Joining solar panel

[Jack Tyler]

Joining solar panel & wind gen output

I was asked a question I'm finding quite puzzling to answer and I'd appreciate hearing what you folks think.The basic issue is how to deliver - concurrently - DC output from solar panels and a wind generator, without the line voltage of one effecting the other. Here's the boat's basic DC wiring set-up, as described by the owner:"I have 2 sets of golf cart batteries wired together for my housebank. I had wired the solar panel and AirX with the negative leads terminating at the shunt for the Link so it can keep track of what they might be adding to the amp hour bank. The positives were wired together and terminated at the battery combiner. I have a seperate starting battery for the # 2 bank on the Link."What he was finding was that the solar panel output voltage was being read by his wind gen, thereby cutting out DC production from the wind gen when the panels were active. Rather than being stuck in an endless role as Switch Jockey, he's asking how he could alter the set-up without a lot of further complication and components, so that both alternative energy sources can efficiently charge the house bank. Any thoughts?Jack

 

[Jack Tyler]

I was asked a question I'm finding quite puzzling to answer and I'd appreciate hearing what you folks think.The basic issue is how to deliver - concurrently - DC output from solar panels and a wind generator, without the line voltage of one effecting the other. Here's the boat's basic DC wiring set-up, as described by the owner:"I have 2 sets of golf cart batteries wired together for my housebank. I had wired the solar panel and AirX with the negative leads terminating at the shunt for the Link so it can keep track of what they might be adding to the amp hour bank. The positives were wired together and terminated at the battery combiner. I have a seperate starting battery for the # 2 bank on the Link."What he was finding was that the solar panel output voltage was being read by his wind gen, thereby cutting out DC production from the wind gen when the panels were active. Rather than being stuck in an endless role as Switch Jockey, he's asking how he could alter the set-up without a lot of further complication and components, so that both alternative energy sources can efficiently charge the house bank. Any thoughts?Jack

 

[Bil Thomas]

Regulator

The setup is dependent upon the charge controller you use. We have a RV Power MPPT charge contoller. It takes the input from either source and determines the max charge that should be applied to the battery.I looked at several while I was reaserching charge controllers that will take the inputs from both.

 

[Bil Thomas]

Regulator

The setup is dependent upon the charge controller you use. We have a RV Power MPPT charge contoller. It takes the input from either source and determines the max charge that should be applied to the battery.I looked at several while I was reaserching charge controllers that will take the inputs from both.

 

[Ruedi Ross]

How big is the solar panel?

And are you using a charge controller on it? If the panel is larger than 20 watts or so, it should be used with a controller. If you wire the panel and Airx in parallel to the house battery, the battery will pull the solar panel voltage down to the battery voltage. If this battery voltage goes above 14.4 volts or so, then it is fully charged and doesn't need any more charging. The combiner should read the house battery voltage and connect both banks together at voltages above about 13.6 The AirX has it's own built in controller to prevent overcharging. Make sure your wire sizing is large enough.

 

[Ruedi Ross]

How big is the solar panel?

And are you using a charge controller on it? If the panel is larger than 20 watts or so, it should be used with a controller. If you wire the panel and Airx in parallel to the house battery, the battery will pull the solar panel voltage down to the battery voltage. If this battery voltage goes above 14.4 volts or so, then it is fully charged and doesn't need any more charging. The combiner should read the house battery voltage and connect both banks together at voltages above about 13.6 The AirX has it's own built in controller to prevent overcharging. Make sure your wire sizing is large enough.

 

[Ruedi Ross]

Oh, Bill

One thing about using a MPPT controller and an AirX together. The airX has its own internal controller and needs to be connected to the battery side of the MPPT controller, not the solar panel side. A MPPT controller lets the panels run at a higher voltage than the output or battery voltage, thats how they work. If the AirX is hooked to the panel side of the controller it sees the higher voltage and thinks the battery is fully charged and will stop outputting current.

 

[Ruedi Ross]

Oh, Bill

One thing about using a MPPT controller and an AirX together. The airX has its own internal controller and needs to be connected to the battery side of the MPPT controller, not the solar panel side. A MPPT controller lets the panels run at a higher voltage than the output or battery voltage, thats how they work. If the AirX is hooked to the panel side of the controller it sees the higher voltage and thinks the battery is fully charged and will stop outputting current.

