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Fitting my Solar Panel
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Motorhome Facts -> Solar Panels

Author: Kev_n_Liz,

Location: Leeds, Gods County.

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:37 pm Post subject: Fitting my Solar Panel

Well, I went to Aire and Power yesterday to suss out what panel I actually had (see other post on this subject)

They are a small outfit but Steven/Stephen seems to be up on his subject.

I got some mounting brackets, Sikaflex and primer, and a roof mounting grommet thingy.

I didn't get the charge controller from him as obviously he has a vested interest in selling the ones he stocks.

So hopefully one of you peeps can reccomend what I need to get to suit my system, without breaking the bank.

I have a 40watt, 5amp panel, and I want to use it to recharge two 110ah wet batteries , so 220ah in all, now I know I'm not going to light up the planet with this set-up, but we don't need any more than this amount of power.

I'd like to also be able to keep the Engine battery from going flat.

So ladles and jellyspoons, what do you suggest I get.

Kev.

Author: CLS,

Location: Warwickshire

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:47 pm Post subject:

I have used these ( link below ) alot and had no problems or failures to date. Can handle 20 amps with digital display reading. Also able to use the load to feed engine battery.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260362531122

Mark

Author: Kev_n_Liz,

Location: Leeds, Gods County.

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject:

Thanks Mark, I had a look at that one and a few others,

What do you think of this one>

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SOLAR-PANEL-CHARGE-CONTROLLER-REGULATOR- 12-24V-PWM-24A_W0QQitemZ250376167271QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_ConsumerElectronics_Batteries_SM?hash=item250376167271&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms= 66:2

The using the load to charge the engine battery is a new one for me, as is most of this stuff, which is why I'm being so cautious, I was under the impression (rightly or wrongly) that to charge the engine battery, I needed a splitter or some such device, but I'm not sure where in the system this should be placed.

I await illumination. Embarassed

Kev.

Author: loddy,

Location: Clevedon North Somerset

Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:40 pm Post subject:

Solar Solutions in Poole do a DUO controller that monitors Chassis and home batteries charging accordingly

Loddy

Author: Kev_n_Liz,

Location: Leeds, Gods County.

Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:37 am Post subject:

Thanks Loddy, but it's way too expensive for me at the moment.

Kev.

Author: Chascass,

Location: Co Durham

Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:12 am Post subject:

I got mine from sunshine solar (the yellow one depicted in the picture) cheap and cheerful, orange light when charging, green when fully charged.
Had it fitted for over a year now with out any problems.

Charlie

http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu0-catshow/Regulators.html

Author: Kev_n_Liz,

Location: Leeds, Gods County.

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:31 am Post subject:

Hmm,

I couldn't see a price or any details for the yellow one Charlie, but I did expect more of a response on this post Shocked

, considering all the talk generally on this subject.

any more ideas please.

Author: sallytrafic,

Location: Salisbury

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:05 am Post subject:

The eBay one you post looks ok but is a shunt regulator I prefer series regulators as they take less power from your panel when the battery is fully charged however all the other parts of the spec look ok to me including the price.

(When the battery is fully charged a shunt regulator shorts the panel output to earth a series regulator stops current getting to the battery)

Its difficult to comment further without the detailled specification as the devil is often in the detail.

Author: Kev_n_Liz,

Location: Leeds, Gods County.

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:16 am Post subject:

Found this Frank.

Key Specifications:

Over-loading protection
Short-circuit protection
Reverse current protection
Reverse polarity connection protection
Thunder and lighting protection
Over-discharge protection
Battery turns off at the voltage level, LVD sets up
Over-charge protection
Battery stops being charged at the voltage level, HVD sets up
Display the capacity of the battery SOC
Intelligent temperature compensation
Memorizes accumulated charging ampere hours on the LCD screen
Memorizes accumulated loading ampere hours on the LCD screen
MCU control and LCD display

I'm looking for more.

Author: sallytrafic,

Location: Salisbury

Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:28 am Post subject:

I am a little concerned that the final voltage is 13.7 I would expect 14.4 and that although they have quantified the negative temperature coefficient as -3mV/degree C they don't specify what temperature the 13.7V is quoted for. As I say Kev devil in the detail.

Motorhome Facts -> Solar Panels

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