Aluminum vs Copper? [RE-wrenches]

Darryl Thayer daryl_solar at yahoo.com
Sun Sep 3 06:17:40 PDT 2006


Hello
The loss you quote is probably to high.  In the case
of PV most of the energy comes on the bright days so
the calculation based on nearly full sun is acceptable
but in the case of wind most of your energy comes from
middle energy days, so that a line loss calculation
based on max output is excessive.  

Also if you use aluminum be extra careful not to
damage the insulation, a pin hole can lead to rapid
deterioration in aluminum wire.

Darryl

--- Ron Young <solareagle at solareagle.com> wrote:

> 
> Wrenches,
> This may have been discussed previously but would
> appreciate input. I'm 
> using a long run of wire 2/0 ga. copper would put me
> right on the line 
> for 5% line loss (wind turbine @48v approx. 52 amps
> max. output, 2.5kw) 
> . 4/0 aluminum would be about 6.3% voltage drop
> according to my 
> calculations. The aluminum is a much bigger piece of
> wire but less than 
> half the price. Any comments on working with one vs.
> the other?
> 
> Ron Young
> Solareagle
> 
> 
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