Another quicky question. Regulators this time.

[Grandad]

Another one for the neighbour.

He has an interest in Lifepo4 maybe down the track, so he's been pumping me for what I know about them. My stock in trade answer is always the same, "Go talk to Terry at Mannum" I have successfully, I hope, steered him away from the sealed case jobs.

But, I've explained a few simple, key things already. One was, stick with a simple PWM regulator, they actually do a better job on lithium. It's not just a cost saving, they also do a better job.....with Lifepo4. On Gel??? Yes, they may have an advantage for you. But he doesn't want to buy anything now that is known to not be suitable should he go down the Lifepo4 path later.

But, that advice is several years old. Does it still apply today or have MPPT regulators picked up their game?

THIS is the one he found.

What appealed to him was the remote display so he can keep track of how the solar is doing at any given time without having to look under the bed.

So, question 2 is, do PWM regulators also have this option?

And both of these question depends on the answer to question #3.

In this Jayco Silverline there is a PWM regulator up near the front of the van. The batteries are about 2/3 of the way back down the 22' van. I have pointed out that the regulator should be as close to the batteries as possible for peak efficiency. With this in mind, and the fact I haven't seen any cable going directly into the installed regulator and I therefore unwilling to assume there's anything more than 6mm auto cable bringing the feed in from the roof, he is thinking of just adding another regulator under his bed and we'll run 6G cable for each 300W panel ourselves. Leave the existing 120W panel to just continue doing its thing through the stock regulator.

There IS some 6G wire feeding into the battery, and one might assume this is the feed from the regulator. I'm not quite ready to assume that is correct until I see behind the regulator itself. And even if it is, that's a single 6G cable for one 120W panel now being used for 120W plus another 600W. I have a feeling that's not large enough.

Finally, after all of that, Question #3 is, is it ok to run two regulators going into the same battery bank?

Jim

[T1 Terry]

A quick question took half a page, the answer will take even more
The latest I can offer is, the current Victron "Smart" MPPT range has the ability to network with the "Smart" Victron 712 BMV and a "Smart" Victron mains charger etc. These can talk to each other to better communicate the genuine battery voltage so the previous issues with having more than one solar regulator of on a battery will only end in tears if you try to use an MPPT regulator.
Next, the solar controller you linked to is .... how do I say this ... you get what you pay for but only just .....

The "Smart" Victron gear will all talk to his "Smart" phone, so he can see what each device is doing while sitting around the campfire, well, as long as he is close enough anyway

T1 Terry

[Grandad]

Thank you Terry. The take home message I'm reading is, buy Victron.

Yes?

Jim

[Vik351]

A quick question took half a page, the answer will take even more
The latest I can offer is, the current Victron "Smart" MPPT range has the ability to network with the "Smart" Victron 712 BMV and a "Smart" Victron mains charger etc. These can talk to each other to better communicate the genuine battery voltage so the previous issues with having more than one solar regulator of on a battery will only end in tears if you try to use an MPPT regulator.
Next, the solar controller you linked to is .... how do I say this ... you get what you pay for but only just .....

The "Smart" Victron gear will all talk to his "Smart" phone, so he can see what each device is doing while sitting around the campfire, well, as long as he is close enough anyway

T1 Terry

Aint we lookin at goin down this track...???sorta...???

see ya next week... almost month...

vik...

[T1 Terry]

A quick question took half a page, the answer will take even more
The latest I can offer is, the current Victron "Smart" MPPT range has the ability to network with the "Smart" Victron 712 BMV and a "Smart" Victron mains charger etc. These can talk to each other to better communicate the genuine battery voltage so the previous issues with having more than one solar regulator of on a battery will only end in tears if you try to use an MPPT regulator.
Next, the solar controller you linked to is .... how do I say this ... you get what you pay for but only just .....

The "Smart" Victron gear will all talk to his "Smart" phone, so he can see what each device is doing while sitting around the campfire, well, as long as he is close enough anyway

T1 Terry

Aint we lookin at goin down this track...???sorta...???
see ya next week... almost month...

vik...

That be correct Vik, but we will check the system first to make sure it isn't just an issue with something being reconnected wrong when Avida did the last work on it.
Tom and Carmel's van has 840w of solar, was working well but a well known Qld caravan repair mob replaced the fibreglass roof meaning they had to remove the panels and refit them to the new roof. The system now puts in around 200w, less than 25% of what it should (sorry about the pun) so the job has grown even bigger now. It was bad enough trying to find what they got wrong as far as the wiring between the front boot and the electrics cupboard that stopped any of the remotes from working, including the Victron BMV ... Electrics is not their strongest suit apparently

T1 Terry

[Vik351]

So how did this job go...???

Decks cleared yet, ya bin missin in action ... not dem peepers is it ...

standing by...

vik...

[T1 Terry]

Yeah, Tom & Carmel are back on the road, had Wednesday and Thursday as recovery and do all the house jobs that didn't get done days.
Tuesday is the next needles in the eyes day, so either up here Saturday or not until Thursday at the best cause the eyes take a while to settle down enough to focus for more than a few mins.

T1 Terry

[Vik351]

OK bloke. .. leave it till next week , lemmi know how your goin and go from there ...

vik...

[Vik351]

does this look right...???

vik...???

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[Vik351]

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