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05-30-2020, 04:40 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: ottawa ontario Canada
Posts: 12
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battery wire gauge size
I am trying to add a battery on/off switch to my house battery and also adding a battery monitor and need help with specific sizes for wire gauge and shunt .
I have a 1997 Pleasure Way with a house battery 27rvs -80ah,12v,cca650, ca800 ; I have a converter 110v/12v 30amp ; I have no inverter or solar panels ;I have a Onan 2800 watt ,120volt , 23.3 amp generator .
What gauge of wire should I use to run 48" to a on/off switch ?
What gauge of wire should I use to run 10" to a shunt for a battery monitor ?
What size shunt should I get for a battery monitor --- 100 amp or 350 amp >
Please keep answers simple as I know nothing about electricity .
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05-30-2020, 06:11 AM
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#2
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona, Tempe
Posts: 1,667
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gowason@rogers.com
I am trying to add a battery on/off switch to my house battery and also adding a battery monitor and need help with specific sizes for wire gauge and shunt .
I have a 1997 Pleasure Way with a house battery 27rvs -80ah,12v,cca650, ca800 ; I have a converter 110v/12v 30amp ; I have no inverter or solar panels ;I have a Onan 2800 watt ,120volt , 23.3 amp generator .
What gauge of wire should I use to run 48" to a on/off switch ?
What gauge of wire should I use to run 10" to a shunt for a battery monitor ?
What size shunt should I get for a battery monitor --- 100 amp or 350 amp >
Please keep answers simple as I know nothing about electricity .
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These are just opinions.
Use the 100 amp shunt.
6 gauge would work to the switch and shunt but I would use 4 gauge.
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05-30-2020, 01:40 PM
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#3
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,632
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My Airstream Avenue had 4 ga. wiring in runs longer than yours. They used 2 ga. between the batteries. You should be fine with 4 ga. and 100 amp shunt for now.
But if you later decide to upgrade to lithium and larger inverter, then using larger wiring and shunt now will prepare you for any future change. The cost to go larger should not be your prime deterrent. It's the larger diameter, lug connections, and clearances to run wire should be your main consideration. In any event, you should never need greater than 2 ga. or "O" ga. wire.
But that said, stay with what you think you'll need and use.
EDIT: To wire a shunt to monitor your batteries, it will need to be wired to your negative wire. Therefore, if you need 48" for positive and 48" for negative wire runs, buy 2- 24" negative wires instead. Place the shunt between the two negative sections.
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05-30-2020, 06:34 PM
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#4
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: PHX, AZ
Posts: 2,648
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gowason@rogers.com
I am trying to add a battery on/off switch to my house battery
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your PW doesn;t have a battery switch from the factory?
**** edit*** after seeing below post i am really surprised- crazy!
mike
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05-30-2020, 08:03 PM
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#5
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,138
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I own a 97 PW also. Didn't have a battery cutoff switch. I added:
Switch: Blue Sea Systems m-series on/off switch and mounted it in the back area where the battery compartment is. It is mounted recessed into the panel (##) that leads to under the passenger side bed.
Monitor: Victron BMV-700+bluetooth dongle. I mounted the monitor inside that door to the water heater. It can be read by opening the door but is much easier just to view on your iphone/ipad via bluetooth. It comes with a shunt. The shunt is also mounted under the bed. All connections made with:
Cables: WindyNation pre-made 4-gauge. After I got the switch, monitor, shunt mounted I measured for cable lengths and ordered ones to fit distances. Cables run out of the existing battery box cover and to the wall of the storage compartment where they go along the top ledge and through the panel (##).
BTW: You can find 27 batteries that will fit our battery box that give you 100AH instead of the 80AH (which I believe is a 24).
My RV is in storage right now. Otherwise I'd post some pics.
I also used a Blue Sea Systems busbar.
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05-31-2020, 05:06 PM
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#6
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Herndon, Virginia
Posts: 494
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And bear in mind thot the shunt typically goes in the negative (ground) lead from the battery.
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05-31-2020, 05:28 PM
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#7
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Arizona
Posts: 1,138
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyFry
And bear in mind thot the shunt typically goes in the negative (ground) lead from the battery.
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Correct. The Victron shunt is on the negative.
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06-05-2020, 02:24 AM
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#8
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New Member
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: California
Posts: 1
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Check out Blue Seas website for tech info and equipment. I am a marine electrician and swear by their info. Here is a calculator where you can calculate wire gauge, which is determined by amps and length of run (round trip) among other factors.... Circuit Wizard - Blue Sea Systems
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06-05-2020, 03:55 AM
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#9
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Platinum Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,632
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt.Lori
Check out Blue Seas website for tech info and equipment. I am a marine electrician and swear by their info. Here is a calculator where you can calculate wire gauge, which is determined by amps and length of run (round trip) among other factors.... Circuit Wizard - Blue Sea Systems |
Welcome to the forum Capt.Lori!
Great first post.
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Linear Mode
