<span class="highlight">solar</span> <span class="highlight">panel</span> regulator

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 09:51

ThreadID: 117490 Views:2519 Replies:4 FollowUps:11

This Thread has been Archived

Solar Power

This article covers every aspect of solar and its design and installation in RVs (camper trailers, caravans and motor homes). It shows how much power solar panels really produce,

Solar That Really Works

Section: Shop

Solar That Really Works! (3rd edition) covers every aspect of solar in camper trailers, motor homes and both conventional and fifth wheeler caravans. It explains what everything does,

Member - nick b

G,day : I need to replace solar reg on a 120 amp older panel , would a 10 A mppt do the job , can get one $ 40 on ebay (aus dealer) any suggestions welcomed ....
cheers

Cheers Nick b

Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: HKB Electronics - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 10:02

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 10:02

I think you mean a 120W panel, and yes a 10A would be just big enough.

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 552477

Follow Up By: grant t1 - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 10:10

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 10:10

I would go for the 30A model,just a bit more $

FollowupID: 838047

Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 10:10

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 10:10

yer 120watt !! cheers for that .....

Cheers Nick b

Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

FollowupID: 838048

Follow Up By: Member - nick b - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 10:13

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 10:13

Grant , thats a big jump ??? 10A to 30A

Cheers Nick b

Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

FollowupID: 838050

Follow Up By: grant t1 - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 10:38

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 10:38

we dont know what he's sucking out of the regulator on the output side.

FollowupID: 838051

Follow Up By: grant t1 - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 11:33

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 11:33

you wont get a mppt regulator for $40, you'll find it's only labelled MPPT but has no MPPT electronics inside it

FollowupID: 838054

Follow Up By: HKB Electronics - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 12:25

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 12:25

It's a 120W panel, it will unlikely to be a to supply 10A to the regulator, therefore you will not be able to draw more than 10A from the panel.

Granted if the regulator is also being used as a low voltage cutout then he will need to ensure the load doesn't exceed 10A but as it hasn't been a problem before why would it become one now?

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

FollowupID: 838060

Follow Up By: Rangiephil - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 16:37

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 16:37

I have a 120W panel and an MPPT controller at the battery end of a 10metre 8 gauge wire.
The most I have ever seen is 8 amps output through My ABR gauge.

So IMHO a 10 amp controller is plenty.

I have an Australian produced GSL MPPT and it works very well with the panels linked in series rather than parallel. The controller automatically detects the battery voltage and drops the 36 volts or so to around 14.
Regards Philip A

FollowupID: 838074

Follow Up By: oldtrack123 - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 19:04

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 19:04

Hi
10A is about the MAX charging current that you would ever get out of a 120W panel ,with aMPPT reg.
MPPT reg ratings are based on output current
BUt if you are thinking of installing more panels, you should think about a higher rated reg

PeterQ

FollowupID: 838086

Follow Up By: HKB Electronics - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 19:39

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 19:39

I think what Grant t1 was referring to above was the load current. For instance my Projecta solar control is also a battery manager. Standard setup, 20A solar controller, battery connected to the battery terminals, solar panels to the solar terminals, load to load terminals.

It monitors charge into and out of the battery, catch 22 is the controller is rated at 20A, if you try and draw more than 20 amps from the battery the overload protection trips and disconnects the battery, therefore in this case the controller not only needs to be dimensioned on the solar input but also on the peak demand.

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

FollowupID: 838089

Reply By: Member - Bruce C (NSW) - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 21:02

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 21:02

Hi Nick, the guys are correct in that a 10 amp regulator will do your job. However there will not be a lot of room to upgrade if you so decide in the future.

My suggestion would be a 20 amp or, seeing as Dereck from ABR Sidewinder, a business member here, is doing a special on PWM 30 amp units at the moment for $99 via Ebay, free postage. These are very good units and I have two similar units in use on my van and at home.

ABR Sidewinder Controller

Very simple to use and simple to view all the data. They look good too.

I know it is double your price bracket but quality is always the cheaper option.

Cheers, Bruce.

At home and at ease on a track that I know not and
restless and lost on a track that I know. HL.

Lifetime Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 552506

Follow Up By: Sigmund - Friday, Apr 17, 2015 at 08:12

Friday, Apr 17, 2015 at 08:12

+1 to 'quality is always the cheaper option'. Nicely put.

I've dealt with ABR Sidewinder too with good outcomes. No financial interest btw.

FollowupID: 838152

Reply By: Member - nick b - Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 21:56

Wednesday, Apr 15, 2015 at 21:56

Thanks all for your reply's ..... helpful :-)

Its to replace the existing reg on a portable panel

cheers

Cheers Nick b

Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

AnswerID: 552509

Follow Up By: Bigfish - Thursday, Apr 16, 2015 at 07:30

Thursday, Apr 16, 2015 at 07:30

Everyone's making mountains out of molehills...Just get the 10amp...It will do the job easily..

cheers

Member
My Profile My Position Send Message

FollowupID: 838106

Reply By: Member - graeme W (WA) - Thursday, Apr 16, 2015 at 22:12

Thursday, Apr 16, 2015 at 22:12

Hi Nickb.
A 10 amp will be fine but there are lots of suitable 30 amp mppt regs out there for a lot less than than $90. Just make sure the reg you do get accepts 8b&s stripped cable a lot of them dont and they are not suitable.

Cheers Graeme.

AnswerID: 552564