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Post by Neva Aglenn on Mar 10, 2014 21:39:33 GMT
Well, Panel's up & wired-in! Left a 2nd Battery in (Low at 10.76V) Plus the incumbent Leisure Battery (fully-charged already) & will see on Friday if both good to go! I did paste pics. of Panel/Regulator but keep getting 'you must provide a message' & Me text getting wiped when I post...(?) 'Quick Reply' works ok tho'....>?!
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Post by Alec on Mar 11, 2014 13:11:32 GMT
Nice one Glen. Like the use of 20 mm ducting - cheap and effective. My set up achieved over 5 amps the other day -.now fully charged, and two weeks into trip.
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Post by Neva Aglenn on Mar 11, 2014 21:41:40 GMT
Cheers Alec...It's only taken Me about a Year to get it done!!! Have You got an Ammeter perm. wired in or just stick the Multi-meter on? Got 5A when I temp. wired it up before fitting (out on the Lawn in the Sun!) But by the time I'd finished fitting to Van...was packing up in the dark! There's cheap Chinese voltmeter & combined Volt/Ammeter (+ 100A Shunt) coming via Fleabay so I can see at a glance what the panel's kicking out & what's in the (Main) Leisure Batt.
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Mar 12, 2014 6:55:26 GMT
Nice job!
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Post by Alec on Mar 12, 2014 14:21:54 GMT
I have a Xantrex Link 10 in the circuit connected to a 500 A 50mV shunt. This gadjet reads voltage, amps in and out, predicts consumption. First piece of Solar kit I bought. In fact I purchased it unused on ebay at one third of price...... ..before I bought the van!!!!!! With the sun out in Cornwall today batteries are fully topped up. I think the chinese kit should be OK Alec.
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Post by Neva Aglenn on Mar 12, 2014 18:08:07 GMT
Yep, I remember You showing Us at Rutland Wtr......went a bit over Me Head at the Time!!
My Dad reported Y'Day that BOTH Batteries were charging (!?) Bit concerned as the 110AH one was fully charged when PV Panel 1st connected & only the 2nd Batt. was needing charge. As I dis-connected the Loads, dunno why the 110 should now need a charge...?
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Post by Alec on Mar 12, 2014 18:47:07 GMT
Could be the poor battery dragging down the good battery if they are wired together in parralel.....so Iv'e read.
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Post by Alec on Mar 12, 2014 18:51:23 GMT
They do say, only link equivalent age, quality, type, condition and same voltage batteries..... but I'm no expert.
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Post by X on Mar 12, 2014 21:37:49 GMT
Change of plan I think ! Just been given a brand new 250 w solar panel ! Might forget the flexi panels and fit this one as my mate has a few connectors and solar cable too so will collect friday and make a plan ? Bought a xantrex controller 40 w same as alec for £50 so will see what I can cobble up when got all the bits ? Always the same you buy kit then get offered it for free !
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Post by Alec on Mar 12, 2014 22:24:41 GMT
Thats a good price for a C40, I paid 90 for an unused one on ebay. You now see how large the connections are. One of the main reasons I chose this PWM controller was the ability to change most of the parameters, especially the bulk charge for my Trojans of 14.8 V, also it is able to equalise the batterys at 15.5V for two hours automaticly every thirty days. Alec.
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Post by X on Mar 12, 2014 22:33:44 GMT
Thats a good price for a C40, I paid 90 for an unused one on ebay. You now see how large the connections are. One of the main reasons I chose this PWM controller was the ability to change most of the parameters, especially the bulk charge for my Trojans of 14.8 V, also it is able to equalise the batterys at 15.5V for two hours automaticly every thirty days. Alec. I know it was up for auction at a starting price of a tenner plus £10 postage so I went in and said what will you take so he said £ 50 ! Said ok as long as including postage ! Still hacked off as now been given a 250 watt panel brand new !
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Post by Neva Aglenn on Mar 13, 2014 19:45:36 GMT
So You've got a good prize for the next Raffle then Charlie....?!
Alec, reckon You're right re. Battery Size/Age as not the same.
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Post by Alec on Mar 14, 2014 12:02:56 GMT
Glen, as a test you could charge one at a time and see what happens.
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Post by billieblue on Mar 14, 2014 12:06:31 GMT
I wish I knew what you were talking about!
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Post by Firefox on Mar 14, 2014 12:33:30 GMT
I wish I knew what you were talking about! Don't worry Carol, you should see some of the solar panel conversations on the big W. They loop around for ages and don't get too far. Basically you get a panel, hopefully bigger than 80w and stick it on the roof in the sun. Two wires come out of the panel go through a regulator and two wires come out the regulator and attach on the battery +ve and -ve. That's all there is to it, I refuse to believe there is a massive amount of difference between all the different systems
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Post by Alec on Mar 14, 2014 13:07:52 GMT
Yup, it can be as simple as that. By the way, the sun doesn't need to be shining..I was getting 2 amps in thick fog yesterday!!!
