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 Fitting my Solar Panel
588200 Post Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:37 pm Thank this member for this postReply with quote

Kev_n_Liz Subscriber 07/10/2010 

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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.

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Smurfs and Wombles rule #Black smile

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588211 Post Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 6:47 pm Thank this member for this postReply with quote

CLS Subscriber 03/02/2011 

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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.

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Mark
 
588268 Post Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:29 pm Thank this member for this postReply with quote

Kev_n_Liz Subscriber 07/10/2010 

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

What do you think of this one>
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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.

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Cheers Kev n Liz

Smurfs and Wombles rule #Black smile

Semper Ubi Sub Ubi

Fiamma 45 zip awning (4.5 mtrs) and safari room £450. for sale once I can get it to accept my ad.



I´ve tried gardening, yoga, meditation and medication and yet I still want to slap someone sometimes.. Kamahlitude 2



 
588274 Post Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:40 pm Thank this member for this postReply with quote

loddy Subscriber 20/02/2011 

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

Loddy

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588488 Post Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:37 am Thank this member for this postReply with quote

Kev_n_Liz Subscriber 07/10/2010 

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

Kev.

______________________________________________________________
Cheers Kev n Liz

Smurfs and Wombles rule #Black smile

Semper Ubi Sub Ubi

Fiamma 45 zip awning (4.5 mtrs) and safari room £450. for sale once I can get it to accept my ad.



I´ve tried gardening, yoga, meditation and medication and yet I still want to slap someone sometimes.. Kamahlitude 2



 
588512 Post Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:12 am Thank this member for this postReply with quote

Chascass Subscriber 22/05/2010 

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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
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Kev_n_Liz
 
589227 Post Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:31 am Thank this member for this postReply with quote

Kev_n_Liz Subscriber 07/10/2010 

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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.

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Cheers Kev n Liz

Smurfs and Wombles rule #Black smile

Semper Ubi Sub Ubi

Fiamma 45 zip awning (4.5 mtrs) and safari room £450. for sale once I can get it to accept my ad.



I´ve tried gardening, yoga, meditation and medication and yet I still want to slap someone sometimes.. Kamahlitude 2



 
589244 Post Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:05 am Thank this member for this postReply with quote

sallytrafic Subscriber 19/01/2011 

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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.

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RIP Peter wave Our thoughts are with you Chris. Fighting with Mavis and Ray We're Coming For YOU and a wee wave for Fiona wave

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589253 Post Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:16 am Thank this member for this postReply with quote

Kev_n_Liz Subscriber 07/10/2010 

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MH: 01 Laika Ecovip 7RG 2.8 Fiat. Very nice MH

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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.

______________________________________________________________
Cheers Kev n Liz

Smurfs and Wombles rule #Black smile

Semper Ubi Sub Ubi

Fiamma 45 zip awning (4.5 mtrs) and safari room £450. for sale once I can get it to accept my ad.



I´ve tried gardening, yoga, meditation and medication and yet I still want to slap someone sometimes.. Kamahlitude 2



 
589262 Post Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:28 am Thank this member for this postReply with quote

sallytrafic Subscriber 19/01/2011 

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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.

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Regards Frank

RIP Peter wave Our thoughts are with you Chris. Fighting with Mavis and Ray We're Coming For YOU and a wee wave for Fiona wave

Get behind early - it gives you more time to catch up.
Denn wir haben nichts in die Welt gebracht; darum offenbar ist, wir werden auch nichts hinausbringen.

Plusnet, Safari 4.0.4, G5 PowerPC iMac running OSX 10.5.8, Salisbury UK
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