PV Regulators
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:05 pm
As Pieter loves to say: "You get LED lights, and then you get LED lights".
So I want to say: "You get PV Regulators, and THEN you get PV Regulators ! ".
Technology -
PWM - Pulse Width modulating - this is the cheap and nasty of the trade.
MPPT - Maximum Power Point Tracking - now this baby understands what happens AT the PV panel as the sun moves .... throughout the day it continually tracks the point at which the solar panel can deliver maximum power.
Did you notice that at now point was any mention made of the BATTERY ???
The battery is the most expensive component that WILL be replaced regularly in your system .... there are a few things you CAN do to increase the life of the battery (let's assume we are talking of a sealed deep cycle battery) :
- DONT discharge past 50% SOC
- Use a QUALITY charger, ie a Benton or Victron etc ...
- Use a QUALITY PV regulator, ie HCDP or Victron
DO remember a battery has different charging conditions, such as Boost and Float. And charger or regulator that cant deliver these consistantly and correctly could shorten your battery life ....
You NEED a charger\regulator that will charge upto 14,5V, then drop back to about 13,8V and float charge it.
A charger\regulator that cant reach 14,5V wont ever fully charge your deep cycle. I would hate to think of what is happening inside a battery when a regulator keeps on charging at 1A even after the battery has reached 15V ! EINA !!
I now use the Benton BX2 after a loadshed to safely and properly charge the battery.
For day to day, I use the VICTRON MPPT to provide the best possible charge AND protection for my battery.
and off course you know where I bought the Victron As soon as Pieter has updated his website I will tell you all ...
I see he now has the VICTRON 220V charger as well ....
So I want to say: "You get PV Regulators, and THEN you get PV Regulators ! ".
Technology -
PWM - Pulse Width modulating - this is the cheap and nasty of the trade.
MPPT - Maximum Power Point Tracking - now this baby understands what happens AT the PV panel as the sun moves .... throughout the day it continually tracks the point at which the solar panel can deliver maximum power.
Did you notice that at now point was any mention made of the BATTERY ???
The battery is the most expensive component that WILL be replaced regularly in your system .... there are a few things you CAN do to increase the life of the battery (let's assume we are talking of a sealed deep cycle battery) :
- DONT discharge past 50% SOC
- Use a QUALITY charger, ie a Benton or Victron etc ...
- Use a QUALITY PV regulator, ie HCDP or Victron
DO remember a battery has different charging conditions, such as Boost and Float. And charger or regulator that cant deliver these consistantly and correctly could shorten your battery life ....
You NEED a charger\regulator that will charge upto 14,5V, then drop back to about 13,8V and float charge it.
A charger\regulator that cant reach 14,5V wont ever fully charge your deep cycle. I would hate to think of what is happening inside a battery when a regulator keeps on charging at 1A even after the battery has reached 15V ! EINA !!
I now use the Benton BX2 after a loadshed to safely and properly charge the battery.
For day to day, I use the VICTRON MPPT to provide the best possible charge AND protection for my battery.
and off course you know where I bought the Victron As soon as Pieter has updated his website I will tell you all ...
I see he now has the VICTRON 220V charger as well ....