Solar Panel with a load option

Submitted: Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 08:46

ThreadID: 94859 Views:1628 Replies:7 FollowUps:3

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Solar Power

This article covers every aspect of solar and its design and installation in RVs (camper trailers, caravans and motor homes). It shows how much power solar panels really produce,

Toby T1

I have just purchased a 120W solar panel via ebay. This unit comes with 2 set of alligator clips, curios I thought as I only needed 1 set to connect to my battery to charge. On querying the vendor he mentioned the other set if for load. load??? What the? Could someone please explain to me what the load set is for and how I can use them? thanks.

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Reply By: johno59 - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 08:59

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 08:59

Hello Toby, Yep the advice u get from salespeople is confusing to say the least. I have just purchased a 100 watt panel after exhaustive research. There is certainly a whole lot more to solar than first appears. My auto electrician has been great for advice and explore oz members have been very helpful. Why you need 2 sets I have know idea, I plan to remove mine and install an anderson plug so its a bit more permanent and convenient. Good Luck!!! ( sorry I can,t be of more help)

AnswerID: 482949

Reply By: Lucko - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:00

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:00

Not sure if this helps Toby, but my foldup has 2 sets of clips. One set is through the little solar controller (for direct connect to a battery) on the back of one of the panels, the other is the direct output (uncontrolled) from the panels. These 2 I use to connect the panels into the caravan panels and use the controller in the van (can't have 2 controlling at the one time).

Mark

AnswerID: 482950

Reply By: Toby T1 - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:04

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:04

Maybe this might help people, here are the panels I purchased
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/270941465773?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

AnswerID: 482952

Follow Up By: Lucko - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:20

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:20

OK Toby, now I've got it. On the controller, one set of leads go to the battery (the one labelled "Battery") you want charged, the other two (from the terminals marked with a light bulb) are the "Load" terminals. These are connected to whatever you want powered, lights etc. You don't need to use the "Load" terminals if you don't want to. The only thing is that the controller may have a low battery voltage disconnect function (to protect your battery from discharging to the point that you will damage it). Otherwise it will just charge you battery for you.

Mark

FollowupID: 758182

Follow Up By: johno59 - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:24

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:24

thanks mark, I have just ordered one of these panels and look fwd to setting it up.john

FollowupID: 758183

Reply By: Member - John and Val - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:24

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:24

Toby,

Some controllers have a facility to disconnect the load (fridge, lights etc) from the battery when the battery voltage gets too low, or when excessive load current suggests a problem. Personally, I'd ignore that facility - use a fuse right at the battery to protect against excess current, and monitor battery voltage so you actually know what's going on.

Cheers

John

J and V
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AnswerID: 482962

Reply By: Toby T1 - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:40

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 09:40

Excellent reply people and so prompt! Thank you very much. Next question? :) So how the hell would I connect an aligator clip to a light bulb? powering a light bulb via the sun. :) kinda like an ejector seat for a helicopter. So theoretically I could connect a 12v invertor to power a 240v appliance? I know 19v comes out of the solar panels.

AnswerID: 482965

Follow Up By: Lucko - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 12:40

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 12:40

Toby, I'd be inclined to online shop at somewhere like ABR Sidewinder (no connection, just a satisfied customer). Buy yourself some Anderson style plugs and some 6 B&S cable and make up some leads. All of my 12V gadgets, compressor, rattle gun, solar panels, lead lights etc have one of these plugs (make sure tools are fused). I have 12M of the heavy cable with a plug on either end, a short lead with alligator clips on one end and Anderson on the other. This way I can connect anything to anything with the minimum of fuss and know the polarity is correct every time. Hope this is of use.

Mark

FollowupID: 758195

Reply By: Phil 23 - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 10:05

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 10:05

Bought the same item 2 weeks ago.

Beware of the clips shorting together when unpacking.
They are all bundled in a plastice bag & if you unbox the panel in sunlight you can might blow the reg up.

Mine had a dead reg & I thing that is why.

Otherwise panels themselves seem great.

Cheers

Phil

AnswerID: 482968

Reply By: The Bantam - Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 11:29

Friday, Apr 13, 2012 at 11:29

Don't expect everything you buy to make sence.

Often the people putting these things together and selling them have no idea.

Its far from unusual to find totaly useless or pointless stuff packaged with equipment..even in the name brands.

cheers

AnswerID: 482977