Wire sizing

 I am assembling a small solar system for a small weekend cabin
consisting of one 40 watt solar panel, two 12 volt 100 amp hour
batteries, a 6 amp charge controller, and a 1000 watt inverter.

The load will consist of two or three 15 watt cfl lamps and a radio used
for 4-5 hours each day.  On occasion, small power tools (drill, etc.)
may be used.  The cabin is used for intervals of 3-4 days every two
weeks and only during late spring thru early autumn.

The charge controller screw terminals will only accept wire up to 10
gauge, but the instructions with the inverter state the battery
connection cables should be #4.  To me, #4 seems excessive, but #10
seems inadequate.  The length of the wires will be less than 24" between
the inverter and the batteries and less than 10# wire between the two
batteries.  The batteries and electronics will be in separately vented
spaces.

I have decided not to use the load management portion of the charge
controller and will connect the inverter directly to the batteries.

So what size of wire is appropriate?  Could I use doubled #8 wire?

Thanks

  You can wire the inverter directly up to the batteries using the correct
wire size.
 Joe

 DLC wrote:

Current from panels to controller to battery bank - very low. #10 more
than adequate.
Current from battery bank to inverter - very high (potentially). #4
highly recommended to minimise voltage drop/wasted power.
In other words, you do not need #4 for everything, only the high current
path.

 DLC wrote:

The upshot of all this is you do not wire the inverter to the Charge
controller Load terminals. A Good Inverter should have its own Low
Voltage Disconnect.

Michelle

 In other words..connect your inverter directly up to your battery bank using
the proper size wire...
 Joe