yet another solar panel query(yawn)

[born2sail61]

I've been given a 15w panel. I read somewhere that with a panel this size a charge controller isn't essential. Is this correct? Can I connect direct to battery?Don't want to risk cooking the 85ah battery. Apologies if this has been asked previously and thanks

 

[JumbleDuck]

I've been given a 15w panel. I read somewhere that with a panel this size a charge controller isn't essential. Is this correct? Can I connect direct to battery?Don't want to risk cooking the 85ah battery. Apologies if this has been asked previously and thanks

I think the general guideline is that you can get away without a regulator if the solar panel rating in W is less than 1/10 of the battery capacity in Ah. You can get a perfectly respectable regulator on eBay for a fiver, delivered ...

 

[born2sail61]

Thanks,next stop ebay!

 

[Skylark]

I think the general guideline is that you can get away without a regulator if the solar panel rating in W is less than 1/10 of the battery capacity in Ah. You can get a perfectly respectable regulator on eBay for a fiver, delivered ...

.....................could you paste a link or give an item number, please?

 

[JumbleDuck]

.....................could you paste a link or give an item number, please?

The sub-fiver ones come from China ... from the UK, something like this looks OK

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-Cha...51353550478?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item3a85d6ce8e

 

[TonyBuckley]

The sub-fiver ones come from China ... from the UK, something like this looks OK

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Solar-Cha...51353550478?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item3a85d6ce8e

Battery and panel connections I get but what are the two connections that look like a lamp?

 

[JumbleDuck]

Battery and panel connections I get but what are the two connections that look like a lamp?

It will be the "load" connection, but what that does depends on the device. Sometimes it's a place to dump solar power if the battery is charged, sometimes it's a power supply which cuts off when the battery gets flat, sometimes it switches a light on when the sun goes in. See

http://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/khxc/gbu0-display/faq.html#16

In all cases you can safely ignore it if you don't need what it does.

 

[GHA]

I've been given a 15w panel. I read somewhere that with a panel this size a charge controller isn't essential. Is this correct? Can I connect direct to battery?Don't want to risk cooking the 85ah battery. Apologies if this has been asked previously and thanks

It's possible to fry a bank even with a small panel

 

[JumbleDuck]

It's possible to fry a bank even with a small panel

Interesting. Definitely not worth saving a few quid on a controller.

 

[cimo]

It's possible to fry a bank even with a small panel

well done that man!