[RE-wrenches] 12V loads

Jesse Dahl dahlsolar at gmail.com
Fri Aug 10 17:37:51 PDT 2012


The "code compliance" part has been my worry.  The small DC system seems to be full of code problems. I do see the benefit of the DC only for the fish houses, but the hunting shacks make me always think code.  I have used the morningstar 300W for a few applications and have a magnum 1000W in my own fish house, so maybe I will look at that option.  I'm sure the owners wont mind having AC available, and would make the code issues I see go away.  That 1000w magnum of mine is a charger too, and thats a nice option to have.  

Great job!

Jesse 

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 10, 2012, at 7:03 PM, R Ray Walters <ray at solarray.com> wrote:

> The QO breaker has an AIC of 5000 amps.  The usual golf cart batteries have a short circuit current of about 2000 amps, so you could do a set of 4 golf cart batteries at 12v, without worrying about the extra fuse.
> Once again, if the system gets any bigger, they should just go to an inverter based design.
> Also, to be clear, I don't risk my license installing ATC fused systems on permanent structures.  (strictly RVs, and portable set ups) 
> As soon as I'm doing an install covered by the code, it's going to be code compliant, and it's going to be inverter based.
> Take a look at Midnite's Mini DC panel wired to Magnum's smallest inverter.  You'd be surprised how cheap you can do a code compliant inverter based system, and how much money you can waste trying to do a code compliant DC only system.  
> 
> Ray Walters
> NABCEP certified since 2004
> 
> On Aug 10, 2012, at 4:35 PM, Drake wrote:
> 
>> I second using QO load centers.  You will want to put a fuse, like an FRN-R, between the battery and the load center, as the QO breakers don't have a high AIC rating. 12 V systems can be wired as easily as a regular AC system.
>> 
>> 
>> At 05:05 PM 8/9/2012, you wrote:
>>> Hello,
>>> 
>>> I've been looking at a lot of hunting shacks, fish houses and other 12V loads setups and was wondering how people go about setting these up? What are people using for load termination, fusing?
>>> 
>>> I'd like to keep all disconnects and fusing in one "box".
>>> 
>>> Jesse
>>> 
>>> Sent from my iPhone
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