What is solar welding?

Simply put, solar welding is using solar to run a welding machine. A welder can also run off a generator or the grid, but solar is exceptional for being cost-effective and environment-safe. As solar becomes more integrated into critical processes like welding, we have hope that it’ll eventually power most of our everyday activities.

What is a solar cable?

Solar cables are bundles of thin strands of pure copper wire to provide flexibility and maximum current carrying capacity (lowest resistance). Stranded wire conducts the flow of electrons better than a single solid wire strand of the same gauge.

What kind of wire do you use for solar panels?

MC4 connectors are the most commonly used wires for solar panels because they don’t need to be in conduit, and you can use any old house wire for them. (Although it’s probably best to stick with THHN or THWN wire, which is what most professionals would do, especially when wiring your home.)

How do solar panels work?

The wire is produced to various thicknesses and rated by the Amperage at a certain diameter (gauge) and temperature. The bigger the diameter of the combined strands of copper wire, the less the resistance the electrons will have from the solar panels to the charge controller.

Can thnn wire be used for solar panels?

No,THNN wire has a much larger insulating layer on the conductor, which isn’t needed for the lower voltage of a solar panel application. That insulation would block too much electrical current flow for it to be helpful in a solar panel set.

What gauge wire should I use to connect my solar array?

The most commonly used wire gauge connecting the solar array to the charge controller is 10 AWG. In Marine installations, the option of using Tinned Copper wire affords additional protection against corrosion. Buy the thickest gauge UL-rated PV-specific wire you can afford for your project.