Help with solar panel regulator (BP) 10amp

Submitted: Saturday, May 27, 2006 at 22:18
ThreadID: 34329 Views:3010 Replies:10 FollowUps:12
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Today i have hooked up 2 x 40watt solar panels in parallel,, bringing out a + and - from the same panel to the regulator....
(Should it be a + from one panel and a - from the other??)....
Shouldnt make any difference should it???....
Anyways,,,, the (batt + and -) of the regulator i put a plug on and plugged it into the power socket in the rear of the vehicle,,,,,,,,, and the (load + and -) of the regulator i have plugged the fridge into.....(Waeco) 50litre....

So my question is,,,,,"is it normal for the plug in the rear socket to get untouchably hot whilst the fridge is on and drawing 3.5amps??"
Also,,, "its gets as hot when the solar panel is plugged in and giving charge into the socket without the fridge even being turned on"..... ..................3.4 amps is the solar panel charge....
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Reply By: V8 Troopie - Saturday, May 27, 2006 at 23:57

Saturday, May 27, 2006 at 23:57
Well Voxson, your description is a bit confusing but nothing should get hot so its likely you got it wrong.
To connect DC things in parallel (solar panels, batteries, etc.):
you connect the + of EACH item together and the - of EACH item. So it ends up just like a single item connection wise, one + and one - terminal. Parallel connection gives you the same voltage as a single solar panel but twice the amperage ( if the panels get the same light).
To connect this to the regulator, just run the + from the combined panels to the +input of the regulator. The + ouput (load) of the regulator goes to the + of the battery.
The - of the panels goes to the - of the battery and the - (or common) of the regulator, peferably in that sequence.
You connect your fridge to the battery, not anywhere else!

The 'load' of a solar panel is usually a battery, keep that in mind.

+ means positive
- means negative

Klaus
AnswerID: 175122

Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 09:48

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 09:48
Ok.....
I am referring to the regulator terminals in this next paragraph and where they are going to....

Load is going to fridge.
Batt is going 12 volt socket in panel of car.
Solar Panel is going to solar panel.

It looks likes some regulators and the meanings of their terminals may vary from brand to brand or type to type because this thing has got a drawing which is pretty hard to balls up....
But like you say there must be a problem because i could see the plug melting with a bit longer use and warmer ambients....

It is getting hot when either the solar is passing current to the battery through the regulator to the panel plug or when the fridge is being operated through the same method..

But the fridge going straight to the panel plug without using the regulator has no problems..

Back to the supplier on Monday i spose....

Thanks for your response V8 Troopie...
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Reply By: Kiwi Kia - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 07:24

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 07:24
Heat is often caused by loose connections, check all your plugs and sockets have tight cable screws / clamps.

What size cables are you using?

What is the length of cable run from the battery to the fridge plug?

What current does the fridge unit draw?

AnswerID: 175131

Reply By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 08:25

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 08:25
Voxson, if you are still in Adelaide then that makes me understand why you are not here (last night)..............?
AnswerID: 175135

Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 10:16

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 10:16
"gulp"
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 21:05

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 21:05
He he he he - nice talking to you though. Heh heh heh!
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Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 22:47

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 22:47
:o)
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Reply By: Derek from Affordable Batteries & Radiators - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 09:38

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 09:38
Hi Vox,

You must join the panels in parallel and not series to keep it a 12v system.

Your heat problem will be loose / poor connections. Best to use Anderson plugs for fridges and panels.

Regards Derek
AnswerID: 175139

Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 09:52

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 09:52
I am wondering whether it could just be the fact that i am using a Hella cigarette style plug which only contacts on that springy tip,,, maybe it needs a bigger contact patch in the plug/socket,,,

but then why would it not get hot when not going through the regulator as it is using the same plug to run the same fridge???
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FollowupID: 431218

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 17:06

Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 17:06
>i am using a Hella cigarette style plug

This is a known problem with this type of connector (cigarette type) and is easily resolved as follows:

1 - Carefully remove the plug and socket from their wiring taking care not to damage the wiring in the process.

