Charge controllers?

[MikeH]

On our 26 footer we've been able to use a battery combiner to share charging between the house bank and the starting battey from our outboard 9.9HP 10A motor and a 32W solar panel under various circumstances. You can assume that we use the panel for trickle charging while sailing or anchored, and the motor for more powerful charging that is adequate for the 109 AH house bank. This arrangement has worked fine for several years. We also have a 110v charger we use occasionally at dock.We're now considering a wind generator so we can add more amps when sailing and run the motor's alternator less at dock or when anchored. With these various charging sources we think we need a charge controller to avoid cooking batteries in the worst case.There are many out there, from Sunsei to Xantrex and more. Can anyone offer positive or negative reviews of specific units from their experience? Many thanks!

 

[Fred]

Mike, do you get by OK with a 32

watt solar panel with no charge controller?

 

[Chuck Creel]

charge controllers

I am currently installing a 130watt panel and system on my hunter 30.If you are running a 32 watt panel with no controler ,, you stand a good chance of cooking your batteries.Wind systems have a huilt in controller/ regulator.This is where i purchased my sytem after lots and lots of research.Wholesale solar

 

[Rick I]

Sorry Chuck, you're wrong

about wind systems having their own built in controller/regulator. Most of them don't. You can install a regulator or watch the voltage and shut it off when it gets too high. I have owned a Windbugger and a KISS, neither has a built in regulator.http://groups.yahoo.com/group/beneteau393/beneteau393 : Beneteau393 Group

 

[Chuck Creel]

correction

Sorry Rick,guess i should have said " the ones i looked at " .

 

[Landsend]

mike you could install another battery...

in parallel your house battery bank and get rid of the charge controller. This would absorbe the extra charge (which I doubt you have) and give you more amps available without the cost of a windmill.

 

[dave]

solar systems

Check with the folks at Hamilton Ferris I had them put together a 110 panel, automatic charge controller with panel and battery monitor with stern rail mounts. Great price, better service and top quality components.Very easy to do and I have had zero problems with the mounting, installing and it has been 7 months now with a trouble free system on my Sabre 38.dave

 

[MikeH]

Thanks for the input

Chuck - that site has a good charge controller variety; did you buy one? Which?Dave - that looks like a great company, thanks for the recommendation!Regarding cooking, my 32 watt solar panel would theoretically generate 2.3 amps at 14 volts (W=VxA). In practice it generates only 1-2 amps, even at peak efficiency. With the battery combiner, when the 109AH house bank is charged, the starting battery (50 AH) is automatically brought on line. Two amps flowing on sunny days into a total of 159 Amp-hours of battery capacity hasn't cooked them yet in 3 years.

 

[Fred Ficarra]

One thing Mike

Be sure to ask-around other sailors in your area about wind generators. See if they are even feasible in your location. Often they aren't.

 

[camaraderie]

Mike...about that panel...

Mike...I think you may be wrong about your solar panel. VOLTAGE is what will damage your batteries if unregulated and there are quite a few 32 watt range panels that put our MORE than 14.5V in full sunlight. I have no idea what brand you are using but for example, the uni-solar us-32 model has the following specs:SpecificationsRated power: 32 WattsOperating Voltage: 16.5 VoltsOperating Current: 1.94 AmpsSo...you can see that you could be putting in 16.5 volts into your batts...not recommended. Thankfully the amps are also small but I would be regulating that panel with an cheap regulator.As for wind regulators...check out this one:http://www.morningstarcorp.com/products/TriStar/info/TS_DataSheet.pdfI like it cause you can use EXCESS voltage when the wind is blowing hard or has already charged your batteries to run it to your water heater. Nice to warm things up without running the engine!

 

[Chuck Creel]

Controllers

I bought the morninstart ps-15 " 15 amp charger" because it has the capability of handling a 2nd 130w panel.Dont think i,ll need the 2nd panel because after the installation, The kyocera 130w panel is charging at 7.3 amps and voltage outpuit is 13.6v measured with didgital meter at the controller. under no load conditions the panel cranks out 21v read straight off the panel itself. Really depends on hyour load you need to supply. I only want to run my ice box conversion and maybe a vhf which is less than 7 amps.Hope this info helps.if you need help determining loads this site has a neet solar calculator.www.icpsolar.com