what would you do next, solar charging

[simonfraser]

Hi,

my last year new boat came with diy charge controller for solar panel

this levelled off at 15V

it thought this was too high, so at last junked the charge controller and bought a new one, you can guess the rest !

the new charge controller does exactly the same, levels off at 15V, wet lead acid battery

the same moment any current is pulled the voltage reduces to 13.9 or less

if i leave the solar cell off for a week the resting voltage is 12.85

what next ?

 

[Talbot]

Have you tried a different voltmeter?

 

[davierobb]

Leave as is and go and enjoy some sailing.

I use a solar a panel with no regulator and have no problems. Current batteries are fine after two years and consistently show 14.5V. Last batteries died after 3 years with no solar panel. As long as the panel is not huge then you can get away with no reg. Our boat is based in Scotland and is used frequently so panel is always catching up with charge. Panel is 12W into two 110Ah batteries.

 

[simonfraser]

thanks, i do go sailing, just like my instruments to keep working )

interesting to see your batteries are ok at 14.5

i have two 12W's and one 6W, when sunny they do up to 0.8A

i'll leave it alone

 

[davidbains]

The figures sound OK to me Simon.
The alternative is to not bother with the regulator when you're onboard. And leave only one panel connected when you're ashore.
I have large panels and no regulator. The fridge is the regulator!!
When I leave the boat only one 10wt panel is left connected.
Incidentally the panels can confuse an alternator and should probably be disconnected when motoring (if you have a diesel which you may not in a multi).
I never regretted moving from outboard to small diesel and with a Kiwi prop now hope to have the best of both worlds.

 

[simonfraser]

thanks david,
diesel, haha, 6hp 4 stroke does the job !