paulingreece
New member
Hi all, a friend has given me a 70 watt solar panel, do any of the forumites have a recomendation for a good regulater. Thanks.
Solar panel regulaters
- Thread starter paulingreece
- Start date
William_H
Well-known member
Solar regulator
These come in many styles. a simple one will regulate by varying the series resistance provided by a transistor to produce a regulated 14v. Hence as battery voltage rises the charging current falls.
Another type will bypass or waste the power as the battery voltage rises this gets hot and has a resistor to dissipate the excess power.
The best type is the MPPT type. Here the voltage of the panel is converted by a switch mode power converter to produce the precise voltage needed to charge the battery. It sucks power from the panel at a current and voltage which produces the maximum power from the panel. Hence MPPT means max power point tracking. This type usually have the variable voltage stepped charging regime like a smart battery charger or alternator controller.
If you are in Greece you will presumably get lots of charge out of the panel. Presumably also if you havn't had a panel before then you don't need much. However with care you can get away without a regulator.
ie if you have fridge running full time and or if you have a large battery bank. If you live on board you will probably use most of the power from the panel.
On the other hand if youy leave the boat you will need a regulator. good luck olewill
These come in many styles. a simple one will regulate by varying the series resistance provided by a transistor to produce a regulated 14v. Hence as battery voltage rises the charging current falls.
Another type will bypass or waste the power as the battery voltage rises this gets hot and has a resistor to dissipate the excess power.
The best type is the MPPT type. Here the voltage of the panel is converted by a switch mode power converter to produce the precise voltage needed to charge the battery. It sucks power from the panel at a current and voltage which produces the maximum power from the panel. Hence MPPT means max power point tracking. This type usually have the variable voltage stepped charging regime like a smart battery charger or alternator controller.
If you are in Greece you will presumably get lots of charge out of the panel. Presumably also if you havn't had a panel before then you don't need much. However with care you can get away without a regulator.
ie if you have fridge running full time and or if you have a large battery bank. If you live on board you will probably use most of the power from the panel.
On the other hand if youy leave the boat you will need a regulator. good luck olewill
paulingreece
New member
Hi William_H, thanks for the reply, do not have a fridge at present, but will add at some point, its mainly to keep the batteries topped up, i have 2 rated at 100 amp hour, i leisure and 1 starter, will add another 100amp hour this coming season, certainly get plenty of sunshine, so really want a good regulater, that will keep the batteries topped up, but be safe being left unattended when i cannot get there. I think from your post that an MPPT type is the way to go. Many thanks for the reply. Paul.
VicS
Well-known member
There are some very inexpensive regulators ( you'll find them on Maplin's website and on ebay) that just disconnect the panel when the battery volts has risen to a predetermined figure and reconnect it again when it falls.
William has mentioned the MPPT ( maximum power point tracking) type which will enable you to get the most out of the panel but are the most expensive.
I dont think you will now find the shunt type that dissipates the excess as heat offered for solar panels, but you might.
The next back down the ladder from MPPT are pulse width modulated (PWM) regulators which actually control the charge rate.
I'd suggest PWM would be the ones to look at if you dont want to go the whole hog with MPPT.
The solar panel suppliers are probably the best place to look but you can always go for cheap stuff on ebay if you are prepared to accept that sometimes you only get what you pay for.
William has mentioned the MPPT ( maximum power point tracking) type which will enable you to get the most out of the panel but are the most expensive.
I dont think you will now find the shunt type that dissipates the excess as heat offered for solar panels, but you might.
The next back down the ladder from MPPT are pulse width modulated (PWM) regulators which actually control the charge rate.
I'd suggest PWM would be the ones to look at if you dont want to go the whole hog with MPPT.
The solar panel suppliers are probably the best place to look but you can always go for cheap stuff on ebay if you are prepared to accept that sometimes you only get what you pay for.
paulingreece
New member
Thanks VicS, will have a look at the PWM ones as well, would rather buy a good quality one rather than a cheap one, i have never had a solar panel before so any hints or tips are welcome. Thanks again for the reply. Paul.
noelex
Well-known member
Try and get one with seperate bulk and float voltages (preferably adjustable). This is much better for the batteries.
Leonidas
Member
SOLARA supplies own regulators (SR135TL) a bit pricey but it may be what is needed. It is also suitable for both wet or agm/gell batteries.
jow
Member
Sunware
Hi,
I use this one:
http://www.sunware.de/index.php?id=48&L=1
Extremely happy, it is a fire and forget solution.
Keeps the batteries happy, i even do not take them off thr boat during the winter.
And lets you know how much energy you arecusing and how much is left in the batteries.
Regards,
Jow
Hi,
I use this one:
http://www.sunware.de/index.php?id=48&L=1
Extremely happy, it is a fire and forget solution.
Keeps the batteries happy, i even do not take them off thr boat during the winter.
And lets you know how much energy you arecusing and how much is left in the batteries.
Regards,
Jow
the_branflake
Member
I've been looking into this one on ebay A 6amp PWM charger, not bought one yet but will be doing after Christmas. A couple of videos of it in action at the bottom too, hes also done a noise test one on Youtube.
noelex
Well-known member
The specifications do not show what the regulation points are, but the video implies its a single point of 13.5v. This is too low unless you just want a trickle charge over winter.
the_branflake
Member
Just has this reply from the seller -
There are just two - 14.4 volts for the saturation (or boost) stage, and 13.5 volts for the float stage. Regards.
Last edited:
noelex
Well-known member
That sounds much better.
I am not sure why the video shows it regulating at the float voltage (13.5) when first turned on.
Two stages and PWM for that price is very good and it looks like a good solution for small systems where the cost of a more expensive regulator is not justified. My only caution would be if you have Gel batteries where 14.4v is a little high.
nimbusgb
Active member
ukmctc
New member
speak tp Lloyd West at Marlec, he is the man for solar and wind
paulingreece
New member
Thank you all for the replys, once again, very informative, lots to think about, sorry it has taken a while to reply, seems my computer wanted a new hard drive for christmass, and wouldn't work till it got one. Again thankyou for coming up with the info so quickly.
Paul.
Paul.
pappaecho
New member
Maplin inexpensive, switches to two different banks dependant on the voltage of the banks, and switches off if over 14 volts.
What more do you need?
What more do you need?
noelex
Well-known member
The simple switching regulators will waste a lot of power. Get a regulator that is PWM.
paulingreece
New member
After reading all the posts again, i have decided to go for a PWM, type, just not sure of make yet, bit more research before i make the final choice.