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Post by Firefox on Mar 14, 2014 13:24:09 GMT
Maybe there is a difference then, cos I wouldn't get 2A in thick fog
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Post by Neva Aglenn on Mar 14, 2014 16:32:02 GMT
Alec, I dunno if the 2nd, smaller, battery will stay in use....as the Regulator had the facility for 2 Batteries...I thought I'd make use of it & wire in a 2nd one that needed a bit of a charge; as an 'experiment'! As the Van is parked up at My Dad's during the week I'll get to see state of batteries in about...2 hrs time!
Funnily enough, a (purportedly...)MPPT Regulator arrived from China today, like the one in Tom's Link (above) so I've got another Toy to play with!!
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Post by Neva Aglenn on Mar 14, 2014 16:35:27 GMT
I wish I knew what you were talking about! Carol, Jo's Eyes glazed over when I replied to Her asking...'what did You do on Sunday?'...
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Post by Alec on Mar 14, 2014 19:18:32 GMT
Hope the new controller works OK for you Glen. Earlier I said that a solar set up is simple, in essence yes, but there are some important considerations such as :- Design(how much power),Cable size,voltage drop, fuses and where to place them,shade etc. etc. - a good read I found whilst designing my system is here ;- handybobsolar.wordpress.com/the-rv-battery-charging-puzzle-2/He does go on a bit, must be old like me - a read for you Carol....HaHa
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Post by X on Mar 15, 2014 12:35:57 GMT
Fed up now ! Went to start solar and controller will not fit where planned ,then found wires that are factory fitted are tiny so spent 2 hours cutting away mastic to get roof inlet box out ! No route for cables I can see and damp as hell in roof ! I hate motorhomes me ! What a pile of cheaply built badly designed sh**te !!!!!!!! The factory fitted solar cable is normal domestic flex with 2 x 1.5 mm am guessing this is way too small for 200 watts maybe 450 watts if we use all panels ? Fag and tea needed
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Post by penny13 on Mar 15, 2014 13:44:13 GMT
Perhaps you should do a Rob fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer
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Post by Alec on Mar 15, 2014 14:40:53 GMT
Charlie, not good when moist warm air is allowed to condense within roof space - hope you get it sorted. 2 x 1.5 wires sounds far too small , after all, a 100 Watt panel running at around 18 V is at 5 plus amps, and are usually supplied with 4 sq. mm. cable. Looks like best to work out amps total then use cable sizeing chart according to lengths to avoid high voltage drop. Alec.
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Post by X on Mar 15, 2014 19:53:29 GMT
Charlie, not good when moist warm air is allowed to condense within roof space - hope you get it sorted. 2 x 1.5 wires sounds far too small , after all, a 100 Watt panel running at around 18 V is at 5 plus amps, and are usually supplied with 4 sq. mm. cable. Looks like best to work out amps total then use cable sizeing chart according to lengths to avoid high voltage drop. Alec. Just been and collected the 250 watt panel also my mate made me up some 16 mm meter tails that will go to batteries , he has given me all clips etc needed and a load of mc4 solar connectors plus have borrowed his solar crimping tools so now all the gear and no idea ! lmao Shame the van will be rotten before I finish fitting them ! Just read the book for controller and it is showing disconnect switches on pv side also another as a battery disconnect ? Do I really need all this ?
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Post by Alec on Mar 16, 2014 7:20:02 GMT
I put a double pole disconnect between pannels and controller, but Iv'e read that just covering panels before connection is sufficient. A fuse was used at battery connection to control that side. As usual connect battery side first. Alec.
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Post by X on Mar 16, 2014 8:54:56 GMT
I put a double pole disconnect between pannels and controller, but Iv'e read that just covering panels before connection is sufficient. A fuse was used at battery connection to control that side. As usual connect battery side first. Alec. What sixe fuse did you use as read that a 60 amp is needed in controller manual ?
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Post by Alec on Mar 16, 2014 9:57:36 GMT
A 30 Amp fuse, I figured 200 up top now converted to 12 Volt would pass about 16 Amp max.. Alec.
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Post by robmac on Mar 16, 2014 11:06:14 GMT
Perhaps you should do a Rob fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer fag beer Oi!!! I don't smoke that much.
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Post by X on Mar 16, 2014 13:36:52 GMT
A 30 Amp fuse, I figured 200 up top now converted to 12 Volt would pass about 16 Amp max.. Alec. As I have gone with 16 mm cablue now cannot find a suitable fuse holder !
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Post by edina on Mar 16, 2014 13:50:16 GMT
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