Which battery charger?

[syncropatrick]

My 150W panel kept up with the big 70l compressor fridge this summer.

[kevtherev]

My panel kicks out 8.2 amps with the sun out at midday for three hours.. and I have witnessed it.
On our French trip we used it to heat 15 litres of water with a 150 watt immersion heater
it took three hours to do this. (details on request)
on a cloudy day it put out around 3+ amps
The battery gets charge from the moment it gets light

Best thing I ever did for my power requirements
Next step would be a trojan attached to it

[ninja.turtle007]

My panel kicks out 8.2 amps with the sun out at midday for three hours.. and I have witnessed it.
On our French trip we used it to heat 15 litres of water with a 150 watt immersion heater
it took three hours to do this. (details on request)
on a cloudy day it put out around 3+ amps
The battery gets charge from the moment it gets light

Best thing I ever did for my power requirements
Next step would be a trojan attached to it

They are really impressive figures. What panel do you have? How is it mounted?

I tested mine when it was installed back in March and my figures were nowhere near as good as yours. From memory about 3.5A to 4A in full sun.

[kevtherev]

Baird 100 watt poly crystaline rigid with tilt mechanism.
Photoplanet dual batt controller.

The 110 battery had been working hard heating the water, for two hours getting no sun just cloud cover, charging at 2.8 A
The batt indicator showed 11.9V
The heater was drawing 12.5 A

Then the sun came out..
Max amps increased to 8.2 for three hours.

[Adeybruce]

A sterling Battery to Battery charger was mentioned earlier. Now, at the risk of asking a stupid question, I take it that it charges one battery from another - but can someone highlight the benefits of doing this. They seem to be fiendishly expensive, and the people who have them on their wish list are clearly not daft!

[Oldiebut goodie]

It would be best to read the blurb on Sterling's website - it will tell you all you need to know and some that you don't. That would save someone having to explain it all.
Basically it is a more efficient means of charging batteries.

[California Dreamin]

Overkill for all but the most serious of 'off the grid' users.

At around £120 all in....a 100watt Solar Setup appears to be the better choice for most. Or you could go completely OTT and fit both.

It really does all depend on what you want the setup to do....what consumers you intend to run.

Martin

[garry247]

I have been looking at Solar panels Rigid vs flexable, mono vs poly. What i have found is that some makes are better then others and Poly delivers better in hot and mono delivers metter in warm.



I was looking to go the rigid due to the positionability of the panel (I cant find the Baird ones Kev has though).

Also which makes of controller is recomended?


Thanks,

Garry

[California Dreamin]

I have been looking at Solar panels Rigid vs flexable, mono vs poly. What i have found is that some makes are better then others and Poly delivers better in hot and mono delivers metter in warm.



I was looking to go the rigid due to the positionability of the panel (I cant find the Baird ones Kev has though).

Also which makes of controller is recomended?


Thanks,

Garry

There doesn't appear to be much difference in performance between Polycrystalline & Monocrystalline based panels...swings and roundabouts.
Read:
http://ecoaltenergy.wordpress.com/2013/ ... ystalline/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

There are a few generalizations that are not necessarily true ie: that mono cells deliver better performance in overcast light, that Poly cells are better in hot conditions. However, performance differences are said to be very small, in fact, there are said to be greater differences between manufactures of cells than the 'type' of cells used.

I purchased this controller...and it works very well, LCD display so you have an idea of what is happening. It works but I can't really comment on others as I only have experience of this unit.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Time-Light-LC ... 4ad54eeb17" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Martin

[garry247]

Thanks,

Kev showed me one that could switch the charge from main battery to leisure battery. Doses this do the same?

Cheers,

Garry

[kevtherev]

No it doesn't Garry
Mine can be set to charge either or both, in varying percentages.
There's one in this thread
https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... olar+panel" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The 10 amp type will be sufficient for a 100 watt panel

[California Dreamin]

Thanks,

Kev showed me one that could switch the charge from main battery to leisure battery. Doses this do the same?

Cheers,

Garry

I made the conscious decision not to bother with the two battery outlet version. My starter battery is isolated from the leisure ancillaries so remains charged whatever I do on site....I also camp throughout the year, so the longest it stands is a few weeks (which isn't enough to need charging). The starter battery is the same one that came with the camper in 2007, It looked at least a year old then. It has never gone flat in that time so why would it benefit from being connected to the solar panel?.
It would also require another substantial (4.00mm2) wire running from the wardrobe N/S/R to the starter battery situated under the drivers seat O/S/F.
And....if i were to add more batteries it would be in one bank (parallel) so again, just one output from the controller.


Martin