Solar controller

[big mik]

Just got some panels off Evil Bay. They came with a controller on the back.
there are 6 poles on the controller
first two are from the panels
second two go to the battery
third two go to load.

The battery has 12.4V and is charging
But I am getting nothing through the load.

Am I doing something wrong, does the battery need to be fully charged before I can use the load poles Is the controller faulty.

The more I think of it the less you would use this out let, because you would have to run extra wires for a 12 DC connection point from the panels, rather than just running 12 v lights etc off the battery!

[schnitzel]

Just got some panels off Evil Bay. They came with a controller on the back.
there are 6 poles on the controller
first two are from the panels
second two go to the battery
third two go to load.

The battery has 12.4V and is charging
But I am getting nothing through the load.

Am I doing something wrong, does the battery need to be fully charged before I can use the load poles Is the controller faulty.

The more I think of it the less you would use this out let, because you would have to run extra wires for a 12 DC connection point from the panels, rather than just running 12 v lights etc off the battery!

I have lots of solar panels and controllers and long ago stopped using the load outlet. I run everything off the battery terminals and just connect the solar panels through the outlets marked for battery.

I run my camper, my motorhome, my fuel trailer and my portable panels this way without problems.

only time i have had problems was when i used to connect load to the outlet on the controller.

[razorback]

Solar controler

Hi Big Mik, as far as i know from my solar inverter is that you will only be able to use the " load" terminals is when it gets dark(when there is no charge to the battery). It's supossed to be only for low power like lights to light up your vehicle or campsite or a smal fridge.

[nj swb]

The battery has 12.4V and is charging

I doubt your battery is charging at 12.4V.

[big mik]

Thanks gents, I had a thought it may be operator error

Makes more sense now!

[Lance]

Panel > Controller
Controller > Battery
Battery > lights, fridge, etc.


Beer Time

[securegsm]

I second to that. I was in the same boat connecting solar panel directly to Agm battery for a charge and getting 12.4-12.5v at the terminals. Thought something was not right as the battery has not received much of the charge if any after almost 10 hours of grilling. I then connected solar panel to input terminals of Waeco Perfect Charge dc08 (8A dc to dc charger) and fed the Agm battery with higher 14.3v out of dc08 output. That worked much better for me. Could be just an issue with my solar panel in particular as solar panel controller "battery out" should be within 14.1-14.4v range, I was told.

I doubt your battery is charging at 12.4V.

[big mik]

The Battery started at under 12V because it had been running lights the last time I used it.
So when I checked it was 12.4V after a short while.
If I leave the multimeter on, depending on sun, I can see an input of upto 13.7V.
Now I have a new question. What voltage would you expect to be comming directly out of the controller?

I have upto 20V which I am guessing the controller throws out max power until it registers a voltage or "load requirement"

Sorry it's all new to me and I don't wantr to damage anything, I just want to know how it works a little better before I buy an invertor.

Thanks guys.

[nj swb]

The Battery started at under 12V because it had been running lights the last time I used it.
So when I checked it was 12.4V after a short while.
If I leave the multimeter on, depending on sun, I can see an input of upto 13.7V.
Now I have a new question. What voltage would you expect to be comming directly out of the controller?

That sounds better. For a conventional lead-acid battery, the traditional "float voltage" is 2.3V per cell, or 13.8V for a 12V battery. So 13.7V (particularly if the battery is drawing significant current) sounds right.

A solar panel will have a no load "open circuit" voltage (i.e. no current), a short circuit current (bugger all voltage), and maximum power (voltage x current) is somewhere in between - depending on the light. Unfortunately, putting a solar panel directly across a battery rarely results in maximum power coming from the panel, as the voltage across the battery won't be at the maximum power point for the panel. This is why a decent controller is required; to suck maximum possible power from the panel, and put as much of that as possible into the battery.

Depending on the design of the controller, it is possible that it won't regulate the output voltage until there is a load on it; so the 20V is its maximum output at no current, but it should reduce once current flows.

[big mik]

cheers NJ

Now it's all starting to make sense!

[Mr Pats]

hey big mik, can you post a link to the panels you got?

I'm thinking about getting some panels myself.

Thanks
Pat

[big mik]

No problem Pat

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/120W-FOLDABLE-POLY-SOLAR-PANEL-FOLDING-POWER-CHARGER-12V-BATTERY-PORTABLE-/321009678367?pt=AU_Solar&hash=item4abdaaf81f

Paid just under $100 for mine plus shipping. I don't know much about solar panels, these are heavy and don't come in a case....... but they work

[Mr Pats]

Thanks!!

I'm adding it to the the xmas wish list now!

[big mik]

I normally Have a wish list too.
Unfortunately I am off work at the moment with a crook back.
Lets just say pain killers and ebay don't go well with the wife. Now bought more lights and an inverter..... God I am in the dog house!

[pauld]

The solar regulators on the Ebay panels are generally speaking - junk.

Replace with something like:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Morningstar-Sunsaver-10A-12V-Regulator-/251171850509?pt=AU_Solar&hash=item3a7b02490d

Also, many panels on Ebay are not rated at what they are sold as, e.g. 160W 2 panel folding may be 120W. You can test in a short circuit test with an ammeter if you know what you are doing or the other way is to compare the measurements of the panels to a reputable brand panel from a supplier website.

I caught out a supplier about 2 years back, lodged a PayPal case and they refunded 33% of the purchase price.