Solar power regulator

Thanks Mainey, The regulator is only 1 week old, I will get it checked out
Cheers

With a reading of 15 V or more on your batteries there are three possibilities:

1. Your meter is US and reading too high. Measure the charge voltage on your tug as a quick confidence check.

2. The system has been incorrectly wired.

3. The regulator is faulty.

Get things checked out before you reconnect the system. Hope your batteries are not buggered, it does not take long to kill them by overcharging.

PeterD

Further to my previous, I note further down that your controller was manufactured by Steca. All of their regulators that I have come across have 3 negative terminals on them. These regulators were originally designed for telephone systems with +ve earth systems so all the circuitry has the +ve sides of it connected together.

You can only connect one of the -ve terminals to the frame (earth) of your van. This is generally the one connected to the load. If your battery or solar panels have their -ve sides grounded then you loose all current monitoring in the regulator. Check this for starters. Get this checked out by someone who knows these systems. If you are attempting to do your own wiring then re read the installation manual - several times.

PeterD

Peter
In this model (Steca PR series) grounding is not required when used as a stand alone solar system with only the (-) battery terminal being grounded at the body, as is normal and usual.

2 cable connections on Left (+) & (-) Panel connection
2 cable connections in Centre (+) & (-) Battery connection
2 cable connections on Right (+) & (-) Accessories (fridge etc)

Separate Earth is not required when used with (-) grounded battery as all 'accessories' are [supposed to be] connected to (-) battery terminal.

Mainey . . .

Mr Dog,

What "does not sound right" with: ""On the caravan we have 2 x 80 Watt BP solar panels, they are connected to a BP Solar GCR 1000M regulator and 2 x 110 ah gell batteries for 12v power"" ?

Mainey . . .

I don't see anything wrong with it either.

Marty
the BP 80 Watt panel puts out less than 5 Amps Maximum even on a fantastic day.

The (Steca) BP reg will not have hassles even with a full 10 Amps as it has overload protection in-built.

Mainey . . .

Mainey,
The Telstra blue/orange panels are 80w BP Solar panels. I have seen plenty of these putting out about 5.5 amps. Some staff recon they have seen 6 amps out of these panels.
Yes I know 80w at 19v is less than 5 amps, but 80 BP solar panels definately put out more than 5 amps.
How well do you know these regulators? I don't know this model, do they have a seperate battery sense terminal? If this wire was missing it might explain this fault condition.
George, my advise would be to google for BP Solar Australia and give them a call or email. Tell them you were sold two 80 panels and a GCR 1000M regulator. Ask them if this is a recommended setup and then approach your supplier with their answer. Either way the regulator is still under warranty.

Marty,
they are NOT the same panel as we have posted here.

I know the Steca (BP) reg as good as anyone, it's what I *** and use too.

Mainey . . .

The short-circuit current at 75 deg C on BP380 panels is 5.0 amps.

BP 80 Watt panel specs

4.55 Amps Opperating Current
4.80 Amps Short Circuit Current

Not sure when they have changed the specs to 5 Amps??

Mainey . . .

They haven't changed the specs - read my post again :-)

MartyB

Yes most solar pannels will put out more than their rated current on bright days with partial overcast. However your Telstra experience is with panels properly angled for the maximum output - not laid flat on a van.

PeterD

Mike
According to the BP website the typical electrical characteristics for BP 380 Solar panel is:

80 Watt (rated power)
4.55 Amp (Operating Current)
4.80 Amp (Short Circuit Current)
17.60 Voltage

Standard test conditions, irradiance of 1000W/m² at an AM1.5G solar spectrum and a cell temperature of 25°C.
Normal Operating Cell Temperature, air temperature of 20°C; irradiance 800W/m²; wind speed 1m/s.

LINK:-> BP 80 Watt solar panel

So yes I'm lost as to your post as I've read it again an again :-))
I can't see where 5 Amps is mentioned - according to BP Solar.


Peter,
I don't know any Solar manufacturer that advertises power numbers that are NOT the absolute Maximum possible.
The panels are tested in state of the art labs in perfect conditions so they can advertise their panels with superior ratings to their competition.
That's why some guy's say their system does not work as well as expected lol.

Mainey . . .

Mainey - we're both right - output current increases with temperature.

"Member - Mike DID posted:
The short-circuit current at 75 deg C on BP380 panels is 5.0 amps".
- I read this short-circuit off the V-I graph, because I wanted to show the maximum possible current that BP predict from this panel.

The 4.8 amp s/c current you quoted is another measuring point taken at 25 degrees.

I have seen quite a few BP 80W panels put out more than 5.0 Amps. We do a lot of solar powered repeaters where we will get say 35 Amps from 7 x 80W panels at peak sun (one of the latest installations we have done). We have also replaced the odd 30 Amp regulator for QAS / QFRS during summer as the 6 panels they have have produced more than the regulator can handle.

I even managed 10.2 Amps from my dual 80W setup over the Australia Day weekend up at Eungella Dam. This was only for an hour at lunch but was pretty happy.

Regards
David

This discussion seems to have degenerated into whether the two panels put out slightly more or slightly less than the rating of the regulator. If I had bought this setup I would not be impressed that the regulator can only just handle the input. What happens if George wants to add another panel because the two are not handling the load. He would also have to fork out for another regulator.
My system has two 90w panels and a 20a regulator, this means my regulator is only running at about half capacity and I can easily add an extra panel.
If it was me I would be ringing BP solar and asking them if this regulator is recommended with two 80 panels.

Marty.

Mainey

You said "Peter, I don't know any Solar manufacturer that advertises power numbers that are NOT the absolute Maximum possible."

Solar panels are rated at a radiation level that is considered to be an average of midday sun in most parts of the world. If the radiation is decreased (eg turning the panel away from the sun) you will get less output from the panel. If you increase the radiation, the panel will produce more output. There is no magic figure where if the radiation it receives exceeds a certain level the panel will not produce any more power (within certain limits.) If you do not believe me then get yourself a mirrored door (there are plenty of sliding wardrobe ones around ) and reflect more sunlight on the panel and see if its short circuit current increases. On a bright sunny day the white clouds in the sky provide that mirror. (This is also why you can get more sunburn on a cloudy day.)

It would be on these cloudy days that the Telstra techs observe outputs that are greater than the published maximum figures. The panels produce their rated power due to the direct sunlight when there is a clear patch in the clouds letting direct sunlight through and the surrounding clouds provide the mirror to direct additional radiation towards the panels.

PeterD