Solar charger advice

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And as if by magic !

solar l322.jpg
 
I have these on their way to me, wasn't sure about Poly and mono so just took a plug at this one -

SPECIAL Best Seller OFFER! 12v 20W Solar PV Panel Mono Caravans Boats Motorhomes | eBay

I also have the following regulator on the way, but it shows 3 sets of terminals ,which I understand the panel and battery but the load, would i connect my DVR to that, or can i just connect the battery and the panel and connect the DVR to the cigararette lighter?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/291264442782?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

ta
 
holidaychicken said:
I have these on their way to me, wasn't sure about Poly and mono so just took a plug at this one -

SPECIAL Best Seller OFFER! 12v 20W Solar PV Panel Mono Caravans Boats Motorhomes | eBay

I also have the following regulator on the way, but it shows 3 sets of terminals ,which I understand the panel and battery but the load, would i connect my DVR to that, or can i just connect the battery and the panel and connect the DVR to the cigararette lighter?

Solar Charge Controller 20A 12/24V Safe Protection Solar Panel Battery Regulator | eBay

ta
Click to expand...
The load terminals are a protected output that will shut off before your battery is drained to the point where it is fecked.
 
Ok thanks, that makes sense, so i'll connect up my power supply to that for the camera, DVR and Mic.

The panel turned up today along with the regulator so all I am waiting on is the 32 GB SDHC card. it's quite a size but will easily sit on my dashboard and I'll stow it away when not in use.

I have repainted my door so it's ready to be vandalised again so hopefully the p***k can wait until after i have fitted all the kit. :)

Thanks for your help and standby for an update
 
hey guys, so got myself a 'semi flexible' 20w panel today, just waiting on the regulator to arrive.. i'd thought about trying to mount this on the roof.. but still tbc on that..
i work away a lot and the car can be stood for 6 weeks.. so hoping this will keep us all topped up summer & winter..

Datatek.. anything i should bear in mind when wiring this up to the battery ? specific cable size ? etc.. i figured on using some .75mm twin 240v lamp cable i have a lot of sitting in the garage.. a regular battery charger only has thin cables...

not sure about the roof mount as yet.. it may well just end up being sat on the rear shelf..
 
For 20w I don't think you need a controller or regulator to protect from overcharge... 20w will just be trickle feeding so you should be fine with smaller cable than that if you wish.

Main thing to remember is DONT CONNECT WHEN ON.. when you do any connections with solar you need to cover the panel when you do it or there is a risk you can blow the diodes...I just chuck a tarp over them.

FYI on the cables, its the inverter cables which need to be monsters, the panel to the bank is always tiny gauge cables... its the inverter which is chunking 12 v to 240v which can need a cable fatter than your wrist.
 
i have my 20w panel and the cables have turned up today and i will be wiring it all in this weekend via the controller as i will be running a 12v DVR and mini camera / microphone all the time so i will have a constant drain.
I would vote for the controller and my panel is going to be connected via a plug and will sit on the dashboard so i can quickly unplug it and the controller and dvr will be in the glove box.
i'll tuck the panel in the boot when not in use.
i already have the camera running which seems ok but the sound is ****e which i need to investigate
 
ER1C said:
For 20w I don't think you need a controller or regulator to protect from overcharge... 20w will just be trickle feeding so you should be fine with smaller cable than that if you wish.

Main thing to remember is DONT CONNECT WHEN ON.. when you do any connections with solar you need to cover the panel when you do it or there is a risk you can blow the diodes...I just chuck a tarp over them.

FYI on the cables, its the inverter cables which need to be monsters, the panel to the bank is always tiny gauge cables... its the inverter which is chunking 12 v to 240v which can need a cable fatter than your wrist.
Click to expand...
I.5 amps for 8 or more hours day after day is more than any unused battery needs, a regulator should certainly be used.
 
chopper007 said:
hey guys, so got myself a 'semi flexible' 20w panel today, just waiting on the regulator to arrive.. i'd thought about trying to mount this on the roof.. but still tbc on that..
i work away a lot and the car can be stood for 6 weeks.. so hoping this will keep us all topped up summer & winter..

Datatek.. anything i should bear in mind when wiring this up to the battery ? specific cable size ? etc.. i figured on using some .75mm twin 240v lamp cable i have a lot of sitting in the garage.. a regular battery charger only has thin cables...

not sure about the roof mount as yet.. it may well just end up being sat on the rear shelf..
Click to expand...
0.75 will be fine. Panel is better on the rear parcel shelf if you can park with the window facing the sun. Panel should be propped up at about 45 degrees.
I have a socket in the boot to plug mine into, but I think there is a permanent live behind the N/S panel in the boot for the supplementary caravan supply, you could feed via that. No need to worry about covering the panel to connect especially if going via a controller.
 
I believe the issue is OVERCHARGE... and damage to the battery which you wont get with such a low amps...

See below for some comments... FYI I looked into this considerably for my solar installs.

Do I need a charge controller? We recommend that charge controllers are used with 25 watt solar panels and above. This will ensure the battery is not overcharged if the solar panel is connected for any length of time with no charge being drawn.



"Your 30w panel will give about 1.8 amps max. The watt rating is max volts times max current.Max volts between 17 and 20 volts. So current will not exceed the 10% rule of thumb. So no you don't need a regulator.
Read more at Solar Panel-do I need a charge controller?
"

"The rule of thumb with which I am familiar is that if the power of the panel in watts is more than 10% of the battery capacity in Ah you need a regulator.
Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?229387-Solar-Panel-do-I-need-a-charge-controller&#uome5cuTeKubMa34.99"




Datatek said:
I.5 amps for 8 or more hours day after day is more than any unused battery needs, a regulator should certainly be used.
Click to expand...
 
ER1C said:
I believe the issue is OVERCHARGE... and damage to the battery which you wont get with such a low amps...

See below for some comments... FYI I looked into this considerably for my solar installs.

Do I need a charge controller? We recommend that charge controllers are used with 25 watt solar panels and above. This will ensure the battery is not overcharged if the solar panel is connected for any length of time with no charge being drawn.



"Your 30w panel will give about 1.8 amps max. The watt rating is max volts times max current.Max volts between 17 and 20 volts. So current will not exceed the 10% rule of thumb. So no you don't need a regulator.
Read more at Solar Panel-do I need a charge controller?
"

"The rule of thumb with which I am familiar is that if the power of the panel in watts is more than 10% of the battery capacity in Ah you need a regulator.
Read more at http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?229387-Solar-Panel-do-I-need-a-charge-controller&#uome5cuTeKubMa34.99"
Click to expand...

You go your own way, I've fitted lots to boats, for the sake of six quid why risk overcharging? Without the regulator, my 20watt panels raise the battery voltage to 16 volts on sunny days on my two old vehicles which get little use which I consider to be excessive, the regulator limits the voltage to 14.8.
 
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