Solar Charge Controller Recommendation

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Charles Quinn - 25 Oct 2005 03:11 GMT

Have a friend who has a remote cabin. Another friend just received two solar
panels from a relative. We are planning on putting a system together to run a
few small compact flourescents and maybe a blender.

We will probably use two 6V batteries.

What charge controller do most of you use? We would most likely want a battery
status monitor.

Also, can anyone recommend a system to hold the panels during the day. We
don't want something with autotracking, we can move the tripod (or whatever)
during the day.

TIA
Charles

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Ralph E Lindberg - 25 Oct 2005 13:22 GMT

> Have a friend who has a remote cabin. Another friend just received two solar
> panels from a relative. We are planning on putting a system together to run a
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> TIA
> Charles

I like ICP

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Charles - 06 Nov 2005 01:52 GMT

Charles,

You did not mention how large the batteries and chargers are.

I have a remote cabin and I have 3 RV 12V batteries, 115 Ah and 3 5-Watt
solar chargers. I do not use a controller and it works fine. If you go
more than 1 5W charger per battery, you will need a controller.
Batteries are now 8 years old and still working.

We are on a north west facing slope in the forest, though. YMMV
depending on average cloud cover and exposure to sunlight.

We use it for RV water pump in winter, car radio, fluorescent lights,
incandescent lights (short term use) charging cell phones and powering
CB or FRS radio, inverter for TV/video player, notebook computer,
drill-driver battery charger, coffee grinder.

You can buy high intensity lights with a transformer plug and cut off
the transformer, add a cig-lighter plug and run them directly. You can
also run 12v power tools directly. Car foglights are useful for outdoor
lighting (short term, of course!)

I don't remember how much power a blender takes, but more than a few
watts of AC can be a challenge to the batteries and the inverter. So you
will need more batteries.

Good luck,

Charles.

> Have a friend who has a remote cabin. Another friend just received two solar
> panels from a relative. We are planning on putting a system together to run a
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> TIA
> Charles

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