Wiring an analogue panel mount amp gauge to a solar panel

Submitted: Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 09:29

ThreadID: 67583 Views:7369 Replies:3 FollowUps:4

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madcow

I'm a bit confused and readily admit it. I have 2 solar panel on the roof of the car and am using a plamatronics pc1230 regulator.
I wish to wire in an 0-10amp gauge to see whats going on.

The connections on the regulator are as follows
Bat +
Sol-
Bat-
Load-

Both the solar positive and battery psoitive are wired into the same slot.

Do I have the positive off the gauge to positive on the panel/battery and the negative to the panel -?

I do not wish to damage the panels by doing the wrong thing before hooking it up.

any advice is appreciated

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Reply By: madcow - Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 09:38

Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 09:38

Just been reading thread 67545 and it may have answered my question. Still I'd like to be reassured if it correct or not!

AnswerID: 358305

Reply By: Mandrake - Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 09:54

Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 09:54

Connect the ammeter in line between the Pos Solar lead and the battery - with the Pos terminal of the ammeter connected to the panel and the negative terminal of the ammeter connected to the Pos Battery terminal .. That will then show you how many Amps the panel is providing to the battery .
Rgds
Mandrake

AnswerID: 358306

Follow Up By: Mandrake - Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 09:55

Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 09:55

Providing your panels Don't produce over 10 Amps - If they do then you might fry the meter !!

FollowupID: 626427

Follow Up By: madcow - Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 10:01

Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 10:01

No chance with 2 60w panels lying flat on the roof. Probably will get 6-7 amps tops. which will be enough for what we are looking for.

FollowupID: 626429

Reply By: Maîneÿ [wa] - Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 10:49

Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 10:49

I would connect a (charge & discharge) Ammeter in-line between the Solar REGULATOR and the BATTERY.

(connect the 'positive' terminal of the Ammeter to the REGULATOR and the 'negative' terminal of the ammeter connected to the (+) BATTERY terminal)

These +/- Ammeters will show you the total load/charge Amperage on the battery.
Giving you an accurate reading of what's going *in* and also *out* of your battery at a glance.
Image Could Not Be Found Mainey . . .

AnswerID: 358311

Follow Up By: Maîneÿ [wa] - Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 10:52

Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 10:52

Must add...
This assumes your Solar system is the sole power supplier to your Aux battery when camping and all accessories run via the Solar regulator.

Mainey . . .

FollowupID: 626435

Follow Up By: Member - John and Val W (ACT) - Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 13:48

Monday, Apr 06, 2009 at 13:48

Good idea Mainey. I'd simply add that if a centre zero meter such as the one in your photo is connected right at the positive terminal of the battery, all current, in and out passes through it, regardless of where the current is coming from or going to. The only downside of this arrangement is that you need to be able to see the meter, so may have to run lengthy wires to it. To minimise losses, this should be heavy wire (at least 6mm squared) and kept as short as possible.

Cheers

John