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The maximum distance between solar panels and batteries should be 20 to 30 ft. The shorter the distance between them the better. Long, thin cables increase the amount of energy lost as the conductor resists current flow. With a shorter, thicker cable, energy loss is minimized during transmission.
How Distance Leads to Cable Transmission Energy Loss
As any seasoned solar power user will tell you, short cables makes solar phone charging faster. That applies to solar panels and batteries too. Because of the Joule Effect it causes energy loss in the form of heat. In electric power plants the loss can go up to 15%. The amount lost in solar power systems depends on the cable used, solar panel and battery design and how far apart they are. While energy loss is inevitable, that does not mean we cannot do anything about it.
If you are going to use solar power, you want to minimize these energy losses as much as possible. Fortunately, there are ways you can do this without calling a technician.
The good news is that most solar panels sold today come with complete instructions on where to place them and how far they should be from the batteries. You can make things even easier by paying a small fee to have a professional install your solar panels and the battery. This way you don't have to worry if the distance is correct or not.
How to Minimize Solar Energy Loss in Cable Transmission
There are two methods to reduce / prevent energy loss. The first is to shorten the distance between the battery and the panels. A large, short cable designed for solar systems is recommended. Solar optimized cable wires like the WindyNation 8 AWG will definitely help in case the panels and batteries have to be far apart.
In RVs the solar panels are usually on the roof and the battery is inside the vehicle. There is only a few feet between them so energy loss is minimal. The 20-30 foot distance is more important in homes, as the distance between the two can go beyond 30 feet. if the distance is greater than this, make sure you use high quality cable.
The second way is to use a high voltage battery. A high voltage transmission produces minimal current flows. It reduces heat in the conductor and helps preserve energy. 12 volt batteries need a lot of power to move current. A 120 watt 12 volt system has a 10 amp current. If the cable resistance is at 0.1 ohm, the energy loss could reach 10 watts.
If you use a 24 Vol battery the watt loss can be reduced in half. If you have to use 12 volt batteries, position them as close to the panel as possible. Otherwise, use large cables to reduce energy wastage. it should be pointed out that these losses are most apparent in small to medium sized solar systems. With a 600 watt system, these losses can be discounted.
How to Connect Solar Panels, the Charge Controller and Battery
So now you have the right cable for the battery and solar panels. Is it time to set up the system? Not yet, because you also need a charge controller to ensure the battery operates smoothly and safely. As we have explained before, you should not connect solar panels directly to battery. Doing so puts devices at risk of overloading, overcharging, sudden power fluctuations and more.
Here are the steps. Your solar panels, batteries and charge controller have labels where the connectors go. Refer to your installation guide. But the process is similar to these.
Important: the charge controller must be close to the battery, 3 feet apart at most. It does not have to be near the panels. If you set up your system before getting a controller, compare the energy loss difference. It is smaller when you use a controller, especially an MPPT. Whether you use an MPPT or PWM charge controller, they will both provide protection for your devices against changes in voltage.
Step 1. Connect the input terminals of the solar panel to the charge controller. You can use the same cable wire specs to connect the batteries and charge controller.
Step 2. Connect the inverter to the system. Skip to the next step if you will not use devices that run on AC.
Step 3. Hook up the battery to the controller. A positive and negative cable is required here.
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