Solar panels through a dc-dc charger

sumo · Member

Solar panels through a dc-dc charger

justcruisin01 · Guru

sumo wrote:
Is it safe to run my solar through a dc-dc charger. I run a dc-dc charger in my van through a Anderson setup from car and can I just plug my portable solar panels in to the Anderson plug on the van when not attached to car or do I have to have a separate setup

Some DC-DC units are also for solar as well, however you will need to verify this before doing so.

If not I dont think you will get away with doing as you suggested, A cars voltage is around 13.8 volts;( give or take a bit each way) & solar open voltage can be as high as 21volts.

I think this may cook the DC.

JC.

03_troopy · Guru

What brand and model DC to DC charger are you using Sumo?

snapper49 · Senior Member

Depends on what you have
I have a Ctek D250S Dual with dedicated Solar input as well as a dc current from the alternator

www.ctekbatterychargers.com.au/

PeterD · Guru

Some of the Redarc DC-DC chargers have been designed to use the input for use as an MPPT solar regulator input. As far as I know the alterator can not be used for a solar input on any of the others.

03_troopy · Guru

Yes, I fitted a Redarc BCDC1225 to the camper trailer in this configuration. Used a 7amp CTek to charge when 240V was available at caravan parks. It worked well too.

wasn_me · Guru

What is the difference between a DC-DC & a BC-DC charger?? DC is direct current (battery power). What does BC stand for??

Cheers Pete

PeterD · Guru

Where did the term BC-DC charger from? If you extracted it from the part number BCDC1225 then you are making things up. The BCDC1225 is just a DC-DC charger.

Possibly DCBC just means a battery charger powered from DC as distinct from 240 V AC battery charger. The output of both are similar, that multi stage charging. You will have to contact Redarc if you want to know what the BCDC stands for.

03_troopy · Guru

wasn_me wrote:
What is the difference between a DC-DC & a BC-DC charger?? DC is direct current (battery power). What does BC stand for??
Cheers Pete

PeterD wrote:
Where did the term BC-DC charger from? If you extracted it from the part number BCDC1225 then you are making things up. The BCDC1225 is just a DC-DC charger.

Possibly DCBC just means a battery charger powered from DC as distinct from 240 V AC battery charger. The output of both are similar, that multi stage charging. You will have to contact Redarc if you want to know what the BCDC stands for.

There is no such animal as a BC-DC charger. The Part No of the Redarc device possibly stands for Battery Charger DC(-DC?) 12V 25A.

The term "DC to DC charger" refers to the device generating one voltage level of DC current, from an input of a different voltage level DC current.. ie 12V to 14.8V

wasn_me · Guru

03_troopy wrote:
wasn_me wrote:
What is the difference between a DC-DC & a BC-DC charger?? DC is direct current (battery power). What does BC stand for??
Cheers Pete

PeterD wrote:
Where did the term BC-DC charger from? If you extracted it from the part number BCDC1225 then you are making things up. The BCDC1225 is just a DC-DC charger.

Possibly DCBC just means a battery charger powered from DC as distinct from 240 V AC battery charger. The output of both are similar, that multi stage charging. You will have to contact Redarc if you want to know what the BCDC stands for.
There is no such animal as a BC-DC charger. The Part No of the Redarc device possibly stands for Battery Charger DC(-DC?) 12V 25A.
The term "DC to DC charger" refers to the device generating one voltage level of DC current, from an input of a different voltage level DC current.. ie 12V to 14.8V

Yes you are correct. I was reading something into the part no.

Cheers Pete

kww511 · Member

I have spoken to C-tek specifically about the connection requirements of the DC250s as I wanted to run alternate inputs through the same Anderson plug with just one positive connection to the c-tek. ie either the car battery or a solar panel from the Anderson plug. The DC 250s has two specific inputs for input from car battery and solar. I was advised directly by the c-trek rep that the solar must be connected to the solar terminal and battery 1 ( my car battery) must be connected to the other. So there must be two separate positive connections.