Charging 2 12V batteries with one panel & controller

Southcoasting

Southcoasting

.
Oct 27, 2011
6
Tartan 27 Yawl New Bedford/Fairhaven
Hi Mainesail!

I always follow your DIY as they're easy and straightforward to follow for all especially beginners like myself...

So I'm almost ready to install a solar panel on my boat but trying to figure out, how exactly can I wire my Genasun controller to charge my two batteries? Will I even be able to? Will I have to buy another controller to charge two batteries?
 
M

mitiempo

.
Sep 28, 2008
922
Canadian Sailcraft CS27 Victoria B.C.
I have installed the Morningstar Sunsaver Duo controller - It's a great solution for someone without an ACR or Echo to take care of the second battery.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Southcoasting said:
Hi Mainesail!

I always follow your DIY as they're easy and straightforward to follow for all especially beginners like myself...

So I'm almost ready to install a solar panel on my boat but trying to figure out, how exactly can I wire my Genasun controller to charge my two batteries? Will I even be able to? Will I have to buy another controller to charge two batteries?
Click to expand
If you want to charge two banks they would need to be in parallel or you need a charge management device like an ACR or battery to battery charger.. The ProLatch-R is a unique combining relay that uses just .5mA when combined and in stand by. They are specifically designed for solar charging where you don't want to give up solar gain to power a standard ACR or Battery to Battery charger.

The Genasun is designed to charge one bank but you will get more out of it than you will with a PWM controller. My panel is rated at 80W and I watched it hit 5.5A today with the Genasun. That is nearly a 20% boost over the panels rated output. This MPPT boost was in APRIL in Maine!!!
 
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