[Rhodes22-list] Question, Solar panel regulator.

[Bob Keller]

Alex,
You are so right.  As Rummy suspected, once we traced the rat's nest wiring 
job done at GB, we found a blue wire labeled "solar."  (Could have saved 30 
minutes if we had seen that sooner.)  Anyway, my batteries and panels are 
wired in series, so both panels charge both batteries and both batteries 
work together and cannot be isolated from each other.  That made it fairly 
easy to tie in the regulator to both batteries and both panels.  Next, I did 
not buy the $42 Costco batteries that I really wanted and let Rummy convince 
me that the $75 Interstate batteries were the way to go.  Bought two new 
ones and am now topping off the charge on them as I watch Fear Factor.  I 
think the next episode they should have to rewire my boat.

The regulator appears to work because we covered the panels and the charge 
light went off.  Will see if the other light goes on when the batteries are 
at full charge.  Hopefully the problem is fixed now with this regulator.  I 
shrunk the size of the batteries in this process as I had a Group 31 & 27 
and now have two group 24 deep cycle batteries.   Should be more than enough 
for instruments, lights and stereo.

Sailed a little today on Hartwell, but the wind died so we motored and drank 
(not necessarily in that order).
Bob K






>From: Alex Bell <alexbell@coastalnet.com>
>Reply-To: alexbell@coastalnet.com,The Rhodes 22 mail list 
><rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
>To: The Rhodes 22 mail list <rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org>
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Question, Solar panel regulator.
>Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 17:42:58 -0500
>
>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
> >
>_________________________________________________
>Use Rhodes22-list@rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list


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