Solar regulator query

**dan007** · 1st August 2015, 09:52 PM

On my van I had 4x250w panels 4xgel batteries.
Running the van.
220l 12v fridge
5000w pure inverter.(microwave.tv etc)
Yammy inverter genny(air con at night)

No way your controller should allow more then your battery type in its setting ie wet lead .gel etc. 12v 24v 48v etc
I would say if your test gear is correct .
Your settings are wrong with the controller.
if your controller is auto sensing I would say the battery may be ar fault.

Also in my time using solar to get the best out of your investment.
Use all the same battery types, same batch numbers and never I mean never run your batteries below 12.5 volts.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AULRO mobile app

DiscoMick · 1st August 2015, 09:54 PM

Certainly sounds like a regulator issue.

Sent from my GT-P5210 using AULRO mobile app

**PhilipA** · 2nd August 2015, 11:31 AM

If you shade even part of a panel the voltage output reduces by up to 90% so your volt meter is showing the battery voltage without much going in from the solar panels.
On a cloudy day my panels will reduce from 7 down to 1.5 amps and lose nearly all if one part of a panel is shaded.
The only caveat is that my panels are in series to give 30+volts into my MPPT which automatically selects the correct battery voltage. In parallel one of your panels should still be charging a bit.
Regards Philip A

**Bushie** · 2nd August 2015, 01:50 PM

My money will be on the regulator, my regulator was u/s from day 1 with output voltage around 17v.
My son just had his regulator go bung with high voltage he only picked it when his CB would not turn on with the display showing over voltage (Icom 400pro).

Both were fixed with new regulators.

Martyn

**Keithy P38** · 2nd August 2015, 04:19 PM

Thanks everyone.

I wish I knew more about making the most out of a multimeter.

I will check before and after the regulator and see what happens! I wonder if it really is a 10a regulator....

I know how to get them to regulate anyway, and I woke up to 12.7v each morning, so I think the battery is ok.

Will keep looking into it when I get the chance!

Cheers
Keithy

**Stuart02** · 19th September 2015, 10:54 AM

Where do ppl go to buy quality regulator/controllers? And how much do got i need to spend?

I got a $20 10A regulator to get me out of trouble (2 x 32W panels in parallel ) but I think it's a bit useless, especially if left connected overnight. These things would ideally be set and forget, right?

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