2 - Connect plug and socket together in the normal manner and place on a hard surface - concrete is ideal.

3 - Using a large hammer smash the $hit out of them until they are totally unrecognisable.

4 - Go out and buy a decent plug and socket.

Mike Harding :)
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Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at 08:15

Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at 08:15
Hi Mike,
I have followed your instructions step by step.
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Reply By: Alloy c/t - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 10:06

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 10:06
Pos terminal from panel 1 goes to pos terminal on panel 2 ,,
Neg terminal from panel 1 goes to neg terminal on panel 2,,, that gives you in effect 1 80watt panel ,,
Pos terminal from panel 2 goes to Pos terminal of Solar imput on regulator,
Neg terminal from panel 2 goes to Neg terminal on Solar imput on regulator,,
Pos terminal on regulator marked battery goes to battery ,,
Neg terminal on regulator marked battery goes to battery ,,,
Pos from battery goes to Pos on fridge plug ,,
Neg from battery goes to Neg on fridge plug ,, easy as ,,,

if regulator has power in and power out recording capabillity aka "steca" regulator instead of fridge pos and neg from battery , fridge pos and neg to coresponding 3rd terminals on regulator marked by "light" icon..
AnswerID: 175147

Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 10:14

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 10:14
Very descriptive and exactly how i have done it...
All the functions work on the regulator like,, voltage, a/hours, state of charge,,,, etc etc... all that works well.....
Just the heat on the plug problem worries me....
Thanks for your input...
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FollowupID: 431220

Reply By: Alloy c/t - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 10:46

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 10:46
Well Voxon the only other reason that I could sugest why the plug can gets so hot is too thin a gauge wire ,,
AnswerID: 175153

Reply By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 11:27

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 11:27
What's the current rating printed or stamped on the plug and socket?

Geoff.
Geoff,
Landcruiser HDJ78,
Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.

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AnswerID: 175159

Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 12:02

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 12:02
10amp plug.
20amp socket.
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FollowupID: 431241

Follow Up By: Geoff (Newcastle, NSW) - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 16:44

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 16:44
Hi Voxson,
Those ratings should be Ok for the job.
Like the others have said, your problem will be one of two things,

Loose connection, either wiring or plug to socket,
Cabling too small.

Geoff.
Geoff,
Landcruiser HDJ78,
Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from children. Baldness is caused by watching the Wallabies.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  Send Message

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FollowupID: 431282

Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 13:54

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 13:54
All electrical plugs work by applying enough pressure between two bits of metal to keep the contact resistance low enough to prevent overheating.

A Cigarette Lighter plug can ONLY maintain pressure on the centre contact if it is held in firmly - this will only happen if you have plugs and sockets that are of a "good" design with collar and spring.

Here is photo that shows "good" and "bad" Cigarette Lighter plugs and sockets.
Site Link

Mike
AnswerID: 175181

Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 17:08

Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 17:08
A good cigarette lighter plug is an oxymoron :)
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FollowupID: 431732

Reply By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 22:46

Sunday, May 28, 2006 at 22:46
Thanks Mike (above) for your reply...
I went to Motor Traders to specially buy a good plug because i knew it was critical for good contacts on every electrical join....The counter guy told me to buy Hella so i did...
The last thing on my mind was a crappy plug,,,,,, so i go and post all the stuff above,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
and then lo and behold.......................... a crappy plug was the problem..
I had a spare Waeco plug and put it in place of the Hella and it runs almost cold at that connection now...

**************SHEESH*****************
AnswerID: 175281

Follow Up By: fnq triton - Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 16:44

Tuesday, May 30, 2006 at 16:44
when did you get the solar panels and where from?
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FollowupID: 431727

Reply By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at 08:21

Wednesday, May 31, 2006 at 08:21
I bought them on Friday and from a place on Prospect Rd at Prospect.
Havent quite figured out the final way of utilizing them on our trip but i will have it worked out by this coming weekend.
I want to keep them mounted on the roof at all times so i can use them whilst we are away from cars during the day.
3.6amps is what they are giving back to the system.
AnswerID: 175822

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