Solar Charger Setup

[JimS]

I finally tested my solar setup today and was pleased with the results.To begin with, I have a Kyocera KC130-TM 130 watt SP a Blue Sky SB2000E charge controller with battery temp sensor and will eventually run to a couple of 6V golfcart batteries - possibly Trojan T - 105's.  I designed the SP to be portable.  I used very high quality 10G oxygen-free speaker cable (30 feet) to run from the panel to the controller.  I chose this cable because it is very flexible and it has very fine strands meaning low resistance.  I then used a Marinco ConnectPro trolling motor plug at the end of the SP cable to connect to the Marinco recepticle that I mounted on the side of the PU.  (Drilling the hole was not fun. The camper walls are about 2.5 inches thick.)  It is a heavy duty weather proof twist - lock design which can handle up to 8G wire.  I used the same speaker cable from the recepticle to the controller, which I mounted right beside the old battery level meter just inside the door.  I then wired the controller's ground using 6G welding cable straight down through the floor and bolted the lug the the frame using a 3/8th inch bolt.  The positive battery cable is also 6G welding cable.  All connections are crimped and soldered, with dielectric grease and shrink tubing over the connection.  During the test of the system today, the solar panel was putting out 19V, and 6.5A.  The controller was delivering about 14V at 6.5A with the fan running at full speed and all the lights on.  With everything turned off, the amps dropped to about 0.2A with the battery reading at full charge.  With everything running (fan and lights) the voltage never dropped below 12.7V.
Now to finish up with the new battery box and routing the cables and hope that the latest aggravation in my life resolves so my family and I can go on vacation next month - though not the three weeker we had planned. Have to come back a week or so early to ........ :mad:

[wavery]

I finally tested my solar setup today and was pleased with the results.To begin with, I have a Kyocera KC130-TM 130 watt SP a Blue Sky SB2000E charge controller with battery temp sensor and will eventually run to a couple of 6V golfcart batteries - possibly Trojan T - 105's.  I designed the SP to be portable.  I used very high quality 10G oxygen-free speaker cable (30 feet) to run from the panel to the controller.  I chose this cable because it is very flexible and it has very fine strands meaning low resistance.  I then used a Marinco ConnectPro trolling motor plug at the end of the SP cable to connect to the Marinco recepticle that I mounted on the side of the PU.  (Drilling the hole was not fun. The camper walls are about 2.5 inches thick.)  It is a heavy duty weather proof twist - lock design which can handle up to 8G wire.  I used the same speaker cable from the recepticle to the controller, which I mounted right beside the old battery level meter just inside the door.  I then wired the controller's ground using 6G welding cable straight down through the floor and bolted the lug the the frame using a 3/8th inch bolt.  The positive battery cable is also 6G welding cable.  All connections are crimped and soldered, with dielectric grease and shrink tubing over the connection.  During the test of the system today, the solar panel was putting out 19V, and 6.5A.  The controller was delivering about 14V at 6.5A with the fan running at full speed and all the lights on.  With everything turned off, the amps dropped to about 0.2A with the battery reading at full charge.  With everything running (fan and lights) the voltage never dropped below 12.7V.
Now to finish up with the new battery box and routing the cables and hope that the latest aggravation in my life resolves so my family and I can go on vacation next month - though not the three weeker we had planned. Have to come back a week or so early to ........ :mad:

Sounds like a real nice, well thought-out set-up.

I would just make one simple recommendation.

You might want to consider running a jumper to by-pass the controller for those days that you want to get the optimum performance out of your array. Like those cloudy days or a nice day after a couple rainy days and that extra .5A may make the difference that you need.  :S

[JimS]

Sounds like a real nice, well thought-out set-up.

I would just make one simple recommendation.

You might want to consider running a jumper to by-pass the controller for those days that you want to get the optimum performance out of your array. Like those cloudy days or a nice day after a couple rainy days and that extra .5A may my the difference that you need.  :S

Good suggestion.  And simple too: I could buy another Marinco recepticle and wire it up with a couple of alligator clips to hook up to the battery.

[chasd60]

Sounds like a good setup. Portability gives greater output when tilted towards the sun but lower output if you want to leave your camper for the day and don't dare leave the panel out.
 
Another risk for portable panels is in this thread
http://www.arveeclub.com/showthread.php?t=63944