1 solar panel, 2 batteries, 2 regulators- a quick questions

Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 21, 2010 at 20:34

ThreadID: 83177 Views:10295 Replies:4 FollowUps:3

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DOEY

hi all

i am just after a real quick answer on wether or not it would be ok to add a splitter cable from my solar panels.

I have a 160w folding solar panels. I have a 90ah batt in my camper trailer box with a regulator. I also have a 105ah batt in the back of my car for my fridge, also with its own regulator. My solar panels have a 5m lead with an anderson plug that connects to either the trailer or car battery depending on which one i want to charge.

I tossed round the idea of making a y-splitter cable to go from my my solar panels to anderson plugs that will take both my batts and reg.
how would this proposed setup work for me? My batteries have enough capacity to run their required load for 2-3 days without needing a charge but i thought if i could charge both at the same time it would be handy.
Please, im not after any advice telling me i should change the setup etc as im happy with the way it is. Im just after an opinion from someone more cluey than i as to the benefit of adding a Y splitter.

Cheers

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Reply By: Dunaruna - Tuesday, Dec 21, 2010 at 22:44

Tuesday, Dec 21, 2010 at 22:44

It will work. If one battery requires the full output of the panel, just disconnect the other batt from the charge.

AnswerID: 439549

Reply By: PeterInSa - Tuesday, Dec 21, 2010 at 23:25

Tuesday, Dec 21, 2010 at 23:25

On my Sola setup there is a certain sequence to disconnect the load/battery and sola, cannot recall and a simple splitter switch that disconnects one battery and then reconnects another may cause problems.

You may need a switch than when operating on one battery, during the change over to the other battery has both batteries in parallel for an instant ie at no time does the regulator not see a battery.

This is my comment don't take it as gospel, someone with a greater Sola Regulator background than myself can confirm what/not to do.

Peter

AnswerID: 439554

Follow Up By: DOEY- Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010 at 00:12

Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010 at 00:12

hi Peter

My panels have a warning sticker stating not to connect the panels if there is something connected to the load side of the regulator. So the sequence is connect solar panel than switch\connect the loads to stop any "voltage spike" to the appliance.

My regs are permanently attached to the batteries, its only the panel that is swapped between the batteries. A splitter cable would make the wiring a parralel circuit, but just interested in how the regs will behave sharing the output of the panels.

Being parralel, both regs would get the same voltage from the panel, but im assuming the amps would be halved or shared depending on each batteries SOC. if that was the case, the decreased amps might not be worth it and i would be better to just leave it as it is and alternate charging on a "as needs" basis.

Can anyone confirm this would be the case????

thanks for your input.

Anth

FollowupID: 711421

Reply By: Member - John and Val - Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010 at 07:22

Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010 at 07:22

Depends on the type of controllers and how each of them works. You use a controller basicly to prevent overcharging - some simply disconnect the panel once the battery is fully charged, others load the panel down so it can't feed too much to the battery, then there are MPPT types that optimise charging, and there are those that disconnect the load when the battery voltage gets too low......

Different types may interact with each other so you don't win the way you'd expect.

Personally I'd leave it as at present. You have a good flexible arrangement. It's not broke so don't fix it!

Cheers

John

J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
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AnswerID: 439559

Follow Up By: DOEY- Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010 at 12:23

Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010 at 12:23

Thanks John

i like that philosophy of "if its not broke dont fix it"

it was just an idea i was tossing around, perhaps too much time on my hands (which has proved dangerous in the past).

I will leave it as is. The benefits may or may not outway the hassle.

have a good christmas.

Anth

FollowupID: 711462

Reply By: Mandrake's Solar Power- Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010 at 16:37

Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010 at 16:37

I have a 140 W panel on the Jeeps roof always connected to AGM / Fridge - Every now and then I insert a Y shaped Anderson connector between the panel and the MPPT reg and run another extension lead to the MPPT controller in my Camper Trailer - No problems at all doing that ...
As soon as one battery is full the controller switches off and all the charge then gets directed to the other controller ..

Cheers

Steve

AnswerID: 439582

Follow Up By: DOEY- Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010 at 17:16

Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010 at 17:16

Hi Steve

thanks for that. I have really cheap and basic regs, they are Juta 12amp ones. Not sure what type etc but i dont think they are that smart, but smart enough i guess.

i was mainly just trying to find a use for spare anderson plugs and cable and thought if it would work it may be a good way to go.

what i think i will do is run a temporary y-splitter with alligator clips to the anderson plugs to see how it goes and monitor the voltages etc. if it works ill crimp the andersons on.

Cheers

Anth

FollowupID: 711478