The PO has a kind of mishmash of exposed wiring and I'm trying to figure out what is good and what isn't as I rebuild. It will likely look like a horror story to many of you but this is where I'm at. Some of it is done quite well, I'm pretty sure.
Anyway...questions...some with pictures
1) There's some 2 way trailer park connections between the solar panel and the charge controller. I'm assuming these are totally a no-go. But if my solar panel terminates in MC4 cables, how am I supposed to get from the MC4 cables to the charge controller? I have to terminate those lines in something other than MC4 cables, no?
2) This is the wiring throughout the boat. Adequate?
3) I have two of these batteries (I have no inboard, so these are purely for the electrical system and charged currently by 1 100w Renogy Solar Panel).
I was a bad boy with the boat in a number of ways this winter (Learning process!). This is where they are at at the moment (I know I have the poles reversed!). Have I done them damage?
3) This is the switch and the controller as they stand. I understand that the controller is crap ($20 on ebay). Is the switch reasonable? I'm planning to replace the controller with a Genasun Controller. Ideally I'd like to add a second 50w or 100w panel. So I'm leaning towards this controller which would give me some space to expand. I assume that this controller would work with a 100w panel and my two 12v batteries but allow me to upgrade to 150 or 200w?
https://genasun.com/all-products/solar-charge-controllers/for-lead/gvb-8a-pb-solar-boost-controller/
Sorry for the open ended questions but I'm trying to puzzle out how to upgrade this system. My plan is to move the batteries back out of the cabin to a new spot under the cabin sole. Move the controller and the switch out of the bilge. Get rid of the trailer park connectors and any non-marine grade wire. Upgrade the controller to MPPT. Change lights out to LEDS.
Any suggestions/things I'm missing/ETC?
For the record, this is the panel as it stands. I don't love it or the location but it's been functional so far. I would love to replace it with something that has more switches at some point. But that won't happen this year.
Thanks
Paul
Anyway...questions...some with pictures
1) There's some 2 way trailer park connections between the solar panel and the charge controller. I'm assuming these are totally a no-go. But if my solar panel terminates in MC4 cables, how am I supposed to get from the MC4 cables to the charge controller? I have to terminate those lines in something other than MC4 cables, no?
2) This is the wiring throughout the boat. Adequate?
3) I have two of these batteries (I have no inboard, so these are purely for the electrical system and charged currently by 1 100w Renogy Solar Panel).
I was a bad boy with the boat in a number of ways this winter (Learning process!). This is where they are at at the moment (I know I have the poles reversed!). Have I done them damage?
3) This is the switch and the controller as they stand. I understand that the controller is crap ($20 on ebay). Is the switch reasonable? I'm planning to replace the controller with a Genasun Controller. Ideally I'd like to add a second 50w or 100w panel. So I'm leaning towards this controller which would give me some space to expand. I assume that this controller would work with a 100w panel and my two 12v batteries but allow me to upgrade to 150 or 200w?
https://genasun.com/all-products/solar-charge-controllers/for-lead/gvb-8a-pb-solar-boost-controller/
Sorry for the open ended questions but I'm trying to puzzle out how to upgrade this system. My plan is to move the batteries back out of the cabin to a new spot under the cabin sole. Move the controller and the switch out of the bilge. Get rid of the trailer park connectors and any non-marine grade wire. Upgrade the controller to MPPT. Change lights out to LEDS.
Any suggestions/things I'm missing/ETC?
For the record, this is the panel as it stands. I don't love it or the location but it's been functional so far. I would love to replace it with something that has more switches at some point. But that won't happen this year.
Thanks
Paul
