solar regulator.

Submitted: Saturday, Jan 08, 2011 at 15:47

ThreadID: 83519 Views:3432 Replies:2 FollowUps:5

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Macca44

G,Day everyone. question for the solar experts. santa gave a 80W fold out powertech zm9130 solar kit. When hooked up to 12.v aux battery in full sun volt meter was going from 12V to 13V rapidly. so I hooked up multi meter in series on 10 amp. and another multi meter paralel on volts. In part sun all good steady 2 amp and 13 v , Then in full sun amps are going from 0 to 4 and volts 12.5 to13.5 like a mad thing. I suspect the regulator is faulty. can anybody help with problem. many thanks in advance an have a safe year.

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Reply By: Mandrake's Solar Power- Saturday, Jan 08, 2011 at 16:01

Reply By: paulnsw - Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 08:53

Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 08:53

The regulator is working as designed. The regulator is pulsing the battery and that is how modern solar regualtors work.

Don't worry about the smart ass comments from resellers with low quality silicon in the panels and glass. Your Powertech panel is a good panel with good quality silicone and iron free glass. Your Powertech panel also includes a *REAL* warranty and is a good value for money product.

AnswerID: 441200

Follow Up By: Macca44 - Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 10:59

Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 10:59

First of all thanks for all advice. Looks like all is good. ran the battery down over night to 11.5v Hooked up the solar panel this morning in full sun reading 4.5 amp and steady and 12.5 v . so must be ok. Also on the regulator is a short wire with a bulb on the end marked temp on the reg terminal, what has this to do with things. many thanks again.

FollowupID: 713180

Follow Up By: paulnsw - Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 11:51

Sunday, Jan 09, 2011 at 11:51

The short wire with the bulb is a temperature sensor.
If you have the expertise or can find somebody to do the job properly and correctly for you, the regulator is much better close to the battery rather than on the back of the solar panel.
The temperature sensor will then sense the correct temperature and not the heat from the back of the solar panel and you will have the correct voltage not having any voltage loss from the regulator on the back of the panel to the battery. Temperature plays a big part in the charging a battery correctly and sensing the correct temperature to ensure the battery is not over charged or under charged is really important.