 10 amp, 120w folding solar panel that does not have a power controller, as I'm getting the solar option from CI. It is being shipped from China, so I have time to obsess about wiring. Here's a picture of the back panels:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92548760@N02/11327085343/

The output is via two wires connected to alligator clips; I'm assuming one is red and the other black. I'm planning to remove the alligator clips and splice the wires to a 20-30' two-conductor wire that will connect to the plug that CI will supply:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92548760@N02/11327071296/

My question is what wire to use. From the chart below, to carry 10 amp, 120w, a wire between 20 and 28 feet long should be 10 gauge, which is pretty hefty:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/92548760@N02/11327029834/

So, what is the best option? Should I stick to under 20' with 12g wire or go out to 30' with 10g? Is 10g too thick for the plug, necessitating a step-down to smaller wire to get into it? Also, is there a type of wire that is best for this application? Thanks.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
JimT- I just did this. You'll have to use some pigtails to go from the plug to the + & - of the extension cord. The MAX the plug will take is 16 gauge...and even then I had to strip a few wires from the core, so I would recommend stranded wire. There is VERY LITTLE room to work with inside that plug for your wires.
 
Thanks, Dan. Looks like that cable has one stranded wire inside the sheathing. I assume you cut it in half to connect both the positive and negative wires from your panel to the plug. Right?
 
Yes, Jim, exactly. Just like this thread from Joan: Energy Independence that shows cutting the extension cable in two. The male/female receptacles attach to the ones on the panel (if you have MC4 on the panel) and you'd attach pigtails (max 16 gau) on the free ends to wire to the plug.
 
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