Voltage Drop Example - Specs

• 4kW PV System Ground Mount

• 13 Trina 320s
• Distance from PV to house = 400 feet,
• 13 Enphase IQ7+ micro-inverters
• Voltage = 240 Vac
• Amperage = 1.21 A each
• Total Current: 13 x 1.21 =15.73 A

• Want voltage drop < 2%

• Will a size 10 wire work?

Voltage Drop Example - Calculation
(0.2 x d x I) x (R in Ω per kft) / Vmp = %Voltage Drop

• Vdrop in percent is then:

• (0.2 x 400’ x 15.73 x 1.24 ohms/kft) /240 = 6.5%

• Too much!

• Need a bigger wire or higher voltage.

Voltage Drop Example - Alternatives
• Use string inverter
• (0.2 x d x I) x (R in Ω per kft) / Vmp = %Voltage Drop
• (0.2 x 400’ x 9.6 x 1.24)/400vdc = 2.38%
• Still not < 2%

• Use bigger (size 8) wire with string inverter

• Ohms per kft = 0.778
• (0.2 x 400' x 9.6 x 0.778)/400vdc = 1.49%
• OK!

• Size 6 wire with microinverters

• (0.2 x 400’ x 15.73 x 0.491)/240ac = 2.57%
• Would need a size 4 to use microinverters