WIRE LOSS CHART
This 10%, 12V, Wire Chart represents a normal situation for most hydros.
Hydros can have a much larger voltage drop, as they are not 'voltage limited' like solar panels. In some cases, a 50% or larger voltage drop is acceptable as long as the final power output matches your needs. For example, having a 12V hydro 1000 feet away, will result in about 50% loss at 20A, when using #2 wire. Meaning, the hydro will be running at 24V, producing 480W, while the battery is at 12V, receiving 240W.
Most systems are designed with a 10 - 30% loss, which is what you would expect to loose in high voltage transformers, etc. This means, you would go 1-3 times the distance suggested in the chart for 12V and 2-6 times for 24V.
Maximum distance one way in feet of various gauges 2 conductor copper wire from hydro to battery.
Using one size larger aluminum wire with correct (non-copper) connectors works very well.
|
AMPS |
#14 |
#12 |
#10 |
#8 |
#6 |
#4 |
#2 |
1/0 |
2/0 |
4/0 |
|
1 |
225 |
350 |
575 |
900 |
1450 |
2280 |
3600 |
|||
|
2 |
112 |
175 |
287 |
450 |
725 |
1140 |
1800 |
2900 |
3600 |
5300 |
|
4 |
50 |
87 |
137 |
225 |
362 |
570 |
900 |
1450 |
1800 |
2900 |
|
6 |
37 |
60 |
87 |
150 |
237 |
375 |
600 |
965 |
1215 |
1900 |
|
8 |
27 |
42 |
75 |
112 |
177 |
285 |
450 |
725 |
900 |
1450 |
|
10 |
22 |
35 |
60 |
90 |
142 |
227 |
362 |
575 |
725 |
1150 |
|
15 |
15 |
22 |
35 |
60 |
85 |
150 |
240 |
382 |
480 |
750 |
|
20 |
17 |
27 |
45 |
72 |
112 |
180 |
287 |
362 |
580 |
|
|
25 |
22 |
35 |
57 |
90 |
145 |
230 |
290 |
460 |
||
|
30 |
17 |
30 |
47 |
75 |
120 |
192 |
242 |
385 |
COPPER WIRE RESISTANCE
|
WIRE GAUGE
|
DIAMETER INCHES
|
OHMS PER 1000'
|
OHMS PER MILE
|
|
0000
|
0.460
|
0.05
|
0.26
|
|
000
|
0.410
|
0.06
|
0.33
|
|
00
|
0.364
|
0.08
|
0.42
|
|
0
|
0.324
|
0.10
|
0.52
|
|
2
|
0.258
|
0.16
|
0.84
|
|
4
|
0.204
|
0.25
|
1.34
|
|
6
|
0.162
|
0.40
|
2.13
|
|
8
|
0.128
|
0.64
|
3.38
|
|
10
|
0.102
|
1.02
|
5.38
|
|
12
|
0.081
|
1.62
|
8.56
|
|
14
|
0.064
|
2.58
|
13.6
|
|
16
|
0.051
|
4.10
|
21.6
|
|
18
|
0.040
|
6.52
|
34.4
|
FUSES:
Use 25A or less fuses with #12 wire, or 30A if using #10 or larger wire.