Need solar help in Oregon

[Francesca]

Here ya go, Barb:

And good luck!

Francesca

[ralper]

A #6 wire will carry 20 amps of 120 volt just fine but not 20 amps of 12 volt. There is too much voltage drop. You should have a #4 wire or better yet use #2 wire for about 1.5% voltage drop. The whole thing is about getting that power INTO THE BATTERIES. Too small a wire leaves it in the panels and causes the wire to heat and lose a lot of voltage.

The controler belongs as close to the batteries as possible but not in the same compartment.

It sounds as if there is a short.