Solar Panel Regulator
Submitted: Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 20:41
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G,day to all
My old faithful Sun-tech 80 watt solar set up let me down two weeks ago on a beach, after couple of days the engel stopped working (Beer went warm) and I worked out the panel was not putting out any amps.
Quick
check showed it was the regulator, so straight onto ebay and a new regulator was bought.
The old regulator was simply a box with two wires coming out with two alligator clips for connecting straight to the battery, no lights or charge indicators etc.
Now this new regulator has the following warning "Damage will occur if the battery is not connected prior to the panel being activated" Does this mean I would have to unfold the panel in the dark connect up the battery clips and then hey presto put the panel in the sun (Okay over the top but you know what i mean)
It also has two connections for a power output from the regulator (Load) does this mean it can run low amp gadgets whilst it is on.
thanks
Reply By: didjabringabeer - Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 22:07
Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 22:07
When I first got
mine was told connect the batterey first and have done that since.
Think it was a Morningstar regulator.Now have a Stecca and still follow that rule.
AnswerID:
478271
Reply By: The Bantam - Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 23:55
Monday, Feb 20, 2012 at 23:55
Most of the early style regulators were simple discrete component designs......I designed a crude one back in the 80's......what you connected when realy didn't matter if the design was good and robust.
Ya might have got some excessvoltage here or there and maybe some sparks on connection so it was probably a good idea to connect the battery first or cover the pannel.
But now, even some of the cheaper units are quite sofisticated and contain a microprocessor.
I expect that the one you have the smarts draws its power from the battery, its important that the smarts are powered up before you connect the voltage from solar pannels.
this is what I would do...
unfold the solar pannel and lay it face down on the ground.....hook up the battery and turn over the solar pannel.
cheers
AnswerID:
478284
Reply By: Member - OnYaBike - Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 00:06
Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 00:06
My understanding of the load connection on my regulator (though I've never used the function) is that the power still comes from the battery but there a preset low voltage disconnect which will cut power below a certain voltage to protect the battery. The manual says it is for low power applications such as night lighting and in fact it can be set via dip switches to turn lights on and off automatically for preset periods daily.
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478285
Reply By: Member - Bucky - Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 06:49
Tuesday, Feb 21, 2012 at 06:49
What type of regulator ie it ?
Cheers
Bucky
AnswerID:
478292
Reply By: jasmine l - Friday, Mar 16, 2012 at 17:07
Friday, Mar 16, 2012 at 17:07
You should connect the battery firstly, and then connect the solar panel. connect the battery means that the controller recognize the voltage of system.
AnswerID:
480548
Reply By: jasmine l - Friday, Mar 16, 2012 at 17:10
Friday, Mar 16, 2012 at 17:10
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AnswerID:
480549