Wire gauge for multiple Enphase batteries

Zee

Senior Member
Location
CA
When wiring 4 Enphase IQ 5P batteries in a single circuit fed by a 2p80A breaker, do you run 4 AWG Cu wire to all 4 batteries, or can you run #4, then #6, then #8, and finally #10?

If the 2nd is allowable, what allows it?

(A single IQ5P battery goes on a 2p20A breaker. 16A cont. Rated Output)
 
The conductors are all protected by the 80A CB so they all have to be rated for 80A in a fault condition. If you were sizing just to the load then you could reduce the conductor size.
 
I'd agree, I do not see anywhere from Enphase documents/enhase university allowing smaller conductors on downstream batteries. You are allowed to do this on solaredge systems per manufacturer installation instructions- most AHJ's would be cool with that. But totally different system. I'd say to make it happen here you'd need documentation from Enphase, I haven't reached out, you could ask, but probably would just do #4s all the way through to be safe.
 
When wiring 4 Enphase IQ 5P batteries in a single circuit fed by a 2p80A breaker, do you run 4 AWG Cu wire to all 4 batteries, or can you run #4, then #6, then #8, and finally #10?

If the 2nd is allowable, what allows it?

(A single IQ5P battery goes on a 2p20A breaker. 16A cont. Rated Output)
Maybe use a small AC combiner panel with 4x2P20A and 12AWG runs where the batteries are located, and 4AWG from main lug to the 80A breaker in the upstream panel?
 
If a fault occurred on a conductor at the end of the line, the only thing protecting that conductor would be the 80A breaker, so the conductor would have to be rated appropriately, as would the grounding conductor.
 
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