Date: 02 Feb 2011
Ampair ® 300 (Mk1, “Pacific”) Wind Turbine Manual
CD 2300
Issue: 1.2
Page 19 of 34
- 19 -
© Ampair, April 2007
If the Pacific 300 wind turbine is connected on the load side of the battery isolator switch, it may damage
electrical equipment. Under these conditions it is possible to run the wind turbine whilst the battery is
isolated, but this can subject the system to excess voltage.
WARNING:
Connect the wind turbine to batteries, not to loads.
4.7 Electrical components
4.7.1 Wiring
After deciding where the wind turbine is to be mounted measure the length of the wiring that will actually
run to the battery in both the AC section (the three wire section from the turbine to the rectifier) and the
DC section (the two wire section from the rectifier to the battery). Then select the minimum cross sectional
area per cable from the table below. Wherever possible locate the rectifier as close to the battery so as to
minimise the DC cable length and to maximise the AC cable length.
Minimum AC cable size for 12 volt wind turbine:
Total AC section length
Up to 8 m
Up to 27 ft
8 to 12 m
27 to 40 ft
12 to 18 m
40 to 60 ft
18 to 30 m
60 to 100 ft
30 to 50 m
100 to 166 ft
30 to 76 m
166 to 253 ft
76 to 100 m
253 to 333 ft
Minimum cross sectional
area per cable
2.5 mm
2
14 AWG
4 mm
2
12 AWG
6 mm
2
10 AWG
10 mm
2
8 AWG
16 mm
2
6 AWG
25 mm
2
4 AWG
35 mm
2
2 AWG
Minimum DC cable size for 12 volt wind turbine:
Total DC section length
Up to 5 m
Up to 16 ft
5 to 10 m
16 to 32 ft
10 to 18 m
32 to 60 ft
18 to 28 m
60 to 90 ft
28 to 44 m
90 to 145 ft
44 to 68 m
145 to 220 ft
68 to 110 m
220 to 360 ft
Minimum cross sectional
area per cable
4 mm
2
12 AWG
6 mm
2
10 AWG
10 mm
2
8 AWG
16 mm
2
6 AWG
25 mm
2
4 AWG
35 mm
2
2 AWG
50 mm
2
1 AWG
Minimum AC cable size for 24 volt wind turbine:
Total AC section length
Up to 8 m
Up to 27 ft
8 to 12 m
27 to 40 ft
12 to 18 m
40 to 60 ft
18 to 30 m
60 to 100 ft
30 to 50 m
100 to 166 ft
30 to 76 m
166 to 253 ft
76 to 100 m
253 to 333 ft
Minimum cross sectional
area per cable
1.5 mm
2
16 AWG
2.5 mm
2
14 AWG
4 mm
2
12 AWG
6 mm
2
10 AWG
10 mm
2
8 AWG
16 mm
2
6 AWG
25 mm
2
4 AWG
Minimum DC cable size for 24 volt wind turbine:
Total DC section length
Up to 5 m
Up to 16 ft
5 to 10 m
16 to 32 ft
10 to 18 m
32 to 60 ft
18 to 28 m
60 to 90 ft
28 to 44 m
90 to 145 ft
44 to 68 m
145 to 220 ft
68 to 110 m
220 to 360 ft
Minimum cross sectional
area per cable
2.5 mm
2
14 AWG
2.5 mm
2
14 AWG
4 mm
2
12 AWG
6 mm
2
10 AWG
10 mm
2
8 AWG
16 mm
2
6 AWG
25 mm
2
4 AWG
WARNING:
Insufficient cross sectional area of conductor will cause the cable to heat up and create a
fire hazard all along the cable, at the same time.
WARNING:
Always use tinned stranded conductors for best corrosion protection on boats.
WARNING:
Connect with the correct polarity. When wiring the DC system be aware that if the wind
turbine is connected to the battery by the reverse polarity the output rectifiers may be
destroyed or the internal soldered connections to the brush holders may melt. Check and
double-check DC polarity before final connection.
BROWN or RED = + Positive
