Wire size from inverter to house?

[JRR]

I need to set up a 1kw solar array about 150 feet from the cabin. I was thinking of building a small shed to house the battery bank and inverter at the panels and then run ac to the cabin. What size wire would I need to run for this?

Thanks.

[solar pete]

Howdy JRR and welcome to solar panel talk, no one will be able to tell you as we dont have any where near enough info to go off, we need to know everything about the solar system and all the loads in the cabin before anyone will be able to help you, and probably firstly why does it have to be 150 feet away from the cabin that in itself is an issue, more info needed

[organic farmer]

I need to set up a 1kw solar array about 150 feet from the cabin. I was thinking of building a small shed to house the battery bank and inverter at the panels and then run ac to the cabin. What size wire would I need to run for this?

Thanks.

When we were going through the design process, at one point we drew up plans to build a shed at the center of our photovoltaic array, to house our batteries.

But reviewing what batteries need we realized that this shed would need to be heated and vented, and it would need easy access for checking cell gravities. We deal with enough heating our home. So we decided to bring the batteries inside our house.

[JRR]

The panels need to be where the sunlight is. I won't have much for loads. Cpap, laptop, router, led lights, fan, charge a phone or drill, Engle refrigerator, water pump. That's about it. I will never have all of the above on at once. Laptop is the biggest draw at 7.5 amps dc. 15 amps, maybe.

[solar pete]

Ok so you need to do a proper loads analysis, you need to estimate the load in watts from each item and then x by how long it will be on for, you need to tell us how many kilowatt hours a day the solar system needs to deliver before anyone can help you, still no where near enough info for us

[SunEagle]

Howdy JRR and welcome to solar panel talk, no one will be able to tell you as we dont have any where near enough info to go off, we need to know everything about the solar system and all the loads in the cabin before anyone will be able to help you, and probably firstly why does it have to be 150 feet away from the cabin that in itself is an issue, more info needed

Why I sometimes get frustrated.

Is it that hard to get someone to provide something close to the item's wattage and how many hours it will run a day?

We don't even know the size of the battery bank, solar panel wattage, inverter, CC or even the OP's location.

I get to the point that my answer is "as big as you need the wires to be". Which I know is not helpful but if someone wants to rely on a solar/battery system they should at least educate themselves first on the technology.

Ok. I am done venting. Hopefully the OP will understand what is needed and then we can help them with their questions.

[JRR]

You know what, you can stick your attitude up your ass. Yes, I'm new to this. Perhaps I need to provide more information, but I don't need to be talked down to by a condescending prick. I'll ask my questions elsewhere.

[J.P.M.]

You know what, you can stick your attitude up your ass. Yes, I'm new to this. Perhaps I need to provide more information, but I don't need to be talked down to by a condescending prick. I'll ask my questions elsewhere.

Then who do you need to talk down to you ? Can I do it ? Looks like an easy job. You sure don't look like Mensa material.

[Sunking]

You know what, you can stick your attitude up your ass. Yes, I'm new to this. Perhaps I need to provide more information, but I don't need to be talked down to by a condescending prick. I'll ask my questions elsewhere.

Don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.

Without any details like Inverter size which should be no larger than the panel wattage of 1000 watts or less would require a minimum 12 AWG, but smart money would use 10 AWG.

[KMac]

Look at that! Sunking managed to both advise the OP as to proper inverter size, and also answer his question as to wire gauge, all in just a few thoughtful lines. Seems he didn't need to know all the details demanded by others.

The initial response to this poster was sadly lacking the subtlety of mind Sunking displays even when he is trying to join in the bullying.

Humorous display, ya'll.

[solar pete]

Look at that! Sunking managed to both advise the OP as to proper inverter size, and also answer his question as to wire gauge, all in just a few thoughtful lines. Seems he didn't need to know all the details demanded by others.

The initial response to this poster was sadly lacking the subtlety of mind Sunking displays even when he is trying to join in the bullying.

Humorous display, ya'll.

Yeah right,.. what SK did was to give him something that will work BUT we still have no idea if that system (well bits) will meet the needs of the OP,and actually work for him in the real world, as SunEagle rightfully points out, how hard is it to do a loads analysis? Even a half ass one is better than nothing, did you notice he mentioned Engle Fridge?? to me thats a fridge motor, hmmmm

Look at the end of the day when asking a question the more detail you put into your question the better, it WILL result in a better answer, ok so here is the type of bare bones question you can actually respond to

Hi ...,

Help with design please, I have access to a solar wholesaler here for panels inverter and batterys what do you think I should buy?
Location:South Australia, house, panels can go on shed 50 meters from house north facing roof (right direction for Oz) big rectangle of room 15m by 4m
Load: about 4.5KW/hrs per day (24 hour period), 4x 50 watt globes ; 8hrs per day =1.6kWhrs, Small Fridge 1.8kWhrs per day, Phone Charger .5kWhrs per day laptop .5kWhr


at the end of the day we need to know, where you are, whats you need to run and how long you need to run it for, what types of loads (heavy or light or both) and what type of equipment you have access to ,can you install dangerous things like electrical devices, rant over

[SunEagle]

Look at that! Sunking managed to both advise the OP as to proper inverter size, and also answer his question as to wire gauge, all in just a few thoughtful lines. Seems he didn't need to know all the details demanded by others.

The initial response to this poster was sadly lacking the subtlety of mind Sunking displays even when he is trying to join in the bullying.

Humorous display, ya'll.

My job is not to totally educate someone concerning technology that they have no clue as to what is needed for a safe installation. The least the OP could have done is provide some very basic information before they asked the question of "how big should my wires be?"

My job is to help someone that wants to learn or I can just give out useless information to make them happy.

I try not to provide information that will cause someone to spend more money then they need to or make an electrical power distribution system unsafe.

While Sunking gave out a wire size I think there is still a chance that even #10awg may be too small for a 150ft run of 120V depending on the inverter size and the amount of amps is going through it. I would hate to have the OP build something that could overheat and cause a fire.

As JPM suggests in his posts, "take what you want and scrap the rest"

[Paul Land]

I need to set up a 1kw solar array about 150 feet from the cabin. I was thinking of building a small shed to house the battery bank and inverter at the panels and then run ac to the cabin. What size wire would I need to run for this?

Thanks.

I run 8Ga it's over kill. But I will never have to dig it up for an upgrade

[Sunking]

While Sunking gave out a wire size I think there is still a chance that even #10awg may be too small for a 150ft run of 120V depending on the inverter size and the amount of amps is going through it.

I gave a conditional answer based on reasonable assumptions. Problem is DIY are not reasonable and offer no details.It is FM to a DIY.

[J.P.M.]

I gave a conditional answer based on reasonable assumptions. Problem is DIY are not reasonable and offer no details.It is FM to a DIY.

You might want to consider mentioning the conditional part to KMac.