Alt 12v power setup help request

[Antique Overlander]

There's probably a few threads on this already. I looked through DIY here in several pages. Ultimately decided I'd have questions even if I found some stuff so I'm going to put it all in 1 thread.
I am putting together a power supply that involves a 100ah lithium battery, charged via solar & generator if need be.
In that I'd like to have an inverter & a fuse block along with a battery discharge/charge gauge.
My biggest question is what size/gauge wire to use. Any tips/advice would be greatly appreciated =)

 

[grubworm]

I use #6 wire going from battery to fuse box. if you are installing a charge gauge, then you will be using a shunt on the negative, so I go with a #6 from the battery to a shunt and then #6 from shunt to fuse box.

I did mine this way and I used 12ga wire to run a short whip from the fuse box to my Dometic fridge and I ended up having to go with a 10 ga wire because of the voltage drop caused by the resistance of the 12 ga wire. To get the same power of 120vac, you will have 10X the amps using 12vdc, so big gauge wire is a must. I use #6 because I don't have a lot of DC loads, but if I did have a lot, I would probably have to go up a size

#6 wire is rated for around 60amps

 

[socialpants]

Depends on the length, amperage, and what you are powering. I'd refer to THIS CHART. Also, is that circuit breaker an Amazon special? If so, it will probably melt under heavy load. They do that. Most of those cheap breakers (and fuse holders) are not capable of the amperage they claim. Sometimes they even cause more resistance in your circuit causing equipment to overheat and eventually become damaged or not work at all - which is not good. The fuse block looks like Blue Sea (that's good to me). I'd look at places like McMaster Carr or even Blue Sea for a replacement breaker or inline fuse. That's my two cents.

 

[grubworm]

yeah...that is a good point about buying off amazon. I use blue sea fuse boxes and they are well built and have been used for marine applications for a long time and have a good track record. there are a LOT of knock-offs on amazon that are cheaper and are not good. I bought an off brand fuse box for a power station build and it was garbage. I ran a 12v sure flow pump on one circuit and when it was running, it would pull down the circuits running lights and cause them to brown out. very cheaply made and even dangerous, because it will overheat operating at a fraction of the "rated" amperage.

also while we're on it...watch what wire you buy. China has been putting out copper clad aluminium wire for quite a few years and a lot of people are getting it thinking is a solid copper wire. even residential electricians were using it thinking it was solid copper. you can read on why that can cause problems, but when you buy wire, make sure its solid copper.