 

[Bil Thomas]

Solar

We have 480 watts 4x120 kyrocea. I am not sure how the AirX is setup. Does it have a seperate sensor wire or is the reading picked up from the the battery inputs. It may be possible to shunt the sensor wire if that is the case.Here is the link to the manual. The manufacute may be able to answer. We use an unregulated gnerator.http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/pdf/SB50ManualF.pdf

 

[Bil Thomas]

Solar

We have 480 watts 4x120 kyrocea. I am not sure how the AirX is setup. Does it have a seperate sensor wire or is the reading picked up from the the battery inputs. It may be possible to shunt the sensor wire if that is the case.Here is the link to the manual. The manufacute may be able to answer. We use an unregulated gnerator.http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/pdf/SB50ManualF.pdf

 

[Tom McMaster]

I'm the Trouble Maker

The panel is a 120 Kyrocera and I'm using a very basic low cost charge controller. I confess I installed the controller before reading the directions all the way through and so the controller is further from the batteries than recommended. I could easily move it closer. Just guessing I think the run one way from both the solar and wind is 15 feet max. I'm using # 10 wire which I think is okay for that run. If I read Bill correctly, he's stating that I could run the positive lead from the AirX to the battery side of the charge controller, and let the controller determine if both units would charge at once? It is correct that the AirX has a built in regulator that is user adjustable, however I don't want to go down that road if another option is available.

 

[Tom McMaster]

I'm the Trouble Maker

The panel is a 120 Kyrocera and I'm using a very basic low cost charge controller. I confess I installed the controller before reading the directions all the way through and so the controller is further from the batteries than recommended. I could easily move it closer. Just guessing I think the run one way from both the solar and wind is 15 feet max. I'm using # 10 wire which I think is okay for that run. If I read Bill correctly, he's stating that I could run the positive lead from the AirX to the battery side of the charge controller, and let the controller determine if both units would charge at once? It is correct that the AirX has a built in regulator that is user adjustable, however I don't want to go down that road if another option is available.

 

[Jeff Bole]

I had the same problem...

Long ago, I read the AirX instructions. I believe that they recommended wiring the wind gen to the opposite end of the battery bank from the solar panel(s). According to them, and if the bank is big enough, the AirX will be reading something close to true battery voltage regardless of the solar input.It didn't work with my small bank and I became the switch jockey. It wasn't too bad as the AirX gave me more power than I could use. If I was to leave the boat for awhile, I'd turn the AirX off and let the solar panel keep up with the anchor light and bilge pump loads.

 

[Jeff Bole]

I had the same problem...

Long ago, I read the AirX instructions. I believe that they recommended wiring the wind gen to the opposite end of the battery bank from the solar panel(s). According to them, and if the bank is big enough, the AirX will be reading something close to true battery voltage regardless of the solar input.It didn't work with my small bank and I became the switch jockey. It wasn't too bad as the AirX gave me more power than I could use. If I was to leave the boat for awhile, I'd turn the AirX off and let the solar panel keep up with the anchor light and bilge pump loads.

 

[Gord May]

Multiple-Source Controllers

A couple of products from Flexcharge http://www.flexcharge.com/ - both of which permit Multiple-Source charging.NC 25A / 12 charge controller,12 volts, 25 amps for solar, wind, hydro or a combination.http://www.flexcharge.com/flexcharge_usa/manuals/nc25a_manual.pdfThe NCHC allows you to charge your battery(s) from photovoltaic modules and / or a wind or hydro generator as well as most d.c. power sources such as outboard motors, battery chargers and power supplies.http://www.flexcharge.com/flexcharge_usa/manuals/nchc_manual.pdfIt appears (to me) that “RV Power Products” (now Blue Sky Energy, Inc.) Controllers do NOT support Multiple-Source Charging.http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/HTH,Gord

 

[Gord May]

Multiple-Source Controllers

A couple of products from Flexcharge http://www.flexcharge.com/ - both of which permit Multiple-Source charging.NC 25A / 12 charge controller,12 volts, 25 amps for solar, wind, hydro or a combination.http://www.flexcharge.com/flexcharge_usa/manuals/nc25a_manual.pdfThe NCHC allows you to charge your battery(s) from photovoltaic modules and / or a wind or hydro generator as well as most d.c. power sources such as outboard motors, battery chargers and power supplies.http://www.flexcharge.com/flexcharge_usa/manuals/nchc_manual.pdfIt appears (to me) that “RV Power Products” (now Blue Sky Energy, Inc.) Controllers do NOT support Multiple-Source Charging.http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/HTH,Gord

 

[Bil Thomas]

RV Power products

Don't disregard RVPower Products. They do support multi source charging and the setup is identifed in the manual. We have the the Solarboost 50.

 

[Bil Thomas]

RV Power products

Don't disregard RVPower Products. They do support multi source charging and the setup is identifed in the manual. We have the the Solarboost 50.

 

[Gord May]

Bill ?

Bill:Thanks for correcting me: "RVPower Products do support multi source charging and the setup is identifed in the manual."Can you direct me to the appropriate section?Thanx,Gord

 

[Gord May]

Bill ?

Bill:Thanks for correcting me: "RVPower Products do support multi source charging and the setup is identifed in the manual."Can you direct me to the appropriate section?Thanx,Gord