Thread: My solar power set up

Good stuff

How are you storing it between stops.

depending on how your regulator is rated you may find your regulator is going to go foom when you try to charge nearly flat batteries with it...

if its rated to handle 10A input then you may find that if you plug it onto a battery thats less than say 80% charged with full light on both panels then youre going to be pulling something in the order of 15-17 amps through it.

if its rated to regulate to a 10a charging rate then you're apples.

dunno if this is of any use but I've found that in a simple 12v system (and this info is now about 5ish years old) you get the best rate of charge out of a regulator thats between 20 and 50% over your panels rated output amps. you can go too far with oversizing the regulator.

Nowadays there are maximum power point solar regulators (MPPT) that use more of the panels power, apparently up to 30% more output, e.g.:

12/24V MPPT Solar Charge Controller Regulator Aust Made | eBay

Originally Posted by weeds

Good stuff

How are you storing it between stops.

I'm not sure Weeds. I will get a couple of canvas bags made up and I might get a box made for the roof rack. The panels are 1310x540x55. The will fit in the back laying down with a bit under the seat.

Thanks Dave

I've finally had the exhaust moved ready to do the PTO setup. I'll give you a call to arrange a time.

The specs on the instructions say:
Boost max 14.2v
Boost cut in 12.5
Charge current 10 A
supply current 4 mA

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

depending on how your regulator is rated you may find your regulator is going to go foom when you try to charge nearly flat batteries with it...

if its rated to handle 10A input then you may find that if you plug it onto a battery thats less than say 80% charged with full light on both panels then youre going to be pulling something in the order of 15-17 amps through it.

if its rated to regulate to a 10a charging rate then you're apples.

dunno if this is of any use but I've found that in a simple 12v system (and this info is now about 5ish years old) you get the best rate of charge out of a regulator thats between 20 and 50% over your panels rated output amps. you can go too far with oversizing the regulator.

the noclamenture for the regulator should specify how its rated and include a graph showing its powerhandling characteristics.

my guess from that info is that its rated to 10A at 14.X V for the output side and is doing that by pulse width modulation.... it should be right but you're potentially missing 5-7 amps worth of charge rate.


when you make up the canvas bags, have them lined with a very soft clean material and zips to keep the dust out. the effect of a canvas bag scuffing the surface will quickly cost you panel amps.

It also says it uses a "power mosfet" and two stage switch.

The output on each panel is rated at 4.6 A.

I have my two camping panels hinged face to face with s/s door hinges so they can't rub under any conditions. The reg lives in the back of one panel.