Wiring... Redarc & Anderson plugs

[DocAldo]

Hey, running wire from my 50amp Redarc to a second battery.

Ok, do I use 4ga from and to??

Also, I want to put an Anderson plug between, so... what size Anderson plug do I need to buy???

 

[Dave in AZ]

Hey, running wire from my 50amp Redarc to a second battery.

Ok, do I use 4ga from and to??

Also, I want to put an Anderson plug between, so... what size Anderson plug do I need to buy???

Yes, 4 AWG wire. You don't want any voltage drop when charging batteries, so 4AWG is good for 50A.

Buy a 50A or larger anderson. I have some 50A ones that are grey.

 

[Downs]

Hey, running wire from my 50amp Redarc to a second battery.

Ok, do I use 4ga from and to??

Also, I want to put an Anderson plug between, so... what size Anderson plug do I need to buy???

Need to know how long of a run you plan to do. 4AWG may be overkill if your runs are just a few feet long.

 

[KS_Explorer]

I took a quick look at a line loss calculator and it looks like #4 wire should serve you well, as long as you stay under a 10' run.

 

[Dave in AZ]

Need to know how long of a run you plan to do. 4AWG may be overkill if your runs are just a few feet long.

50A, 6AWG only goes total out and back distance of 15ft with < 3% voltage drop. That means if distance from alternator to house battery is 7.5ft ir more, 4AWG. Unless the Redarc output voltage is settable to say 15v, then any drop more than 3% will be problematic charging batteries correctly. 7.5 ft is just over arms length, unless solar battery is in engine bay it is probably further. If not, then 6awg.

 

[Downs]

50A, 6AWG only goes total out and back distance of 15ft with < 3% voltage drop. That means if distance from alternator to house battery is 7.5ft ir more, 4AWG. Unless the Redarc output voltage is settable to say 15v, then any drop more than 3% will be problematic charging batteries correctly. 7.5 ft is just over arms length, unless solar battery is in engine bay it is probably further. If not, then 6awg.

Again. We're just guessing if we dont' have data.

 

[rtexpeditions]

50A, 6AWG only goes total out and back distance of 15ft with < 3% voltage drop. That means if distance from alternator to house battery is 7.5ft ir more, 4AWG. Unless the Redarc output voltage is settable to say 15v, then any drop more than 3% will be problematic charging batteries correctly. 7.5 ft is just over arms length, unless solar battery is in engine bay it is probably further. If not, then 6awg.

When you use a DCDC charger, voltage drops are not as relevant as the charger will charge the secondary battery at the required voltage even if the input from the main battery and alternator drops to as low as 9 volts. That is what the DCDC charger does.
The charger needs be as close as practical to the Secondary battery, so there is minimal voltage drop.
The cables do need to be of sufficient gauge to carry the current (and then maybe a bit more) but the same gauge as the fly leads from the Redarc is fine.

 

[North American Sojourner]

I'm using 8 and have a refer, aircompressor, lights in the bed of the truck. Works fine.
If you have disco lights and a 1000 watt stereo bump it up alot. LOL


Amps=5 10 15 20 25 30 40 50 60 70
Feet AWG wire size needed
15- 16 12 10 10 8 8 6 6 4 4
20- 14 12 10 8 8 6 6 4 4 4
25- 14 10 8 8 6 6 4 4 2 2
30- 12 10 8 6 6 4 4 2 2 2
40- 12 8 6 6 4 4 2 2 1 1/0
50- 10 8 6 4 4 2 2 1 1/0 1/0
60- 10 6 6 4 2 2 1 1/0 2/0 2/0

Zim