Solar Regulator – Comments?

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SuidWes
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Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by SuidWes »

So I’ve decided to get a solar panel for our trip to Nam in September…. Came across this regulator (MorningStar SunKeeper) that can be installed on the panel junction box. Seems very neat as I can now run the cable directly to the battery in the engine compartment and nothing goes inside the car :thumbup: Also great when moving the panel around….

http://www.sinetech.co.za/morningstar/sunkeeper.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Comments?

Going for a 80watt panel - Will a 6amp regulator be sufficient?
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by Royco »

The recommendation is to get a controllers that is greater than double the solar panel's output.
What is your 80w panel's output? 6amp sounds too little...
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by OOOOMS »

Jaco, ek ken nie Sunkeeper se produk nie, wat is die 6A se koste?

Ek dink ook 6Amp regulator is te klein vir die 80Wat paneel waat na jy kyk. Ek dink 'n regulator met 10 - 12Amp sal beter wees of word voorgestel (ie. x2 maal die panel se output rating)

Hiers my opinie:
Ek het 2jr terug het ek ook 'n regulator gesoek, en 'toe' 'n redelike basiese een gekry vir R300.00. Daai tyd het ek gedink dit was die regte ding, doen die job en redelik geprys.

Nou dink ek anders.....ek MOES eerder die duurder eenheid gekoop het vir R750.00 dubbel die prys.......maar gee jou baie meer opsies en instant info :thumbup:
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by SuidWes »

Thanks Roy, looks like 4.5amp.

Found some interesting info on the web - One needs to look at the short circuit current, which is higher than the output of the panel, and ensure that the solar regulator is sized to handle 125% of the solar panel's rated short circuit current.

The 80watt panel's short circuit current is rated at 4.78amp so 125% = 5.98amp - Looks like the 6amp will make it, just - Let's see what the supplier says.

Hi Mark - Sal more 'n prys kry..

Yip, like daai Steca wat al die info gee. Choices :confused: :)
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by OOOOMS »

Jaco, indien ek weer moet koop sou ek vir een gaan by 'Rectifier'

http://www.rectifier.co.za/Price%20Prom ... otion.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Die een:
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SuidWes
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by SuidWes »

Dankie Mark :thumbup:
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by ChrisF »

Mark kan die STECA toerusting beide alternator EN solar inputs op dieselfde tyd hanteer (permanente paneel op die dak) ?

sekerlik moet daar iets goedkoper as die CTek wees ..... :(



BAIE lus om Desember n draai te loop maak in Namib. MAAR dan MOET ek eers n permanente paneel op die dak sit ....
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by SuidWes »

Op die Hilux het ek 'n 55watt paneel (permanent op RR) en 'n goedkoop Steca regulator gehad en dit het baie goed gewerk - Nooit issues gehad nie en ook nooit die yskas afgeskakel nie...

Hoekom wil jy die alternator ook deur die regulator hardloop? Verstaan hoe die CTek DC to DC charger werk maar eish dis duur...
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by ChrisF »

Jaco ek is versigtig vir die effek van die solar stelsel op die voertuig se electronics.

Met iets soos die CTek skei jy heeltemaal die solar van die voertuig se primere battery en electronics.


maar daai prys !!! :(




hoor graag van manne wat reeds die solar in parallel hardloop met die voertuig se electronics .....
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by SuidWes »

OK, eks met jou.

Soos ek dit verstaan: Met die NL stelsel charge net die tweede battery met sonkrag as die voertuig staan so geen probleem nie. Wanneer die voetruig hardloop en die NL stelsel koppel sien die solar regulator die battery as vol en laai dan nie verder nie. Die regulator charge ook nie meer as 15 volt nie so ek glo ook nie dit kan gedurende die koppeling skade doen nie en die twee batterye gekoppel sal ook enige spikes tot 'n mate keer/kalmeer :)

Die prado het erg baie electronics en ek wil nie he die rook moet ontsnap nie so hoor graag van ander :thumbup:
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by ChrisF »

ek gebruik net n cole-hersey solenoid om die twee batterye te isoleer wanneer die engine af is. So die solar sal direk in parallel met die voertuig se electronics wees ......
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by SuidWes »

Selfde storie - Die een is manual en die ander auto... ;-)
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by SuidWes »

Got my 80watt panel and 10amp phocos regulator today for R1230 :celebrate: Thanks MARK for recommending Rectifier :thumbup:

The other regulator was more than double the price of the 6amp Phocos and they don't have stock.....

The quality of the SolarWorld panel is brilliant compared to my previous panel :thumbup:
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by SuidWes »

Chris, will test the setup on the Prado this weekend and if she survives I'm sure the Hilux will be fine :thumbup:

I've asked a couple of people - All agreed that becuase the regulator's max voltage is 14.8 and the amps are low I should have no problems - Let's see
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by Polarbear2008 »

Ek het n 80watt sonpanneel met n 15Amp TES regulator (het iets soos R170 gekos). Die panneel is permanent op die kappie gepas en direk (via die TES) op my yskas se NL batteryboks gekoppel. Die NL solinoid isoleer die 2 batterye, meeste van die tyd (as die bakkie nie loop nie). Wat wel gebeur is as die solinoid gekoppel is (na 5 minute) en daar is sterk sonlig, dan laai die sonpanneel beide batterye wanneer die bakkie gestop word (en die panneel meer as 12.7 Volt) aanbied. Sou die sonlig minder word en die solinoid skakel af, laai die sonpanneel net die yskas battery. Op die manier het ek nog nooit n pap yskas battery gehad nie en die 105A/h battey supply n 74 liter NL dubbeldeur wat meestal op -12 (vries) en +5 (yskas) gestel is.
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Re: Solar Regulator – Comments?

Post by george »

ChrisF wrote:ek gebruik net n cole-hersey solenoid om die twee batterye te isoleer wanneer die engine af is. So die solar sal direk in parallel met die voertuig se electronics wees ......
Hi Chris.Ek het min of meer dieselfde setup as jy. My Paneel is ook nou die heeltyd gekoppel as ek ry.Ek het hom so 'n bietjie getoets.Sodra jy die bakkie start en die alti se krag gaan na die 2de battery dan gaan die controller en " maintenance" mode en sal eers begin charge as die volts daal(bakkie afsit).So far so good
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