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Victron Smartshunt Wire Gauge?

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bobkbusch

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Victron Smartshunt Wire Gauge?
« on: March 02, 2022, 09:58:10 pm »
I'm going to install a Victron Smartshunt and two 100Ah Battleborn batteries, connected in parallel.  Since the two batteries will be connected in parallel, my understanding is they are capable of 200amps continuous discharge and 400amps for 30 seconds.

I need to install a battery cable from the negative battery terminal to the "To Battery Minus" terminal on the shunt.  I have a 2000 watt inverter, so 2000w/12v (probably 13v, but using 12v for the calculation to be conservative) is approximately 166amps max.

I'm trying to figure out the correct gauge wire from the battery to the shunt.  Would the 166amps be the max or would I have to add more for any incoming amps from the solar or other items that are running on 12v circuits, but not running through the inverter?

I've seen many different wire gauge charts, but there seems to be quite a difference in recommendations between charts.  Therefore, I'm planning on using this calculator to decide on the correct gauge... https://www.explorist.life/wire-sizing-calculator

If I plug in 200amps at 2', the calculator recommendation is 2awg cable.  Does that seem adequate or am I missing something?

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mikeh

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Re: Victron Smartshunt Wire Gauge?
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2022, 11:34:49 pm »
Bob,

For something as fundamental as your main positive and ground cables you need to incorporate a margin.  That's the wrong place to be getting a voltage drop due to an undersized cable under any usage conditions.  You correctly identified the 100AH Battleborn current ratings and also the theoretical max draw of your inverter.  Other heavy current draws include generator cranking and your automatic levelers if you have them; the slide draws less.  All current to and from your house batteries will flow through that shunt and the connecting cable, so that would include any other 12-volt house draw you might have going on whenever you activate one of the heavy users.

On my 2019 2552, Phoenix wired the positive battery cabling with 1 AWG, and my negative cable to my Bogart Engineering Trimetric Monitor shunt with 1/0 cable.  Of course, my Trojan AGMs potentially deliver higher current than the Battleborns.  It's worth noting also that on the Battleborn site, their cabling recommendations are for 2 AWG up to 120 amps and 1/0 for anything over that (even short runs).

If I were doing your install on my unit, I wouldn't consider installing anything under 1 AWG, and honestly I'd just put in 1/0 and not have to worry about it.

Mike

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bobkbusch

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Re: Victron Smartshunt Wire Gauge?
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2022, 11:51:02 pm »
Bob,

For something as fundamental as your main positive and ground cables you need to incorporate a margin....
Mike


Thanks Mike - done - I just ordered a 1/0 cable!

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bobkbusch

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Re: Victron Smartshunt Wire Gauge?
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2022, 07:39:26 pm »
For anyone that has installed a Victron battery monitor/Smartshunt, where did you actually install the shunt and how did you mount it?  If on the back wall of the battery compartment, just curious what hardware you used for mounting (i.e. bolt, self tapping screw, etc.)