Kenneth Fothergill's posts

I have #10 AWG sunlight resistant PV Wire (AltE item code PVCMC4-MF) and need to bury the 100' run to my greenhouse. All of my research seems to indicate that this cable's construction allows it to be buried "as is" and doesn't need to be in a conduit when buried in the ground.

Does anyone have and experience with burying PV cable they would share?

I have a 16' x 12' PVC tunnel house with an 85W/12 v 1440 cfm fan (actually an automobile radiator fan), marine deep cycle battery and 12v LED string lights all powered by a 100W 12V Polycrystalline solar panel running through a 15Amp MPPT charge controller.  The panel is pole mounted and ties into the controller via 100ft of 10awg PV cable, charges the battery which is connected to the controller, and powers the loads (my fan and lights) which are also connected to the controller. However, in between the controller and my fan, I have a in-line 15amp fuse and a Snap Disc (Bimetal Disc Thermostat, 30 C, Auto-Reset Close-on-rise) which turns on the fan when the temp hits 30 C/86 F. I also have a DC/AC 500W inverter connected directly to the battery for when I need AC, a 1/4in tube misting/drip system for irrigation and a 30in x 60in freestanding solar can heater to keep things from freezing in the winter.

I paid $650 for EVERYTHING (materials only, my labor) listed above so I think you could do better on the price you paid but what you have will work for what you want to do. Just remember that the panel's output (not what it's rated for but what you actually get out of it give your location, it's placement, etc.) will determine what you can power, so you need some foresight to think of what you will need and how much power it will require to properly size your system.