Wire Size ?

[brianc4]

What size wire is aceptable for bringing the 3 phase ac from the turbine to my generator shed about 100' run. I know the voltage drop should be less with the ac than dc is 10 ga. large enough?       Thanks: Brian Clark

[Tritium]

How many Amps? What Voltage?  Necessary information!

Thurmond

[brianc4]

Sorry about that it was a quik post. appx 14v 35amps

[wooferhound]

Here is a voltage drop calculator

http://www.nooutage.com/vdrop.htm

you can figure out for yourself what voltage drop would be acceptable

[DanG]

There are times you may want/need higher resistance in the drop leads but it's easy to insert low resistance loads inline where they have yet to market a bolt-on copper size increase other than doubling up cables. If you plan on raising system voltage in the future going with a minimum 12 volt conductor now still has overhead left to jump to 48 volt, etc.

[cardamon]

But sizing the wire for low voltage drop at max output will likely result in very expensive and un-neccesary large cables since most power comes from less than max output.  I'm suprized there doesnt seem to be a  "rule of thumb" for sizing wind generator cables?

[Flux]

There can't really be a rule of thumb as there is for solar.

With wind it depends on the method you choose to load it ( direct battery charging, mppt etc). It also critically depends on the efficiency of the alternator. If the alternator efficiency is low you may need thick and expensive cable to get good results.

If the alternator efficiency is high ( alternator powerful for the blades) you may improve output dramatically by using thinner cables. In this case if you use the heavy and costly cables you will need to replace the cable loss with a costly resistor.

Those using motor conversions usually have inherent low efficiency in the alternator and heavy cable is likely justified. Those building cut price skimped dual rotors with too little magnet and copper will need to use the heaviest possible cable for reasonable results.

Those who don't skimp and use plenty of magnet and copper may find that they save much of the extra cost in the connecting cables and also run much less risk of stator heating and all the associated problems. Wind is a complete system and one factor impacts on another so nothing is set in stone.

Flux