[Rhodes22-list] Question, Solar panel regulator.

[Alex Bell]

Bob,

In my opinion, You could tie both solar panels together and use one
charge controller. The output of the panels does not come close to the 7
amp capacity of the controller. Adding the panels in parallel simply
adds the amperage together. Blue Daze has always had both solar panels
tied together and both batteries tied together. We don't have a charge
controller in circuit and the original batteries lasted over 5 years. 

On the other hand, we fried Kizmet's five batteries because there was
not charge controller in circuit and that solar panel is 110 watts. The
previous owner had a cut off switch that I thought was a stereo speaker
cut out switch. After all, we have a VHF cockpit speaker with a cutout
switch, and the switch setup looked the same. Turns out the guy took
that shortcut and I was not aware of the problem, and 5 batteries paid
with their life. Ugggg. 

Alex

Bob Keller wrote:
> 
> I have finally overcome my shyness to discuss the solar panels on the Yankee
> Clipper.  I think that each panel charges a battery, I don't think they both
> go to both batteries.  The reason is that there was one battery and one
> panel when I bought the boat, and I brilliantly decided to add a battery and
> a panel.  They are standard General Boats panels (the boat is a '95), so
> they are what, 10 or 15 watts?  But, they don't have a built-in regulator
> which I found out the hard way by frying both batteries.  So, I have a
> regulator (7 amp) that is made by ICP Global designed for use with solar
> panels.  I suspect that I will need one for each battery, but am not sure?
> We (Rummy and I) are going to try tomorrow (Monday, 12/30).  We'll see.
> 
> Bob K
>