Should a solar setup be wired like this?

[tx2sturgis]

Simple trick on the screw clamp terminals: Using a soldering gun, tin the copper ends, cool, then insert into the terminal and tighten the screw.

This keeps the individual strands from spreading and shorting to another terminal or loosening as they move around.

Then, secure the cables with clamps or zip ties close by so any relative movement is eliminated.

 

[B and C]

Yep, people like thhn because it is cheap and don't want to pay for the proper way. I guess vehicles are a little shorter lived than the marine community boats though. I still won't stake my life on it though.

 

[Matlock]

My 2¢ on wiring;
AC power current likes to travel near the surface of a wire. DC power current travels through the whole wire.
In a mobile install with very short wire runs, take advantage of all the DC power current in your system using more, finer stranded wiring in each shielded wire. Or not. It's just money either way.

(See aircraft/marine EE.)

 

[Matlock]

Forgot to add this....
Welding cable size is measured by the American Wire Gauge (AWG) standard. AWG sizes will have three numbers, for example, "2 AWG 625/30." This means that the welding cable has a total cross sectional area of 2 AWG and is made from 625 strands of 30 AWG wire.

This is the stuff that's really flexible and I'll probably run from my alternator to the house battery. Yep, that's 625 strands of wire in one cable. Just say'n...

 

[Master Mechanic]

its 5 foot of #10 AWG cable  THHN  that they said is correct for my controller and circuit breakers connection points to battery. from fuse block to item like light i would use finer strand wire.
now we can debate circuit breakers over fuse and difference in battery cables

50 years as a mechanic mostly fixing peoples mistakes.

 

[Weight]

I like marine rated cable as the insulation is part of the specification. With welding wire there are as many coverings as manufactures. I worked at a shop where the insulating cover split and exposed the copper. I don't want that in my van.

 

[Weight]

One advantage of THHN wire is the nylon outer cover protecting the PVC insulation. Funny but that is also one of the disadvantages of that wire. It deteriorates if exposed to sun and air. THHN wire being designed for conduit. It also makes the already stiff copper wire more trouble to route.

 

[Minivanmotoman]

Great discussion on wiring and related aspects.
Thx everyone for sharing the info so far. This topic doesn't get enough coverage and it's just as vital if not more so than the discussion on solar panels.
Lots to learn.