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Post by daisymini on Feb 1, 2013 11:04:42 GMT
I need to wire my solar panel but i havent done it this way before so i need advice please. On the pic the numbers are as follows: #1 Ground -ve to chassis #2 12v from leisure battery #3 12v form leisure battery when ign on #4 12v from vehicle battery fused 15amp (merc fuse 18amp) This panel is just behind the passenger seat and the leisure battery sits under the passenger seat. My question is? Can i attach the -ve from solar regulator to number 1? And do i connect +ve to one of the spare fuses or to number 2? Last time i fitted my solar i did it straight to battery so this is new for me and im not sure if i can do it this way any help is much appreciated thanks!! Attachments:
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Post by Firefox on Feb 1, 2013 14:18:00 GMT
I presume the leads you are talking about come from the solar panel regulator? You need a regulator in between your solar panel and the leisure battery.
You can connect the negative from your panel regulator output to number 1. Personally I would take a decent sized cable (30A?) from the regulator straight to the battery -ve. I don't trust common earths especially in things like charging circuits.
Connect the positive output to number 2. But again I would connect straight to the battery preferably. What is the size of the cable between terminal number 2 and the battery; this is unknown. You need a decent cable for a solar charging circuit to prevent losses. Preferably 30 to 50A cable. That's why I would connect direct (preferably) with a known cable size.
Do you have fuse in your positive cable between the panels and the regulator and the regulator and the leisure battery? I would think 20A inline fuses would be a good idea.
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Post by daisymini on Feb 1, 2013 14:36:50 GMT
Hi Vern..Ive put an inline fuse on +ve solar cable, was thinking a 10amp fuse for this as ive only got a 100w panel. im using 6mm cable from reg to fuse board. Ive put the -ve cable from reg to number 1,(chassis earth) and was going to put the +ve 6mm cable from reg to one of the spare fuse holders on the board sited at number 2 (12v leisure) is this correct (with a 10amp fuse as my reg is only 10amps)
The +ve cable from the reg will only be about 10inchs long as im only going through a thin wall to the back of the fuse board will this be ok?
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Post by Firefox on Feb 1, 2013 14:58:19 GMT
Yes the shorter between regulator and battery the better.
Some people recommend silly size cables like 100A, but basically the thicker the better, 4mm2 or 5mm2 cable, 30 or 40 A would be fine. 10A or 20A fuse good (I wasn't sure of your panel size).
Losses proportional to current squared and resistance, so when the current is high like charging circuits, you want as low as a resistance as possible.
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Feb 1, 2013 15:51:16 GMT
I use 4mm cable on all the ones that I fit.Dont know how much you need,but I buy 10m with an MC4 connector at each end.Work out distance between panel and regulator and cut to length twice.Then you can use the off cut for the two runs from regulator to battery.As Vern says connect straight to batt with ring terminals,and a 10amp fuse is fine for 10amp reg.
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Post by daisymini on Feb 1, 2013 16:21:17 GMT
connected everything up and the battery light has come on on the regulator but nothing for the solar panel..!!! Ive only just done it 4.17pm and it is overcast and getting dark...Is this why no light is showing for the panel on the regulator? Nothing is happening from the panel and i did think although it is getting dark it might show something. I will check tomorrow when its properly light and see if anything happens. If not re-check my wiring...duh!!!!!!
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Post by Firefox on Feb 1, 2013 16:27:53 GMT
My solar LED charging light starts getting dim around this time. You should still get something though. You could try a 100W inspection light bulb on an extension cables. Sit that on top of the panel and see if you get any signs off life!
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Post by Etienne Le Croq on Feb 1, 2013 16:59:03 GMT
Sounds like its too dark to register anything.
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Post by TammiJ on Feb 2, 2013 14:38:04 GMT
Are your solar panels working now Daisymini!?
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Post by daisymini on Feb 2, 2013 16:29:20 GMT
Sadly the answer is NO..!! Going to check all my connections tomorrow and check output at the panel too to see if its the panel or my wiring..lol
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Post by TammiJ on Feb 2, 2013 17:42:42 GMT
Ooooo good luck with it - all you people are so clever, I wouldn't know where to start!
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Post by daisymini on Feb 3, 2013 13:19:47 GMT
Im having problems with my solar wiring!!! Firstly id sika flexed the panel to the roof and then couldnt remember which one was the positive lead so stuck my multimeter on the panel connectors and think ive found the positive. Secondly im getting no reading from the wires ive attched to the panel at the van end...could this be a problem with the connectors as the panel is showing an output but when i connect the extension wires there is nothing..duh!!
Please help as im obviously missing something..
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Post by Firefox on Feb 3, 2013 14:07:20 GMT
That sounds like it Daisy, you should be getting the same reading across the wires at the panel as you do on the wires just before you they go into the regulator (15 to 25 volts depending on the panel) and then after the regulator the reading should be 14 to 14.5 volts.
If you have a multimeter with the pointed probes you can actually stick then into the wire through the insulation to get a reading (just in case you didn't know cos some people don't) This way you can trace the voltage all the way from the solar panels. Maybe it is the connectors or an in line fuse?
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Post by daisymini on Feb 3, 2013 14:08:57 GMT
Problem solved!!!! It was a bad connection on one of the mc4 connectors, Solar panel now up and running yipeee..!!
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Post by Firefox on Feb 3, 2013 14:11:46 GMT
Well done! You can show me your set up next meeting time and we can compare notes, LOL. I am hoping to fit a second panel to mine soon so I'll have 180w.
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Post by bigboack on Feb 3, 2013 18:31:07 GMT
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