solar charge controller - anchor light

Sumner · Mar 21, 2010

walt said:
................and will probably set the controller to turn the anchor light on for 4 hours or so after sunset.........

Walt is that an option? I didn't see that in......

.....the lighting control options, but maybe I don't understand them fully.

I bought one of these.....

http://www.solarblvd.com/product_in...ver-SS-10-10A--12V-Pwm-Charge-Controller.html

.....recently when I got the 80 watt panel, but if they will take it back (I haven't installed it) I'm thinking real seriously about spending the extra, quite a bit, for one of the MPPT controllers for around $200. For the stuff we want to run now and in the future I'm trying to maximize the solar panels and there is only so much room to put them on the boat, so trying to get the most out of them with a MPPT controller seems the way to go. If I understand them it is almost like adding a larger solar array.

I'm going to give them a call. So far I've been real happy with SolarBlvd.com. I hope to add an additional 60 watt panel if I can fit it. That would give us a total of 180 watts and with that I don't think we would have to run the generator very much at all even with the frig.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/inside-22.html
...and the .......................

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/Comp-ChartPlot-Index.html

.......... chartplotter running most of the time.

I think the light controller would be a nice investment for the way you moor your boat. Can you buy a separate one to just put on that line or are they all 110 volts. Looks like it might not be too hard of a circuit for you to design and build with your background.

The MPPT controller I'm leaning towards is the .....

http://www.solarblvd.com/product_in...2512iX-25A-12V-3-Stage-Charge-Controller.html

.....2512iX as it has battery equalization included and says it also has

With software version 2.00 or later the auxiliary output can also provide fully adjustable dusk to dawn lighting control.

....and it has the option for a separate 2 amp charger. I'm wonder if I mounted a smaller motorcycle battery back by the outboard and then use this charger on it for a starter battery. I'll have to think more about the implications of doing that. Does the Nissan/Tohatsu use the same wire for charging and for the starter? Guess I'll look for the online manual.

Good luck,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

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Sumner · Mar 22, 2010

walt said:
Yes, only one +/- wire set.......... I don't know if my Honda charging systems was damaged .....

Thanks, I'm still debating with myself if I want to run heavier wiring back than the 8 gauge. I guess I'll try it and see if the outboard kicks over good.

I never checked my Honda, but think it wasn't/isn't putting out anything,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

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flynfol · Mar 23, 2010

I found the mppt controller really helps in the morning and evening when the panels are cool. (before 1000 and after 1600 or if your batteries are really low) In the heat of the day when you have good sun, there is less of a "boost" (winter time, very cold outside...different story..I have seen it max out at 26.5 amps in the winter...I have the forerunner of the 2512)....I check it all the time(mine has a switch to show panel current verus boost current. If it were me, I'd save the money on the mppt controller and buy another panel. Realistically an 80 watt panel will give you a real 60 watts(on a hot,sunny, summer day). (I added some pics on my profile)

Sumner · Mar 23, 2010

flynfol said:
................ If it were me, I'd save the money on the mppt controller and buy another panel. Realistically an 80 watt panel will give you a real 60 watts(on a hot,sunny, summer day). (I added some pics on my profile)

I'd agree with that John, but there is only so much room for the panels. I have a 40 watt and an 80 watt now. I'm going to put the 80 where.....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-22.html

....the 40 is and then want to put a panel on the side over the....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor/outside-13.html

.....gas driven alternator. Either a 40 or 60 there and put the 40 I have now hopefully on the top of the slide hatch on top of the pop-top or forward of it. I want that to be on a quick disconnect mount, so I can put it there or store it below easily.

So if I can add a 60 to the 40 and 80 I have that will give me 180 and I can't see anyplace that I can really add another panel. If the MPPT helps by even 10% overall that would be like adding another 20 watts or so. Not a lot, but it all adds up.

