My Own System In Some Details

For my own 12V system I am using the following components.

• 3 X 200W Renogy Solar Panels (600 Watts)
• 1 x Victron 100/50 MPPT Solar Charge Controller
• 2 X Victron 500A Smart Shunts
• 1 x 12V Edecoa 3500W / 7000W Inverter
• 1 x Heavy Duty Positive Side Busbar -300A
• 1 x Heavy Duty Negative Side Busbar -300A
• 1 x 300 Amp Class T Fuse Mounting Bracket
• 1 X 300A Class T Fuse
• 1 X On / OFF 300A Switch (To Isolate Inverter Positive)
• 1 x 50A Midi Fuse (From SCC Battery Positive Output)
• 1 x 4 Way Main Battery Switch (I use 2 separate battery banks)
• 2 x 300A ANL Fuses (Not In Picture But are connected close to main battery positives)
• 100 Amp MBRF on each single battery positive terminal
• 1 X DC breaker (Solar to SCC positive & Negative)
• 1 X Master Solar Disconnect (1000V /32A)
• 1 x Consumer Unit (Fed from the Inverter)
• 1 x Victron IP22 30 Amp AC charger
• 2 x Anderson Style Battery Connectors (From AC Charger to System)
• 2 x Victron Smart Battery Sense Units (One in each bank)
• 50mm X 8mm Copper Terminals (Lugs)
• 50mm X 10mm Copper Terminals
• 1 x Fire Extinguisher (Safety 1st)
• 3 x Heat / Smoke Sensitive Alarms (1 above each bank, other in same room)

Everyone has different needs and will customise their own system to meet those needs. 

It is vital you determine the maximum amount of power you will require at any given time.

For example i know i will never exceed 270 AMPS DC. A domestic 230V  AC kettle can require in excess of 250 DC Amps@ 12V to operate and i know i cannot boil 2 kettles at the same time using my system. Your system may differ in battery and Inverter voltage (24/48V)

It is Important to understand that safety should always be a priority when building your own system. Think of worse case scenario and try to account for it in your design.

Remember to size all cables, lugs, switches and fuses properly for your needs.

Fuses only protect the cables so never use a higher rated fuse on cables designed to carry limited amps / voltages. 

In my system i wanted to be able to isolate the inverter for any reason as well as each individual battery bank. Your own system may only require a single switch.

The more connections made, the higher the resistance will be on your cables and this resistance generates heat and heat can cause fires, so please use extreme caution. 

See the table below or input your system voltage and inverter wattage to see what size cables, fuses and lugs to use. Note- This Feature is in experimental mode and may not always be 100% accurate and simply serves as a rough guide.

Use the chart above to quickly identify what minimum size cables, lugs and fuses you will need for the inverter and battery voltage you decide to use. Choose the Inverter Wattage and system voltage to help you pick the correct items. Hope it Helps!

While my own Inverter is capable of a peak output of 7000W to meet surges, I know my system will never exceed 270 amps and as such I went with 50mm cables rated at 345 Amps DC and not 70mm as shown in the table above. 

I will be updating this to show solar components when time allows.

This table is a general guide. For exact specifications, especially for unique installations or longer distances, consult with a professional or refer to local electrical codes.