Hi,
Apologies if this is a really basic question, and if here are answers elsewhere please direct me to them.
I am having trouble understanding the correct/best way to connect a load and battery to a solar controller. The setup i am working on is a very simple one for a van conversion. It consists of a 200w solar panel, a 40a mppt controller and 2x130ah batteries in parallel. The controller is a standard 3-stage model (contant current, constant voltage, float). The load will consist of LED lights (5A), water pump (10A), Fridge (15A), toilet (5A), 12v sockets (30A), 800w inverter (80A). The values in brackets are the fuse rating installed on each load, not the constant current draw, which will likely be 5-10A max at any one time. Currently all load is connected to the battery terminals. I am aware that the inverter must be directly connected to the battery.
I was wondering if it is necessary, or just better, to connect the other loads to the controller load terminals rather than the battery?
Without load, in the constant current mode it would be assumed that all output from the controller is drawn by the battery. With load, it would not matter if the load were connected to the battery or controller as all possible power would be available on the battery connection. Is this correct?
In constant voltage and float mode only a small current may be required, so can the controller supply the excess current to the load terminals? If the load is placed on the battery then will the charge current be diverted to the load, with current drawn from the battery as necessary, until the battery voltage drops enough to cause the controller to enter constant current mode?
What if the load requirements are greater than the controller can supply, when the load is on the controller load terminals? Will the charge direction be reversed so the battery supplies the controller's load terminals?
Many thanks for taking the time to read.
Regards,
Peter
Apologies if this is a really basic question, and if here are answers elsewhere please direct me to them.
I am having trouble understanding the correct/best way to connect a load and battery to a solar controller. The setup i am working on is a very simple one for a van conversion. It consists of a 200w solar panel, a 40a mppt controller and 2x130ah batteries in parallel. The controller is a standard 3-stage model (contant current, constant voltage, float). The load will consist of LED lights (5A), water pump (10A), Fridge (15A), toilet (5A), 12v sockets (30A), 800w inverter (80A). The values in brackets are the fuse rating installed on each load, not the constant current draw, which will likely be 5-10A max at any one time. Currently all load is connected to the battery terminals. I am aware that the inverter must be directly connected to the battery.
I was wondering if it is necessary, or just better, to connect the other loads to the controller load terminals rather than the battery?
Without load, in the constant current mode it would be assumed that all output from the controller is drawn by the battery. With load, it would not matter if the load were connected to the battery or controller as all possible power would be available on the battery connection. Is this correct?
In constant voltage and float mode only a small current may be required, so can the controller supply the excess current to the load terminals? If the load is placed on the battery then will the charge current be diverted to the load, with current drawn from the battery as necessary, until the battery voltage drops enough to cause the controller to enter constant current mode?
What if the load requirements are greater than the controller can supply, when the load is on the controller load terminals? Will the charge direction be reversed so the battery supplies the controller's load terminals?
Many thanks for taking the time to read.
Regards,
Peter