<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>The NEC says you cannot parallel a wire smaller than 1/0. </div><div><br></div><div>Portable PV may not fall within the NEC. </div><div><br></div><div>The reason I mention it is that I was called to check an off grid system where the installer used and extension cord and paralleled all three #14s in the cord (blk,wht, and green). Not a safe way to do things. </div><div><br></div><div><br><br>Sent from my iPhone</div><div><br>On Feb 2, 2011, at 11:05 AM, Nick Soleil <<a href="mailto:nicksoleilsolar@yahoo.com">nicksoleilsolar@yahoo.com</a>> wrote:<br><br></div><div></div><blockquote type="cite"><div><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt">You shouldn't parallel wiring that way. That is not acceptable by code, and it is unnecessary. If the #10 is not sufficient just replace it. Due to the fact that the larger wiring has much less resistance, most if not all of the current will flow on the larger wires.<br><div> </div>Nick Soleil<br>Project Manager<br>Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC<br>PO Box 657<br>Petaluma, CA 94953<br>Cell: 707-321-2937<br>Office: 707-789-9537<br>Fax: 707-769-9037<div><br></div><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br><div style="font-family: times new roman,new york,times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> "Starlight Solar, Larry Crutcher"
<<a href="mailto:larry@starlightsolar.com">larry@starlightsolar.com</a>><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> RE-wrenches <<a href="mailto:re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Wed, February 2, 2011 8:00:07 AM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> [RE-wrenches] Parallel wire runs to increase size<br></font><br>
<style></style>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Wrenches,</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Some of our business involves repairing poor
PV solar installations on recreational vehicles. So often we wind up installing
a roof junction box and running a second PV to controller wire and then
replacing the controller to battery wire size. For instance, we may find a 10
gauge wire run to the controller. We then add #8, #6, #4 or even 2
gauge and parallel to the #10 depending on power and distance of the run. My
question: Is there a calculator or chart that will tell me what the combination
of any two wire sizes equate to? example: #10 + #4 = X</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial" size="2">Thanks.</font><font face="Verdana" size="2"></font></div>
<div>
<p><font face="Verdana" size="2">Larry Crutcher<br><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.starlightsolar.com">Starlight Solar
Power Systems</a><br></font><font color="#ff0000"><em><font face="Georgia" size="1">powered by </font><b><font face="Georgia" size="4">S</font><font face="Georgia" size="2">TARLIGHT</font></b></em><font face="Georgia" size="2">™</font></font></p></div></div></div>
</div><br>
</div></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>List sponsored by Home Power magazine</span><br><span></span><br><span>List Address: <a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org"><a href="mailto:RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org">RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org</a></a></span><br><span></span><br><span>Options & settings:</span><br><span><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>List-Archive: <a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org"><a href="http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org">http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org</a></a></span><br><span></span><br><span>List rules & etiquette:</span><br><span><a href="http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm">www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm</a></span><br><span></span><br><span>Check out participant bios:</span><br><span><a href="http://www.members.re-wrenches.org">www.members.re-wrenches.org</a></span><br><span></span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>