Solar panel cable length

[jenevers]

Any problem cutting cable lengths to tidy things up to avoid spaghetti like appearance, or should they be left as is so that everything is balanced. Eg series wiring 2 panels, the adjacent neg and pos could be cut really short and just bridge the gap between the 2.

[peterboat]

Mine is all neat and tidy and I have 3.6KW of solar so it has to be, solar works well

[Chewbacka]

1 hour ago, jenevers said:

Any problem cutting cable lengths to tidy things up to avoid spaghetti like appearance, or should they be left as is so that everything is balanced. Eg series wiring 2 panels, the adjacent neg and pos could be cut really short and just bridge the gap between the 2.

The only problem would be removing the waterproof connectors and having a bad join, but if you replace them properly then it would be no problem.

[jenevers]

2 hours ago, peterboat said:

Mine is all neat and tidy and I have 3.6KW of solar so it has to be, solar works well

On a boat?!?!

[peterboat]

4 minutes ago, jenevers said:

On a boat?!?!

Yes its a big boat and its electric so I need that much to make it work

[jenevers]

Just now, peterboat said:

Yes its a big boat and its electric so I need that much to make it work

Wow!

[Alan de Enfield]

Just now, jenevers said:

Wow!

Now ask him about his battery.

[jenevers]

3 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

Now ask him about his battery.

What ....just the one?!

[Alan de Enfield]

2 minutes ago, jenevers said:

What ....just the one?!

Ask and see.

(Ask about the likely new replacement battery cost - its "interesting")

 

Just for information -  I have 6x 230Ah batteries

Edited April 9, 2019 by Alan de Enfield

[peterboat]

1 hour ago, jenevers said:

What ....just the one?!

For domestic I have 4 x 12 volt 138 ah LifePo4s, running a 24 volt system, and for drive I have 10 x 12 volt 138 ah LifePo4s they are 5 in series twice then paralleled together  to make up a nominal 60 volts, On a sunny day I can run from the sun, and thats with a 57 x 12 widebeam

[dor]

There should be no problem with shortening the cables, but you will need to fit new MC3 connectors, which ideally you need a tool for.  If the joints are not waterproof you could have problems.