[Rhodes22-list] Solar Controller

[Mike Riter]

I added 125 watts of solar to my boat via a flexible panel mounted on the
Bimini. I only put it on there when we go out for multi day trips. I bought
a Victron Connect 75/15 solar controller to manage the charge to the two
lead acid batteries on board. According to Victron the controller should be
placed in the same space as the batteries as it monitors temperature as
well as voltage, wattage, etc. So I mounted it right in the battery box. I
really like that it connects to my iPad via Bluetooth and displays all the
pertinent data at a glance.

Mike Riter
SV Emma B

On Tue, Jun 8, 2021 at 5:50 PM S/V Lark <Colealexander at hotmail.com> wrote:

> The trickle cells probably won't overtop the batteries, toasting them.
> Probably.    I added a pair between the solar cells and batteries last
> year,
> when I replaced a faulty cell.   One lives in the battery box by the V
> berth, next to the main switch.  The other is in the little storage nook
> under the companionway.   I looked at it as an inexpensive way to add a
> voltage gauge and USB ports for phone or IPad (Navionics) charger.   The
> negative is parasitic drain during winter layup.   I did the math, the
> milliamps added up from November to April.    The manufacturer cautions
> that
> a solar cell hooked to the controller but not to a batter would damage the
> controller.   I covered my solar cells and disconnected the batteries.  A
> smarter person would have wired in a switch.
>
> Alex
>
>
>
> -----
> Alex Cole
> S/V Lark
> --
> Sent from: http://rhodes-22.1065344.n5.nabble.com/
>
-- 
Michael Riter
President, Trail Design Specialists, Inc.
Lead Instructor, Trail Master and mechanized training
mike at traildesign.com
678-410-8021