Electrical Advice Needed,

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Electrical Advice Needed,

brian · Guru

It can only handle 760w if charging 24v batteries. It is limited to 380w if charging 12v batteries.

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Thanks for the reply,

Would two X 200 Watt 12 volt panels cook it, Going into 8D batterys,

Looks like I will have to get a bigger Controller if thats the case,

What do you think of the electrical system that is in it, On a 1 to 10 Basis, Ten is excellent, One is total Crap,

Like I said in my first post, I dont have a clue on this stuff,

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Also, Would this controller do away with me installing the Xantrex Pro Link battery monitor,

Or would I still need that one as well,

brian · Guru

Mr B2 wrote:

Also, Would this controller do away with me installing the Xantrex Pro Link battery monitor,

Or would I still need that one as well,

There is very little information to be gained from that website which in itself is a pretty poor example of a trader's website.

I'm sure you could find better dealers around who at least provide a reasonable website to peruse.

On a scale of 1 to 10, and going by price alone as no other details are readily available, I would have to give it about 3, but it should handle 400w OK provided you don't let the batteries get down below about 60% Soc..

The Xantrex monitor is a far more reliable bit of gear and will give you more info, with more accuracy, than you can ever expect from that cheap controller.

Mr B2 · Senior Member

I just clicked on that link above, Its all disjointed now, All the Information on it is missing, Sorry about that,

Some of the sites that have that particular Controller on it, are asking $300-00 for the same item, and every where in between,

Xantrex is also made in China, Its a Canadian design, Sold by the USA, I have a lot of Xantrex Gear, Currently in the Bin to be scrapped,

And they charge the earth for it, The same Gear direct from the actual manufacturer in Quong Dong in China is 1/8 of the cost I pay for it in OZ, or from the States,

Xantrex does not have a good reputation for reliability on the sailing forums I am on, Close to fifty thousand world wide members,

And this gear is going on my ocean going Catamaran, Not my Coach,

Thanks any way,

SnowT · Guru

Hey Brian..

One of the best solar regulators on the market is the Dingo 20/20..

Juergen

-- Edited by SnowT on Sunday 2nd of March 2014 06:06:58 PM

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Some of the diagrams I have used on my Boat and Coach,

The boat also has a Wind Genny,

I dont have shore power or Generator,

Both are fully self sufficient for power,

TV, DVD, water maker, Pumps, Micro wave, Radio, VHF, Auto pilot, GPS, Radar, Self steering, Invertors, Drills, sanders, Electric tools, Etc Etc, I run a full workshop on both,

I can also rebuild a motor on the side of the road, Which I have done,

Yes I am an electrical Dummy, But it dont mean Im stupid, I do happen to be a Practising Engineer, Mechanical, with 50 years practical experience,

What I design, I also manufacture with my own pinkys, I also write out the certificates and test it all, In my own name,

I just dont know what inside the electrical gizmo's do, Thats why I ask, We were all learners once, Some people forget that little fact,

Electricity is out side my Forte,

The coach's system is 25 years old and still running perfectly, I have upgraded it with solar, new gas tanks, and removed the generator,

The boats system is 14 years old and still ran perfectly till I sunk it, Its all being upgraded, I single handed it from Fiji to OZ via Bundaberg, approx 3000 NM, That was a good learning experience for me, Hahahaha.

Things did break on it, I had to repair it in the middle of the Ocean, Out there, I didnt have any one to ask, I was not in contact with any one, No communications of any kind,

Internet connection was only within 12 NM of a shoreline,

So If I ask for info on some thing, Please keep it nice,

-- Edited by Mr B2 on Sunday 2nd of March 2014 02:12:42 AM

PeterD · Guru

Mr B2 wrote:

I just clicked on that link above, Its all disjointed now, All the Information on it is missing, Sorry about that,

Some of the sites that have that particular Controller on it, are asking $300-00 for the same item, and every where in between,

Can you post the links for the controller on some of the other sites please.

Mr B2 · Senior Member

I will try again with the Specs of this Controller, Hopefully they will be clear to read,

This Particular controller is now available from a shop in Melbourne, So I dont think it is the Crap some people think it is, Just because it happens to be Chinese,

The shop in Melbourne wants about $20-00 more than the one direct from China, Its the exact same controller from the same manufacturer,

Its obviously not big enough for my future use, with the bigger Wattage of the panels I want, At least 400 Watts, but prefer 500 Watts of Solar,, Space on my roof is extremely limited,

It is also effected by shade on one side during the day, The other side gets full sun, Depending on direction, Both Panels get full sun, The sails block out one side from time to time,

Have a perusal of the specs, Tell me what you think of the Gizmo's inside it, And what they do, Its both an PWP and an MPPT, According to the specs,

But Like I said, Its over my head, This is a Sparkys realm,

Thank you for your assistance,

Mr B2 · Senior Member

The Melbourne company selling these is Solar-Sunflower,

They are on Ebay.com. Not Ebay .com.au,

Google, 30 Amp MPPT 12 Volt Solar Controllers,

Plendo · Guru

Hi Brian,

I had a look at the specs on the charger, and they are a bit light on for detail (example they just list a float voltage, they do not mention the rest of the charge cycle), but the main thing ringing alarm bells is the price, it just appears to be too cheap. If you get one make sure you test it well before you risk leaving it unattended.

Now a second thought, I suspect your coach would be 24V, and your house system 12V (most RV house fittings appear to be 12v), have you considered putting in a 24V battery, charging it with solar and your alternator, then converting down to 12V to supply the house voltage.

Why 24V, 1. compatibility with your charging system, 2. @ 24V you will easily handle the amount of solar you want with an inexpensive 30A controller, 3. Is you ever feel the need to fit an inverter to get 240V there is a much better range of equipment available for 24V.

