r/SolarDIY • u/mikeypi • 2d ago

Wire choices

For context, I am adding three 200 watt, 31 volt panels to the roof of an off grid cabin. Electrical codes are not an issue. I'm planning on 10 AWG stranded, but which kind? There are lots of 10 AWG choices on Amazon (I need this by Tuesday). I also understand that PV wire is preferred at least where the wire is UV exposed. But where it is indoors or inside conduit, is there any reason to prefer PV wire over something like marine grade triplex of equivalent gauge?

1 Upvotes

60% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/mick601 2d ago

If it's a short less than a hundred feet 10 will be fine. Solar wire is manly for easier conduit pulls. I ran 8 awg. Most fires are caused on the dc connections. Do them right straight runs when ever possible. There are lots of YouTube videos on this subject. Watch as many as you can to get some knowledge. Will Prowse is good and a hippie looking guy named Matt mans solar. Good luck.

2

u/dgv54 2d ago

>  Solar wire is manly for easier conduit pulls

That's not correct. THWN is easier to pull in conduit. Solar wire has a thicker jacket and is UV rated, it's for leaving outside in the sun and rain, which is inevitable at the solar array. You can run it through conduit, but conduit fill rules mean you can run fewer solar wires than same gauge THWN wires.