NotCook
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- Dec 29, 2008
- 805
I do like this approach. The problem with putting two in series in parallel is that in almost any case, at least one of our panels will have shade from the mast or boom. We have one panel on the davits, one on the pilot house, and one on each side. Yet, to get 24V, obviously I will have to series in some combination.You could do what Misfits did, if your controller is programmable for either 12v or 24v output. My Hamilton Ferris MPPT controller has this capability, and, with the transfer switch, could charge either system. In addition, the MPPT controller charges the batteries through the proper stages of charge, and maintains a float charge. My boat's battery charger doesn't do this, so I generally leave it off, even when hooked up to shore power.
I am still wondering if I can just add a second controller to charge each 24V bank individually as 12V batteries. Cables from the controller (12V) to each 12V battery, even while they are separately connected to the load in series as a 24V bank. That way, both individual batteries in the 24V bank get charged as individual 12V batteries. The second part of this is, can I actually connect two controllers in parallel to the same panels, each drawing what they can as available. Typically, the 12V house bank will not be constantly be drawn upon except when the fridge is running, other than the float on the bank. That would leave the bulk of the current to go to the other 12V controller which is servicing the individual 12V batteries in the 24V banks. No switching involved, no reprogramming involved, to service both voltages.
I don't know what I don't know...