It really depends on what is being run off the inverter. I use 12 gauge wire on a 400 watt inverter and it is fine because I only use it for charging a netbook and occasionally running a compact florescent light bulb. It may not be the 'best practice' but it works fine.
The only things that I really would advise is to secure that battery so it cannot shift and move that jacket away from the charge controller because those things can run hot and one you want it to stay cool and two the jacket could catch on fire.
Load is rverything on any system! Your 12 ga wire will work up to a 240 watts load. At full load 10 ga wire will just carry that load.
Yeah!
I am often just working with what I have available and often do not recommend that others do what I do. I am very mindful of the loads I use and 'know the limits'. I am also using very short lengths of wire.
Shorter is better for sure, and using what you have is wise. If you can double the supplied wire, with that shorter length, it would better
I always try to help on load calculations, because I want everyone to have the best possible system. I am glad you are up on load and voltage drop, this is usually where most systems fail.
Keep charging!
:)Yeah I think that load calculations are important as well. Having the advice of electricians is always good!
One thing on doubling the wires and why I avoid it is because it is also doubling the resistance/ohms. If I am wrong about that let me know.
Capacitors in parallel double, resistor values in parallel are halved. Since we are fighting (small) wire resistance we can lower it by parallel wires.
:)Try it, you will like it; and it's free!
Nice One! Good to know! So basically the double wire conducts the same as one larger gauge wire would?