[RE-wrenches] battery cables

[Glenn Burt]

Hi Jeff,
 
Mr. Wiles strongly suggests that welding cable not be used for battery
connections. You can read up on his guidance here:
http://www.nmsu.edu/~tdi/Photovoltaics/Codes-Stds/PVnecSugPract.html
 
Something the NEC is clear about is conductors be used that are listed for
that purpose. Welding cable is not usually listed for battery connections. 
We too have researched the subject and selected Cobra X-flex when we need
very flexible conductors - such as for battery interconnections. This cable
is listed by UL to MTW / THW with a flame rating of VW-1, in the sizes we
use of 1/0 & 2/0.
 
You will need to perform additional research to locate suitable lugs rated
for fine stranded wire, and identify a crimping tool that is approved by the
manufacturer fro use with the lugs you select. We selected a Burndy
YAG26LTC38LD lug to use on 2/0 X-Flex on the ends to mate with our AGM
batteries (3/8" SS bolts).
 
Conductors and their approved terminals are rated in a Class system,
indicating the number of strands of a size wire, that make up the cable. For
example one manufacturer I looked at had the following information:
1/0 conductor
Class B = 19 strands
Class C = 37 strands
Class M (welding) = 2846
 
Additionally, if you plan to use the fine strand conductor to land on any
terminals, be sure the manufacturer approves of this. We found out during an
installation that the SMA Sunny Island will not accept the fine stranded
conductor we had planned to use to accommodate the conduit run, and had to
make a decision to 1) redesign the conduit run to accept a class B THWN
cable (tough to bend) or 2) locate and procure a pin terminal adapter that
crimps on the X-Flex to adapt it to the manufacturer's recommendation (Ilsco
is a source of these).
 
I chose the former due to availability - after many calls, the only sources
I could locate of the appropriate adapter had many weeks as lead times.
 
Hope this helps!
 
-Glenn Burt

  _____  

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Jeff Blick
Sent: Wednesday, March 11, 2009 9:59 AM
To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] battery cables



Hi wrenches,

I have been looking through the codebook for guidance in selecting battery
cables for a large UPS system.  The code doesn't appear to have much to say
about the actual type of wire used.  My electrical supplier is suggesting
welding cable, but I feel like I read somewhere that welding cable is not
appropriate.  I know it needs to be 4/0 or larger, just wondering what type
of wire others are using for this application.  Thanks!

 

Jeff Blick

Lead PV Installer

Sunlight Solar Energy, Inc.

direct: 541-306-4196

fax: 541-322-1911

jeff.blick at sunlightsolar.com

www.sunlightsolar.com 

This e-mail, and any attachments thereto, is intended only for use by the
addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged and/or
confidential information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or
distribution is prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error,
please notify me by replying to this message and delete the original, any
copy of this e-mail and any print out made.
 
For additional information about Sunlight Solar Energy please refer to our
website at  <blocked::http://www.sunlightsolar.com/>
http://www.sunlightsolar.co

 

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20090311/df8d71ea/attachment-0003.html>