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Post Info TOPIC: Fixing flexible solar panels to van roof
T1 Terry


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RE: Fixing flexible solar panels to van roof
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Jaahn wrote:
T1 Terry wrote:
Terry I have never had a LA battery which needed "16.5v for an equalising charge". Saying such dis-information does you no good IMHO.

Jaahn

 Maybe a read through the major flooded cell battery manufactures literature might help, this higher voltage is required for equalisation, some sulphated plate surface shedding and stirring of the electrolyte to get rid of the stratified electrolyte problem that topping up regularly with water causes. Basically, the fix for under charged batteries that don't a return to 100% SOC every cycle and have either a far too short or to low voltage absorption cycle programmed into the charger.

One of those things learnt working with electric vehicles in the days before lithium batteries.

 Terry

 Hi Terry smile

If some rare person is running an electric vehicle with flooded cells off their caravan solar system I would presume they had enough expertise to Know all the facts.

The rest of the normal people out there are most likely running AGM batteries or possibly gel which do not require or need equalising charges or very high charge voltages. If they have flooded cells then they could write in and tell us what the manufacturers recommendation is for Voltages. hmm

My home sealed batteries specify max 2.38V per cell = 14.28V for 12v system.

Jaahn

Please read what was actually written

 This is more an issue with flooded cell batteries that need to reach 14.8v for the end of boost and 16.5v for an equalising charge

so information relating to sealed batteries is a tad irrelevant, I think you might have been in rush to attack and might not have stopped to follow what was being said in my post. I don't demand anyone reads or follows or even believes what I post, I'm just putting information out there for the reader to determine if they want to believe it or not, the method of establishing this information is sometimes helpful to the reader so they at least know it wasn't just something read somewhere and passed off as fact by the poster.

 

T1 Terry



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CC Bear


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Ok this is heading in the wrong direct and not what I asked. I have the panel and care not if it only produces 130 watts or what ever..

So back to the simple question.

Can I use this panel with my current controller , photo in OP.

If no then what type of controller and what size would I need to get?

Thank you

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Jaahn


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CC Bear wrote:

Ok this is heading in the wrong direct and not what I asked. I have the panel and care not if it only produces 130 watts or what ever..

So back to the simple question.

Can I use this panel with my current controller , photo in OP.

If no then what type of controller and what size would I need to get?

Thank you

 Hi Bear smile

I though I answered that simple question. Sorry if i gave you a more considered opinion. I will not make that mistake again.

YES

Jaahn

PS I probably would have added that is the lowest quality controller I have seen, but I will not bother now :)



-- Edited by Jaahn on Thursday 27th of July 2017 03:09:18 PM

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T1 Terry


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The specs here www.roadtechmarine.com.au/medias/sys_master/images/h7e/hc5/8838466928670/TES410-dataSheetMain.pdf say an open circuit voltage of 30vdc max and the panel specs say 28vdc so you just scrape in :) The controller seps say it switched off at 14.4v and back in at 13v, not ideal but it will work.

T1 Terry

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You can lead a head to knowledge but you can't make it think. One day I'll know it all, but till then, I'll keep learning.

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toglhot


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I bought an 80 watt semi a few years ago to stick to my Jayco CT roof. The panel turned up with three corners bent and buckled when I bought it so the seller sent a new one and said i could keep the damaged one. I stuck it to a piece of marine ply and have been using it as a portable, must be around 5 years old now, still puts out the same values as it did when new. Can't say I've ever noticed any noticeable heat.

I glued a plastic semi to my CT roof also, plastic doesn't get hot like aluminium so I just Sikaflexed it to the roof. The beauty of semis is they are super lightweight and only 3 mm thick. Previous to these two I had a BP 80 watt framed panel, the semis perform just as well as the BP did. If there is any performance difference it is minimal.

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mr glassies


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Hey terry you better sort out which I need so we can order them before we get there . Also will need that 24 volt element . Thanks for the help at three springs all working well now . Thumbs up m8 .


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