Basic electrical question - connecting my first solar panel

[kacecar]

Apologies for this basic question but, clearly, I'm somewhat challenged when it comes to new-fangled electrics.

I'm connecting my first solar panel (only a small one, 32w) and am looking at how I wire up the clever little controller thingo. Said controller has six terminals: two that connect it with the solar panel (the input); two that connect it to the batteries (the output), and two that connect it to "Load" (presumably an alternative output when the batteries are fully charged.

Is it essential to connect the controller to a "load" and, if so, whereabouts in the boat's circuitry should I connect the "Load" wires?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Pords]

From what I know its not essential to connect to load. Only if you want to run something direct from solar panel like phone charging etc. Just done my first installation and relatively simple when it comes to wiring up.

 

[Daverw]

I’ve always left the load unconnected

 

[VicS]

Apologies for this basic question but, clearly, I'm somewhat challenged when it comes to new-fangled electrics.

I'm connecting my first solar panel (only a small one, 32w) and am looking at how I wire up the clever little controller thingo. Said controller has six terminals: two that connect it with the solar panel (the input); two that connect it to the batteries (the output), and two that connect it to "Load" (presumably an alternative output when the batteries are fully charged.

Is it essential to connect the controller to a "load" and, if so, whereabouts in the boat's circuitry should I connect the "Load" wires?

Thanks in advance.

As said already, just connect your battery and solar panel. Be sure to fit a fuse close to the battery conection

Follow the instructions. They may tell you to connect the battery first especially if it is a controller that automatically senses 12 or 24 volts

Exactly what the "load" terminals can be used for depends on the controller.

Some will supply a load, but disconnect it if the battery volts falls below a certain level.

Some will control a light to come on/ go off at certain light levels ( eg dusk or dawn), Some incorporate a timed on period.

Some can even be programmed to do different things.

The instructions will tell you what yours can do but you probably wont be interested in using them

 

[LadyInBed]

I’ve always left the load unconnected

Same here, though you could connect say a local light via a switch to it
See: http://www.sunstore.co.uk/faq/solar-charge-controller-load-output-explained/

 

[kacecar]

This forum is brilliant - just what I wanted to know! Many thanks for all your replies. I will leave the load unconnected - its hard enough routing the other four wires so two less to worry about is most welcome.

 

[Cactus Sailing]

This forum is brilliant - just what I wanted to know! Many thanks for all your replies. I will leave the load unconnected - its hard enough routing the other four wires so two less to worry about is most welcome.

some of the solar charge controllers work on 12v and 24v so you need to connect the battery terminals first so it detects the voltage prior to connecting the solar panel(s).

depends what flavour controller you have but im sure it will say this in the manual.

 

[PaulRainbow]

some of the solar charge controllers work on 12v and 24v so you need to connect the battery terminals first so it detects the voltage prior to connecting the solar panel(s).

depends what flavour controller you have but im sure it will say this in the manual.

Yes, Vic mentioned this in post #4. I'd recommend that if possible, the voltage is set manually, there have been a few cases where it's been incorrectly detected and batteries charged at 24v profiles.