Stecca Solar Regulators - Beware

[isuzu110]

These guys make good solar regulators, just be careful in vehicle applications as the regulator is positively earthed and your vehicle is not. Only problem is that if you manage to earth the panel, vehicle and controller you will blow them up. Ask me how I know.

The instruction manual on mine had a quaint translation from german to english that wasn't very obvious. Wasn't till I studied the circuit diagram that I realised they were trying to tell me the unit was positively earthed.

Don't get me wrong. Good quality units with good features, just be careful with your earths.

I've ended up going for a negatively earthed unit in another brand with less features but more idiot proof.

[JDNSW]

A good warning to make. Most regulators are not specifically designed for vehicle applications and so the designers have no reason for using either positive or negative earth - so check it. And if you don't understand the instructions, ask the supplier!

John

[LandyAndy]

I was reading a spec sheet on one and thought it may have been a miss-print.
Anyhow got a Plasmatronics PL20 from fleabay instead.
Andrew