Simple question : Solar Charge Controller used with normal charger

[Refueler]

With time on my hands .... only have 2 ships in cargo ops at the time ..... I started looking at ways to divide a charger across 1 or 2 batterys.

At present I have a Kemo splitter designed for Boat / Caravan use that I bought in Maplins many years ago. It auto charges / shuts off to trickle as battery state changes. It needs a basic 'dumb' charger as a Smart Charger is confused by it and will not charge. It works a treat. Sadly Maplins and this unit are no longer available.
I also have Battery Maintainers that can be left permanently connected .... about 10 quid each ....

One maintainer after a continuous spell of use over 3 - 4 years has failed and it prompted my search online.

There were the typical 'Marine Labelled' controllers that mortgage the wallet ...... fine for some - but not for me thanks.

Then I started to think about Solar Controllers ..... surely a controller that accepts feed from a Solar panel can also accept from a charger ??

On to eBay and a scroll through ...... interesting. The input voltage to the units seems on the high side for a battery charger - but could work ok. If the unit chosen is not a low Amp unit then possible later addition of decent Solar Panel could be made.

10/20/30A Solar Charge Controller For 12V/24V Panel Dual Battery Regulator | eBay

OK .... question :

Has anyone used such with a normal charger to control their batterys charge ??

 

[peteK]

Not used with a battery charger but works well with solar panels charging 2 batteries..

 

[Refueler]

I only have a modest sized boat and putting Solar panels on would be an exercise in itself. I have considered having Solar or Wind unit mounted on my pontoon - then basically I can then plug in to that. At present I have 240v mains to the pontoon - but my gardener has a habit of disconnecting the power and forgetting to reconnect. Its main function is to maintain my dual battery setup and occasional work ... so a pontoon based system would be enough most of the time.

If I was to install such a controller on board, as I said my present charge units on board work well, I would want to be able to connect to shore power when away from home ... so that is why I asked.

 

[Daverw]

If you added solar to the pontoon you could use normal roof mounted panels which are quite low cost for their size, would most likely work very well for what you need.

 

[William_H]

As you say you need a dumb charger to feed into a dual battery solar controller. Dumb charge being essentially a transformer and rectifier perhaps filter capacitor to give around the 20 volts no load. This would emulate a solar panel. With AC mans available I am not sure solar panels would be worth having especially with your high latitude location. ol'will

 

[PaulRainbow]

With time on my hands .... only have 2 ships in cargo ops at the time ..... I started looking at ways to divide a charger across 1 or 2 batterys.

Why not spend a few quid from the 2 cargo ship jobs and buy some decent kit, doesn't cost much at all ?

By the way, your website links all lead to nowhere.

 

[Refueler]

Why not spend a few quid from the 2 cargo ship jobs and buy some decent kit, doesn't cost much at all ?

By the way, your website links all lead to nowhere.

As my Father said ... You don't get rich by giving money away.

Ref Website ... little tale there ....

Before Baltics joined EU, Baltics was a thriving, excellent base to do shipping business - but after joining EU, business here basically went down the toilet, due majority of business was Russian Transit - based on Russians built the ports and facilities. I had 3 companies servicing all manner of cargoes from Metals through to high grade Chemicals and Gas. As work declined here - I steered my efforts to 'offshore' where my Clients were also changing to. Eventually I had to 'mothball' the Companies and create a new one focusing on the Offshore aspects. One of the casualties was of course Additives.
Because 99% of my work is with clients I have been with long term and a trust / bond has developed - the need for a Website to attract new business is really unnecessary.
Pal of mine is an IT specialist and we were talking obe day about the ISP I use and what services were available. He offered to create the site ... which I passed to him the initial front page items. He created ... uploaded and then for some reason we didn't take it further.
I do sometimes mention to him that we ought to add to it ... maybe one day ......