This is what I am doing with a caravan here in Melbourne, the system will be based one a 24V battery, the original fitment 12V battery will remain, along with a cross charger.

Food for thought I hope.

If you would like to meet up and see what we are doing just PM me.

Mr B2 · Senior Member

Hi Plendo, Im in Lilydale, Near the York Pub,

The whole system is 12 Volt on the Coach, Thats the way it came, Its very simple, Coach and House side are both 12 Volt, Its all Integrated, Its all Automatic, I dont have to touch any thing, Every thing is visible on the Dash,

Engine alternator charges both 12 volt batterys, When its running, When the diesel is not running, The Coach battery is not used for any thing, Its a start battery only,

It has to flick over a 300 HP Catarpillar Engine, 120 Amp Alternator, 12 volt, Every thing on the motor side is 12 volt as well, I dont have 24 Volt any thing, Boat or Coach,

The Micro wave, Inbuilt Food processor, Inbuilt Vaccum Cleaner, Garbage Compactor, Ice maker, Are 110 Volts, I have a new transformer coming for them, 10 KVA, I need a Sparky for that Baby, I am not touching that mongrel thing, Hahahaha, Its heavy as, Weighs a ton, Well it is very heavy, You get the picture,

The one that was used to convert it in the USA to 240 Volts shore power cooked itself, 7.5 KVA, I cut it out with insulated bolt cutters and chucked it out of the Coach, It was near red hot and Burning, I dont want my Coach burnt to a crisp,

It had Active wire to Negative in the shoreline, Inside the Coach terminal, I was not impressed, Lucky I was inside the Coach at the time, and smelt it burning,

Its was also under the lift up Queen bed, I had fun finding that one, The motor and gear box is under there too,

It has 2 8D Batterys, Lead Acid, 12 Volt, The Boat is Gel batterys, also in 12 volt,

I have a 5000 Watt Pure Sine Invertor, With a 10,000 Watt Surge, 240 Volt, I only need that for power tools if I need to repair some thing out in the sticks,

It runs a 500 Watt Power Drill and a 125 mm Grinder at the same time off one fully charged Battery, And me leaning on it hard, Make sure its got the grunt, Perfect,

12 Volt gear is very cheap, And plentifull, A lot cheaper than 240 volt, And it runs straight off the house Battery, 24 inch, 12 volt colour TV with built in DVD is $170-00 AUD, From Sydney,

The Invertor came from Power Jack, $500-00 Delivered, Xantrex one, also Chinese, 1800 Watts is $2000-00 here,

In China, That $500-00 is very very expensive, Its all in the Relativity, I have been to Japan and Bali, If you go to the shops the tourists go to, You will pay through the nose and Aussie Prices, You get ripped off severely, I can buy their stuff cheaper here, I do know the prices of things, and I can convert prices,

You go half a mile down the road, Where no tourists go, You pay their Countrys prices, A pittance, $110-00 in the tourist area, is $10-00 or less where no tourists go,

And the people selling the stuff are nicer to talk to as well, Very Friendly,

Same as China, I buy from the actual Manufacturer in China, at their standard normal Chinese Prices, Not from Distributers, Who Charge a lot more,

Dont worry about the cheap prices, Im a Scrooge when it comes to dollars, I have spent a life time making the machines that make the parts,

They dont make crap quality parts, they are all the same coming off the Production line, Fancy box with copyright and Trademarks, Expensive,

One Companys box, With all the trademarks, Reg Copyrights, Etc, $200-00, Next Companys box also with all the trademarks, Etc, $180-00,

The rest, In Unmarked Plastic bags, Wholesale distribitors, $30-00 to $50-00. from the wholesaler, Mechanics or Fleet Prices, Not available to the general public.

Thats what I buy, One of the perks working for your self,

My last wife was like that, If she didnt pay thru the nose for it, It had to be Garbage, I said, whats the number on it, She told me, I could get it for a third of the price,

She would not believe me, Duuuhh, Nah, Its Garbage, Cant be the same item, I just had to supply my company order to get it, Still the same Item, Same number, And all the same quality.

Sparkys buy their gear from Middys, Same deal, You get it a lot cheaper than the local shops, Wholesale prices, I also buy gear from Middys, Etc, Not an Electrical store, EG; Retail,

The 270 Watts I have in solar panels, Already is more than I use, Im Frugal, I Turn things off if I am not using it, The 500 watts, Is just me, I dont build to a Price, I build

it to last a lifetime, Big jobs take the same time to make, I just put in heavier components, Make it and forget it, It wont break down in service,

Most things have Built in Obsolesence, Two years time you have to buy a new one, I hate that, Its a Disgusting Practice,

Printers are a good example of it, So Many Pages, Its Dead, Reset the timer on it, Its new again till it hits the page limit again, Dead, Then reset it again, New again,
Hahahaha

If you dont know how to do a reset, Simple, Buy a new Printer, Good for the sales of new printers, Rippoff, Big time,

I will PM you, You play with Sparks, I make things, Its a two way street, Hahahaha,

SnowT · Guru

Brian..

Have a Read...

PowerJack

A very interesting Read..

Juergen

Mr B2 · Senior Member

SnowT,

I have seen that one Mate, There is a Video for every piece of faulty electrical equiptment ever made, Its man made and will eventually fail, Hahahahaha,

I have had brand new Bearings fail, Problem is, You have to pull whatever its in apart again before you can replace it, Thats very annoying, $300-00 Bearing, Put it on the counter, Hmmm, Yep, Its faulty, Here's a new one, They wont cover your time, installing or replacing it, Just hand over a new bearing, Free,