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Forum Index : Solar : Help with solar regulation.
| Author | Message | ||||
| Benzol Regular Member  Joined: 07/01/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 64 |
Hi All. I hope there is someone here that can help. I have a 12v solar system for all the external LED lighting around my place. Lights are controlled by a micromite touch screen. The solar regulator I am using is an old BP Solar which has the load across the battery (and charge) thus running all my 12v lights of anything up to 14.5v. A bit too much. There are 4 main ccts, approx 1A, 1A, 1.5A and 6A. Do the new solar regulators have a 12v regulated output OR is it possible to regulate each circuit to maintain 12v? I know using a 7812 with power transistors is not an option due to the required input / output voltage differences. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. db |
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| George65 Guru  Joined: 18/09/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 308 |
12V ordinarily is not 12V. It is more like the 14.5 you are getting. If you have a 12V battery at 12V, it's not fully charged and in most cases will have it's life shortened. It's more of a standard than an absolute as is any voltage and where battery's are concerned, 14.5 ( or a tad higher) is what you want to see across them and what a battery charger SHOULD be bringing them up to. For automotive and battery applications/ charging it's usually higher. Also, where and when are you measuring the voltage? At the source with no load or at the load end when everything is Running? Apart from the ( minimal in this case) load, the wiring is almost certain to have some resistance that will also drop the voltage where the power is being used. To have 12V on a decent wire run will almost Guarantee you won't have 12V at the other end. Unless your lights are blowing or burning out due to over voltage, which if they are 12V rated I'd find very unusual if they were, I wouldn't worry about it. If you are measuring battery voltage, that's right about whee you want it. |
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Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
This regulator is only $5 and is designed for LEDs. This is separate to your solar regulator which will give a wider range of voltage as your battery needs at least 14.5 to charge properly. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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| George65 Guru Joined: 18/09/2017 Location: AustraliaPosts: 308 |
Never ceases to amaze me how cheap they can make those little boards. I know some people question their quality but I have had real good service out of the loads I'm using for various things. I spent a fair bit on Arduino stuff only to realise that i can buy boards to do simple things so much cheaper than setting up an arduino of any flavour. Most of what I want to do with arduino requires a power supply module and a realy for them that adds to the cost and makes the premade boards a much cheaper and re practical proposition as well. |
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| Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
Arduinos are so flexible, however there are times where a dedicated device is better. First Arduino project I built was new controller for my solar hotwater pump. Rheem wanted $600, I bought new sensors, a small solid state relay, wire and the Arduino for less than $20. I have even programmed it so it will circulate water to prevent freezing the panels if it gets too cold which the $600 one does not do. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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| Benzol Regular Member Joined: 07/01/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 64 |
Hi George & Madness. I like the buck converter. I hadn't considered those so you advice has led me to a different Path. Most of my lights are external and on long runs so the extra volts doesn't hurt but there others on short runs, such as the 2 x 10W COC LEDs over my workbench. After about 15 mins i can't even touch the heat sinks hence the search for an alternative. The solar regulator only has 3 terminals so the load has to go across the battery. that's why I was asking if the newer PWM or MPPT solar regs have a regulated 12v separate to the batteries. Thank you both. cheers |
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| Madness Guru Joined: 08/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2498 |
No they do not have a regulated 12V output as in most cases it is unnecessary, cost more money and wastes energy. There are only 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't. |
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| Benzol Regular Member Joined: 07/01/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 64 |
Thanks Madness. db |
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