Now all of this is of course overkill for some one day sailing, weekend sailing or even going out for maybe a week. We hope to maybe be out for up to 3 months at a time and don't use marinas, so we have to supply all of our electrical needs. Of course anytime we fall short I can start up the generator, but the less we have to do that the better. I figure the MPPT controller is about $150 more than the Morningstar PWM I bought. So lets say we use it over 5 years, that is only $30 a year difference (about 10 gallons of gas money wise), and 15 to 25 more watts we get all of the time we are using the boat.

They said they would take the one back and apply what we paid for it to the MPPT, so I think we will do it and be done with it. I also like the options of the controlled circuit for lighting or whatever or the 2 amp charger circuit if we want to use that to charge a small motorcycle battery right at the outboard.

Do you have the battery temp sensor hooked up? Looks like that is needed to really take advantage of the cooler periods you talked about. I don't need the optional display panel for voltage and charge/discharge amps as I have a good digital voltmeter and amp meter now.

Have you been happy with the Blue Sky controller? I think you can still get that one. Nice pictures and it looks like you have a really nice setup for your power there. I love what the 40 watt panel has done and look forward to the other panels. I'd like to also start adding them to our house at some point now that the cost has come down.

When I built the house and wired it I ran a second set of wires throughout the house and put in outlets just below the 110 outlets hoping to put 12 volts on that circuit at some point and use 12 volt appliance/lights and such throughout the house as a backup to the 110 and become more dependent on them over time. I've also always wanted to add some wind generated power and might still do that. Right now the ..............

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/newhouse/newhouse43.html

....................green house heats the shop 90% of the time and the sun-room...........

.......... supplies over 50% of the heat to the house. We heat with wood and about 3 small logs in the morning and evening heat the house even with a winter....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/misc-pics-11.html

.....like the one we had. About 2 to 2 1/2 cords of wood for the house/shop together. So winter heat is about $250 total for the winter. Not bad. I can't understand why so few people still don't take advantage of the sun. I'm not as much green as I am cheap

.

c ya,

Sum

Our Trips to Lake Powell, UT - Kootenay Lake, Canada - Priest Lake, ID

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flynfol · Mar 23, 2010

Sums says: ..... I can't understand why so few people still don't take advantage of the sun. I'm not as much green as I am cheap

.

I think you will see more of it in the future. We are behind Europe in that regard.

I walk around the house now in the winter, opening all the south facing blinds, telling my kids it is a solar heat day.........they think I'm nuts. Wait til they have their own house and OWN electric/gas bill

Great planning on the house.. We have 12VDC wiring also....mainly for fans. I used the small 220VAC (20 amp...I think) outlets for the DC(so you can't plug regular 110VAC plugs into them). Too much lost in the conversion for AC fans.

You have done the math in terms of long term use(but you are right,every little bit helps), so makes sense. For short term(dollar for dollar), I think an extra panel will produce more during peak sun, than what an mppt controller will give you.(do them both:dance

The temp sensor on mine ( I have two....one from the solar controller and one from the inverter/charger) has more to do with battery temp. 500 lbs of battery is alot of mass. It could be 80 outside and the batteries are still at 50. They are in an insulated box. They need higher voltage in winter and lower voltage in summer. Works good.....no fuss. Has worked FLAWLESSLY for years now. For that matter, the whole dang thing has

Be careful when you equalize, volts can get up to 15-16 volts(again...depending on battery temp), and may damage other devices. If I equalize with the solar, it will shut down the inverter, the it oscillates as the voltage jumps up and down.

My next house is going to have wind, solar, geothermal(heat pump),solar hot water. Just waiting for the economy.

Sumner · Mar 23, 2010

flynfol said:
.......Be careful when you equalize, volts can get up to 15-16 volts(again...depending on battery temp), and may damage other devices. If I equalize with the solar, it will shut down the inverter, the it oscillates as the voltage jumps up and down.....

The more I read about equalizing the more I wonder if I have more to possibly loose. Batteries aren't that expensive, about as much as one night's stay at a motel, and we don't do that often so we have battery credits built up

.

I read where they say to have everything off and then they start talking about if the cases start to crack.....stop and stuff like that.

