I am installing 2 -60 watt solar panels over my bimini. The current will be around 7 amps to feed to my system. I am using a 10 amp charge controller.The batteries are 4- 6 volt batteries with about 400 amp hours+ (each 2 in series ,then the 2 sets in parallel for 12 volts). My question is : what is the best way to connect to my house bank system from the charge controller . 1) to the battery switch? or, 2) directly to the posiitive terminal of the house bank ? (The starting battery has it's own small solar panel). I expect to put a 10 amp fuse in the positive line, at the battery if going directly to the battery. Appreciate your suggestions on this. Pete~~~ H280 Eastern Sky
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Solar Panel Connections
Pete Connect it directly to the house bank. Why waste any situation where voltage drop could occur through those longer wires. Your separate solar panel for the starting battery is a great idea, or you could use a battery combiner or echo charger to combine the charge to both by combining the panels, too. Either way, it sounds great. Stu
Pete Connect it directly to the house bank. Why waste any situation where voltage drop could occur through those longer wires. Your separate solar panel for the starting battery is a great idea, or you could use a battery combiner or echo charger to combine the charge to both by combining the panels, too. Either way, it sounds great. Stu
I connected mine to the battery switch . . .
I figured it would give me more flexibility. I have one of those two battery rotary swithes. So you get "1 Only", "2 only", "Both" and "Off". I connected things so that these switch positions gave me "Solar Charging", "Battery only", "Battery + Solar" and "Off". I leave the boat in the "Solar" position to charge and then switch it to "Battery+Solar" when I use power. Either way, direct to the battery or through a switch, it should work fine. Regards, Ted
I figured it would give me more flexibility. I have one of those two battery rotary swithes. So you get "1 Only", "2 only", "Both" and "Off". I connected things so that these switch positions gave me "Solar Charging", "Battery only", "Battery + Solar" and "Off". I leave the boat in the "Solar" position to charge and then switch it to "Battery+Solar" when I use power. Either way, direct to the battery or through a switch, it should work fine. Regards, Ted
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