Solar battery charger

Discussion in 'OnBoard Electronics & Controls' started by Vulkyn, May 28, 2017.

  1. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    Vulkyn, I tried to enlarge your picture. No luck, when enlarging it gets blurred. I was able to read where you connect your battery, but could not decipher the others. As long you connect the solar panel to the plus and minus solar input on your charger. Also that you connect your battery to plus and minus input and your alternator + to your + of the battery, you will not have problems. What I cannot tell you is, whether the alternator switch off earlier than the charger or that the charger switches earlier off than the voltage regulator in your alternator, However both does not allow your battery to go over the gassing voltage of 13.8 Volt. Therefore you can safely have both connected to your battery. Why do you want to go for a bigger solar panel? Your small 1 Ampere solar panel will keep your 7 Ah or 60Ah battery charged, except if you use more than 8 Ampere per day. Was that 7 Ah (or 9Ah same size small sealed lead acid battery) as shown on your photos, just to test your system out? Bert
     
  2. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    Vulkyn, under no circumstances should you connect a solar panel directly on a battery. Except if you know what you are doing and ensure that the battery voltage does not creep over the 13.8 Volt. (better 13,6 Volt) I have been able to decipher the picture and I see you need a load to divert the energy when the battery is fully charged. For your 1 Ampere panel I would suggest, you use a 12 Volt globe/bulb/whatever. Bert
     
  3. Vulkyn
    Joined: Jun 2010
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    Location: Egypt

    Vulkyn Senior Member

    My battery is 75 Amps (i have an old one 60 amps that doesn't hold charge well but still runs the engine and lighting for some time.)
    The 1 Amp is fine for leaving the battery to charge, but i did a quick calculation on my load and i will consume more than 8 amps per day for sure.

    I will need a waterproof charge controller as the casing idea did not work. So will get a new charger for the boat and another panel and leave the one i did permanently in the house.

    Yah that battery pack was just for test, the charge controller doesn't work with out panels connected (even at night).
     
  4. Vulkyn
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    Location: Egypt

    Vulkyn Senior Member

    Just had another look at the diagram, is the alternator an external unit that is fitted between boat dynamo and battery or is that built in the outboard itself?
     
  5. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
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    Location: Milwaukee, WI

    gonzo Senior Member

    Those meters will measure the amount of power stored in the battery. It works the same as a house meter that measures consumption (but backwards = charge)
    Also, solar or any other charger that is continuously keeping up the charge in the battery will greatly increase their life. We found that the main degradation (commonly called sulfation) happens at a state of partial charge while resting. The cause is the formation of large crystals on the surface of the plates. Crystals won't get big during charge or discharge.
     
  6. BertKu
    Joined: May 2009
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    Location: South Africa Little Brak River

    BertKu Senior Member

    Some outboards has a alternator built in and others not. I was under the impression that you were running a normal engine with an alternator on a belt. What do you mean with dynamo?
     
  7. Vulkyn
    Joined: Jun 2010
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    Location: Egypt

    Vulkyn Senior Member

    Ok thats starting to clarify where the confusion came from, apologies for not explaining it in more details.

    My engine is a Johnson 140HP TLEN 1992 model outboard, the battery charging comes from the engine itself (coils under the fly wheel if am not mistaken) going straight to batteries.
    As far as i understand my engine has a starter motor so its fitted with DC output to charge batteries, engines with manual start a different case (i think).

    Hope that clarifies things, my main objective is to ensure I have a PV panel connected to directly yo trickle charge battery when i am away for extended periods and also to ensure that if i am anchored and fishing i dont run the battery dry from all the fancy stuff i want to run off my boat.
     
  8. Vulkyn
    Joined: Jun 2010
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    Location: Egypt

    Vulkyn Senior Member

    Yah makes sense, lead acid batteries seem to be happier when charged more often than not.
    Found deep cycle batteries being sold in Egypt but really poor crank power (around 130), will struggle to get my engine running (I think mine need something like 400-450 if i am not mistaken.)
     
  9. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
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    Location: Milwaukee, WI

    gonzo Senior Member

    Can you get AGM batteries? Maybe go for a sail and get them in Italy or Greece?
     

  10. Vulkyn
    Joined: Jun 2010
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    Location: Egypt

    Vulkyn Senior Member

    Not in my tiny outboard with an old Johnson engine on it :D one day when i get a sail boat will do that!
    Besides I'm having too much with solar panels :D
     
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