What battery cable ?

[evertonian]

Hi All
Just about to wire four 110 ah leisure batteries in preparation for my 3 month trip to Spain !! The only problem is I want to be sure I use the correct cable and also do I need to fuse each positive cable. I will be using a 600w inverter to power a tv and laptop. Any ideas will be greatly received.
Many Thanks
Col

 

[robjk]

Hi All
Just about to wire four 110 ah leisure batteries in preparation for my 3 month trip to Spain !! The only problem is I want to be sure I use the correct cable and also do I need to fuse each positive cable. I will be using a 600w inverter to power a tv and laptop. Any ideas will be greatly received.
Many Thanks
Col

Try this link from Roadpro

https://www.roadpro.co.uk/images/pdfs/What size cable to use in mm sq.pdf

Rob

 

[AndyC]

Hi All
Just about to wire four 110 ah leisure batteries in preparation for my 3 month trip to Spain !! The only problem is I want to be sure I use the correct cable and also do I need to fuse each positive cable. I will be using a 600w inverter to power a tv and laptop. Any ideas will be greatly received.
Many Thanks
Col

Personally I'd use at least 16mm csa cable for battery to battery connections, assuming that all the batteries are next to each other. No need to fuse the battery to battery cables, good idea to fuse the main +ve feed from the battery bank.

There is useful info on connecting multiple batteries here: SmartGauge Electronics - Interconnecting multiple batteries to form one larger bank
And about cable sizing here: SmartGauge Electronics - Selecting the correct size and type of cable

In fact there is a lot of useful electrical info on the smartgauge website.

AndyC

 

[Teutone]

Hi All
Just about to wire four 110 ah leisure batteries in preparation for my 3 month trip to Spain !! The only problem is I want to be sure I use the correct cable and also do I need to fuse each positive cable. I will be using a 600w inverter to power a tv and laptop. Any ideas will be greatly received.
Many Thanks
Col

440ah! what vehicle are you running? that's some weight to carry around.

I was hoping that ONE 125ah with a 100Watt Solar Panel and frequent charges from driving will keep us afloat.
But I am not using a 600w inverter.

 

[shortcircuit]

I run my tv etc off a 150w invertor. Your 600watt will have quite a high standing current compared to 150watts so you could save by reducing this.

 

[maingate]

I use a 150 watt Inverter to run a 15" TV and a 240 volt Sky box, although I usually run the TV direct from a 12 volt socket, unless I am charging something else (Netbook, phone, camera etc.).

Remember that a rough rule of thumb is to match Battery Ah to Solar Panel watts (I am assuming that you are wilding and using solar panels).

 

[Somelier]

Why not use a 12V TV, and a smaller inverter to run you laptop? Alternatively, Belkin do a very neat adapter, which comes with a range of laptop plugs, one of which should fit your laptop, that runs off either mains or 12V: Belkin : Laptop Travel Power Adapter

 

[Bernard Jones]

Try this link from Roadpro

https://www.roadpro.co.uk/images/pdfs/What size cable to use in mm sq.pdf

Rob

I don't like their idea of running two thin cables instead of one thick one.
Because a bad connection on one would mean all the power is going through one thin cable.

 

[Bigpeetee]

I used meter tails available from Screwfix and soldered to big lugs.

Directly strap each Negative to the chassis.

Agree with others, use 12v wherever possible inc Laptop charging.

Unless you "Need" Sky get a freesat box that runs on 12v Aldi got some HD setup for about £60 runs on 12v.