Solar panels etc...

[BobE]

Just been looking at the "Solar Panels Again" thread...
The other day I was at Maplin Electronics in Christchurch and saw a kind of suitcase solar panel for around 50 squids
Succumbed and bought it..
Seems a reasonable buy as they're at 99.99 on the Maplin site today..
It's supposedly 13 Watt and has a 4 amp charge regulator
Plugs into a fag lighter socket and seems to work fine..
Question is
I also have an old Martec wind genney which I've never used on the boat..
Can I use the regulator for the panel with the wind genny? Can I leave them both connected at the same time?

Relative bit of Maplin blurb states...

• Includes 4A charge regulator
• Charges 3V, 6V, 9V and 12V appliances
• Flashing charge indicator and blocking diode
Complete with all leads needed
Suitable for all 12 Volt battery systems......

Comments welcomed...
Cheers Bob E...
And I'd be down at the boat if it stopped sisssing down!

 

[bedouin]

It is highly unlikely that they regulator for the solar panel will work for the wind gennie, (not given the price you paid for it).

One of the key features required for a wind generator controller is the ability to dump a massive amount of power (or disconnect all together) when the wind gets up the low power regulator supplied with the panel will simply not be able to cope.

 

[VicS]

That regulator seems to be supplied exclusively with the 13 watt brief case solar panel but the specs indicate that it is suitable solar panels up to 80watt.

Now if it were a shunt type regulator capable of handling 80watts I would expect to see some fins to dissipate that much heat and some mention of providing adequate ventilation in the instructions. It is unlikely to be anything as fancy as a pulse width modulated regulator so I assume it simply disconnects the solar panel from the battery when the volts have risen to the cut off value .

If that is used in conjunction with a wind generator there may be issues with high voltage surges, occurring when the load is disconnected, and its rectifier.

I think if you want to use a wind generator and a solar panel together you should be looking at one of the range of Rutland regulators designed specifically for the purpose. HERE