12/24v hook up?

**Redback** · 13th January 2010, 09:06 AM

I'm glad you worked it out, I was a bit worried about the outputs you first mentioned, my 20W panel puts out 19.6 in full sun and 16.5 in the shade

Baz.

**ATH** · 19th December 2011, 05:53 PM

The more I read about solar panel outputs etc. the more confused I become. Although I readily admit my confusion is my most normal state of mind when it comes to electrics.
My problem is I bought a pair of Primus 80watt panels which has a regulator on the back and it states that the output is 17.2v.
My problem, is can I connect these directly to the caravan battery via an Anderson plug or should I have a voltage regulator between the battery and panels?
The 12v shop in Perth says "No" the regulator on the back will adjust the voltage, but Primus say "Yes' you need one sense battery charge and to step down the charge for when the battery is full.
Anyone out there can assist in simple terms as I don't want to cook the battery with too high a voltage going in.
Cheers.
Alan.

**bee utey** · 19th December 2011, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by ATH

The more I read about solar panel outputs etc. the more confused I become. Although I readily admit my confusion is my most normal state of mind when it comes to electrics.
My problem is I bought a pair of Primus 80watt panels which has a regulator on the back and it states that the output is 17.2v.
My problem, is can I connect these directly to the caravan battery via an Anderson plug or should I have a voltage regulator between the battery and panels?
The 12v shop in Perth says "No" the regulator on the back will adjust the voltage, but Primus say "Yes' you need one sense battery charge and to step down the charge for when the battery is full.
Anyone out there can assist in simple terms as I don't want to cook the battery with too high a voltage going in.
Cheers.
Alan.

To put it simply, the voltage output of a solar panel varies widely with load. High load, low voltage. Low load, high voltage. The 17.2V is either the open circuit voltage or the maximum power voltage. If you connected such a panel to a flat battery it would charge it happily. Unfortunately it wouldn't stop pushing current when the battery was full. Battery fizz-out being the result. So all solar panels should run through a regulator, except in the special case of a trickle charger on a large wet cell battery. Two panels can be connected to one regulator with the ability to handle the maximum output of both together. You need to take a close look at the 'regulator' and see that it is actually that and not just a junction box.

**Blknight.aus** · 19th December 2011, 07:34 PM

ok, in a pinch YES you can hook a panel directly to a battery and charge it...
however

DONT..

you should have some kind of voltage regulating device in there.

heres the ones I use

the bare bones 80w panel jobbie
not as efficient as you'd like but Ive been running one of these for about 8 years now and it keeps the engle happy.

A multi panel one not as effective as it could be till your pushing 150+w of panels up to there so long as the panels are under 80w a piece I just parralel 2 of the cheapies. The main reason for this working better is each panel is its own entity and any drop in output of one doesnt effect the other.

This little buety is one for breaking into more permanent setups I'll put this one on motor homes and trailers that have a semi permanant setup primarily because this units not all that happy wet and offers usage monitoring so you can budget your amps.

And heres that last ones big brother Same features but with more amps

if you dont already have the panels, Im starting to reccomend wind technology, the small VAT's are pretty good.

Thread: 12/24v hook up?

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