solar panel

[georgieboy]

I have recently fitted a solar panel and conected it directly to the domestic battery .Can anyone advise me wether I can charge the starting battery at the same time.Do I have to run new cables from one to the other or if I use the three way switch (one on,both,off)will this work ?
Thanks

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

More detail is required. What wattage is the solar panel? If it is more than about 20W you will need a regulator to avoid overgharging the batteries when the summer sun eventually appears. To charge both batteries without one discharging into the other you will need a two-way diode splitter or a change over switch and a voltmeter to help you to decide when to changeover. The switch can be a 10A toggle switch as the currents are unlikely to be higher.

 

[vyv_cox]

You should have a controller, such as the DB1S from Sunworks if your panel is bigger than about 20 Watts. This one splits the charge as required, prioritising to whichever battery has the lower charge. If the panel is smaller than 20 Watts you would really be wasting your time trying to charge both battery banks with it. Better to connect it to whichever battery needs the charge, via its own switching.

When you say connected it directly to the battery, I trust that you mean via a fuse?

 

[georgieboy]

The solar panel is 7W and has a built in regulator.

I connected direct to the battery through a fuse.

Thanks for your advice I will rig a toggle switch to swap from one to the other battery

 

[mortehoe]

What make is it?

I don't know of any 7W solar panels with regulators.

It most probably has a single in_line diode which stops any reverse current flow when daylight fails.

 

[simonfraser]

Re: What make is it?

indeed