Wiring diagram for extension cables

Absolutely no solar experience here but do have basic wiring skills.  Question is how does one connect a Renogy extension cable from controller to the panels (2) using only one wire?  The controller has two PV connections, one from each panel,  in its current location within the 100w suitcase but the extension cable has just a single conductor.  I'm intending to re-situate the controller inside my RV.

Am I missing something or do I need two cables?
   

There should be 2 wires coming from the panels.......

gman, in a non suitcase setting, one extersion wire is cut into two pieces. Each piece connects to the MC4 connection coming from the panel and the cut end is stripped and connects to the controller.

Another method is 2 extensions that connect to the panel's MC4 and then short MC4 to bare end that connect to the MC4 and controller.

Ah so, as I thought... but just wasn't certain. So my 20' extension will actually be 2-10's. Thanks for the assistance. I had hoped to be able to use one 20' extension but for now, I'll settle for the 10' solution. Now to get to the installation. Many thanks to you both.

Be sure and let your battery get fully changed before you hook anything to your system........ Good luck...

Any thoughts on using 10ga/2 speaker wire for added extension cables as long as connections are weatherproof?

 
How far are you planning on going?? I'm not sure speaker wire would be a good choice....

I use 12/2 landscape wire, bought by the foot @ HD, 4A system, never exceeds 2A. Added MC4 to each end.

controller to batt voltage drop critical. Panel to PWM controller less critical, I would not exceed 1v at spec panel current.
good clean tight connects have less resistance than poor connections.
my thinking behind 1v of drop is the panels have some overhead (PWM). When hot and less light Vmp of a panel is lowered.
To hard to determine how low!!!! But lets say @80% light and 25C the Vmp can be 16v and lower in hotter temps.
So charge voltage is 14.8v, lowered by heat to 14.5v, 1v of drop would allow for Vmp to be down to 15.5v under max current.
Yep, voltage drop will be less with less current but that is my thinking on voltage drop panel to controller for PWM.
So use 5A or 5+A (100w) in a voltage drop calculator like below and limit v. d. to less than 1v

5A @ 30', 10g yields .3v !!!!



www.genuinedealz.com/voltage-drop-calculator

rabird, took your advice and got the 12/2 landscaping wire at .63 ft., most likely a better choice than the speaker wire for use outside.

marine wire is also a very good choice for extensions.

the two panels are wired in parallel, there's just 1 2-wire connection going to the controller, the controller then has a 2 wire connection to the battery, and optionally the temp sensor and/or voltage sense wires (which can be thin wire, I plan on using 22/4 or 24/4 for these). if the controller is close enough to the battery, the voltage sense wires are probably not needed, ditto, if the controller is in an environment the same temperature as the battery, the temp sensor is probably optional. my solar suitcase came with both.

I'm new here too... I need help - how do I add an extension cable from one Solar Panel POS to another Solar Panel POS that is approximately 15' apart. They are too far apart to use a "Y" - and I need to Parallel them together.

Not familiar with POS. You will need to extend one panel's wires to the other or both to the middle to use the Y (branch connector).
extension wire, you'd need 2, 15' long to go from one panel to the other, these have MC4 male at one end and female at the other.
www.renogy.com/renogy-extension-cable-for-solar-power-system/

Thank you for the quick reply. I should have said Positive to Positive from one panel to the other - for Parallel hookup. Thanks again.