Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:09:10 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Solar controller question..semi off topic.
In-Reply-To: <CAH32RNbOMC7d-njcZj9JjFNSLxcGKiUxCaWnCF4=QoZEg-EWTw@mail.gmail.com>
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Thank you all for the responses. I am going with the older style
controller. I decided this because they're less expensive and because they
aren't mentioned to have 'load protection' stuff involved.
For my energy needs I can get by with less sophistication and more
simplicity. I've not had much luck with 'smart' battery chargers,
etc...things that are supposed to have good traits, but usually end up
being beyond my knowledge level and must be "tricked" in various ways to
actually work. And very robust and durable is also important, as I have
seen my solar panel blow around more times that I can remember...
For the most part I shall probably just continue to use my smaller (about
18" x 12"..no controller) panel that slips between the drivers seatback and
the sink cab and has a lighter plug, with a hook to hang it off the rain
gutters...In the Vanagon this is adequate to keep me in laptop, smart
phone, sat. radio etc when on extended camping trips.
For that larger 75w panel I am going with a 10amp controller and it will
become my mobile 12v power source for various vehicles around our
place...vehicles that always seem to get dead batteries about as far from
electrical outlets as can be done on 23ac of land.
On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 8:47 AM, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> RE: Solar Panels and Controllers
> Don, the subject has been coverd by the reponders up till now. But let me
> add this.
> You mentioned connecting the two mismatched panels you have in series.
> They MUST be connected in PARALLEL!
> As for controllers I have and have used two different controllers, one
> conventional and one MPPT (cheap, out of China off eBay). Both work fine
> and I've used them both with two 50 watt panels deployed outside the Westy
> and now with a single 120 watt panel on the roof.
> The difference I've seen is that the conventional controller goes up to
> about 14.4 volts in good Sunlight and the MPPT controller stops at 13.3
> volts. 14.4 volts is about what the batteries see from the alternator
> while the 13.3 volts is the normal 'float' charge on a lead acid battery.
> I my case I'm using an AGM battery for the aux and they like to see about
> 14.4 volts for charging. So I'm using the conventional charger most of the
> time. Plus it's more reassuring to see the higher voltage on the meter all
> day :)
> Note that I am probably not pumping as much current into the battery at
> any moment with the conventional controller but the battery is topped off
> before noon on most days with Sun.
>
