charger on eBay. Can it be hooked to the two (2)Battery bank directly on my 26X? Someplace I thought I read that if you went over a certain number of watts, you neede a "Controller" to regulate the input. Thanks in advance for any help on this.
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Depends
You need a regulator if the output of the panel is greater than 1 1/2% of the amp hour capacity of the battery bank to which it is connected. Not clear how your boat is set up. You wrote: "the two (2)Battery bank." Singular on bank, confusing, most likely two batteries with a 1-2-B switch. You could wire the positive output of the panel to the C post on the switch, but the downside is you'd have to leave your switch on both when you leave the boat and the higher powered battery would discharge into the lower one. You may have to just bite the bullet and chose one of the batteries and connect the panel to that one. That's what I'd recommend with your relatively small charger, since even if you have Group 27 batteries in each bank, you could hook it up to one bank. Also be careful about voltage. If you have wet cells you're OK, but gel cells will need the regulator regardless of size of banks, because gels need to be limited to 14.1 volts or else th batteries will fry. Others may have different ideas about how to hook the two up without having the switch ON without the complications of combiners or echo chargers.
You need a regulator if the output of the panel is greater than 1 1/2% of the amp hour capacity of the battery bank to which it is connected. Not clear how your boat is set up. You wrote: "the two (2)Battery bank." Singular on bank, confusing, most likely two batteries with a 1-2-B switch. You could wire the positive output of the panel to the C post on the switch, but the downside is you'd have to leave your switch on both when you leave the boat and the higher powered battery would discharge into the lower one. You may have to just bite the bullet and chose one of the batteries and connect the panel to that one. That's what I'd recommend with your relatively small charger, since even if you have Group 27 batteries in each bank, you could hook it up to one bank. Also be careful about voltage. If you have wet cells you're OK, but gel cells will need the regulator regardless of size of banks, because gels need to be limited to 14.1 volts or else th batteries will fry. Others may have different ideas about how to hook the two up without having the switch ON without the complications of combiners or echo chargers.
Make sure the solar panel has a blocking diode
This will stop the solar panel fron draining the batterys down at night. If not you can buy one at radio shack and they will tell you how to wire it in.
This will stop the solar panel fron draining the batterys down at night. If not you can buy one at radio shack and they will tell you how to wire it in.
Solar Panel
If you are trying to charge 2 batteries at the same time you need to look into isolating the batteries. A battery isolator with your panel would be a low cost fix. Most, but not all solar panels operate in excess of 16 volts. A 13 watt panel will produce approx 1 amp if it is a 12 volt panel. As far as overcharging the batteries, one amp split between 2 batteries wouldn't be a problem. Sail On... Terry
If you are trying to charge 2 batteries at the same time you need to look into isolating the batteries. A battery isolator with your panel would be a low cost fix. Most, but not all solar panels operate in excess of 16 volts. A 13 watt panel will produce approx 1 amp if it is a 12 volt panel. As far as overcharging the batteries, one amp split between 2 batteries wouldn't be a problem. Sail On... Terry
Thanks
and yes I have the wet 2 batteries, off-1-2-both switch. I also have an onboard-installed battery charger(110v)going to the double bank panel. The charger works, I can see even when the battery switch is in the off position. I was think of running the solar leads through that charger. Maybe you could also tell me if that is okay. Thanks again
and yes I have the wet 2 batteries, off-1-2-both switch. I also have an onboard-installed battery charger(110v)going to the double bank panel. The charger works, I can see even when the battery switch is in the off position. I was think of running the solar leads through that charger. Maybe you could also tell me if that is okay. Thanks again
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