Here is a pretty good link I found on it....

http://www.xantrex.com/web/id/257/DocServe.aspx

c ya and thanks for the info,

Sum

flynfol · Mar 23, 2010

Looking at it that way.....you're right. How many a/h are you planning on drawing down every night? If you can see bubbles during your charge cycle, then I wouldn't worry about the equalize charge. I only equalize twice a year, but then 6 golf cart batteries aren't cheap. I forgot what year I put those batteries in, but they are at least 8 years old and still have pretty good capacity. I did build one of those de-sulfators from an online schematic and it is installed in the battery box.(it is sealed) I can't tell you if it helps or not because it has always been on there. Probably not a good test sample.

John

ps. never had any issues other than making lots of hydrogen during equalizing(and the inverter drop out, so I only use the inverter charger now)......no smoking

Sumner · Mar 23, 2010

flynfol said:
...............How many a/h are you planning on drawing down every night? ...........

................ never had any issues other than making lots of hydrogen during equalizing......no smoking

The CPAP machine uses 35-40 a/h most nights. If we use the chart plotter say for about 5 hours during the day that is about 15 a/h and the frig would probably be about 30/40 a/h and don't know about the depth finder? So let's say 95 a/h a day total. The 180 watts in panels, might be close and I can make up the difference with the generator.

The hydrogen you mentioned was the other deal I worried about with the one battery under the sink and the other under the extended V-berth. I wouldn't want to equalize while out on the water, but maybe at home might work when I could keep the boat aired out and check for any problems that might happen. Looks like you are getting really good life from your batteries. Anything I get over about 2 years with the Walmart RV batteries is a bonus I feel. They will work past that, but just don't seem to have as much charge. That though is using them in the teardrop where they don't get as good of care as in the boat.

C ya,

Sum

flynfol · Apr 15, 2010

With the high cost of solar panels and associated electronics......wouldn't hurt to have a lightning surge protector in the circuit. Your likelihood of near strike induced damage goes up with exposed metal(frames,wiring,etc.) Won't help with a direct strike, but will will a close one.

http://store.solar-electric.com/deliar.html

John

Robspan · Apr 15, 2010

For all you minimalists out there, I use a Davis Mega Light at anchor, with an led bulb from this company - http://www.marinebeam.com/damelirele.html
I got the 15 led bulb and it's BRIGHT - all the light you need for the cockpit, and works great as an anchor light. It uses no more amperage than the small dim bulb that comes with the light.

MrBill_FLL · Apr 15, 2010

Robspan said:
For all you minimalists out there, I use a Davis Mega Light at anchor, with an led bulb from this company - http://www.marinebeam.com/damelirele.html
I got the 15 led bulb and it's BRIGHT - all the light you need for the cockpit, and works great as an anchor light. It uses no more amperage than the small dim bulb that comes with the light.

that is what I use... how much brighter? (than before)

have you been a distance away from the boat with the davis (LED) light on? do you think its 2 miles complaint now?

(and did you get COOl White, or Warm White?)

Robspan · Apr 15, 2010

Mr. Bill,
If I had to guess, I'd say it's 4 or 5 times brighter.
I got the Warm White, figuring that it would be easier on the eyes when using it in the cockpit.
It's bright from about a block away, and I have no doubt that it's 2 miles compliant.

MrBill_FLL · Apr 15, 2010

THANK YOU! I'm ordering the warm white...

I hang my light off the backstay,(on a string), and the pigtail for the boom, and raise or lower as needed to cook and eat in the cockpit... (the bottom opening of the light luminates the cockpit nicely for eating, while still useful as a warning...)

then, when going to bed, I raise it above the boom, for 360degree visability..

Robspan · Apr 16, 2010

I attach it to the main halyard, with a messenger line to an after cleat. That makes it easy to adjust the height, and keeps it away from the mast, which might shield it. I don't like to raise it too high as an anchor light because where I anchor, the greatest risk is small motorboats taking off before dawn. I think they look more ahead than up.

solar charge controller - anchor light

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