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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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electrical - again

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glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/08/2012 : 06:44:46

if both the alternator and solar panel are attempting to charge the battery what happens? I assume the solar charge controller would sense the increased voltage in the line (from the alternator) and simply cut back or shut down. True? The reason for my question is that I noticed in the archives that some, including JimB (former commodore), installed disconnect switches to ensure only one charge source was functional at a time. why?

Gerry Livingston, Malletts Bay, VT
"Great Escape" 1989 C-25 SR/WK #5972

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Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2012 : 08:17:45

No reason to disconnect any parallel charging sources.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2012 : 11:36:52

I don't recall Jim having a charge controller on Indiscipline so he may have been trying to prevent an overcharge situation. With a controller he would not have to worry about that situation. I believe his solar panels were only used when he was on a cruise so he was able to monitor his batteries closely. In Mission Bay he was on shore power.

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glivs
Admiral

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USA
836 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2012 : 16:07:30

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I don't recall Jim having a charge controller on Indiscipline...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That would explain it...thanks

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3472 Posts

Response Posted - 02/08/2012 : 16:33:08

I have a Morningstar Pro15M Controller hooked up to my solar panel and batteries. Once in awhile, when the wind has died, I may have to run my outboard for an extended period of time. During the few times this has happened, the solar controller stops the current flow to the solar panel. The solar controller reads the charging voltage of the outboard. Once the outboard is off, the solar controller allows the panel to once again charge the batteries unless the batteries are fully charged which is often the case. The solar controller then indicates the batteries are fully charged. If I am operating the outboard for a long time, say an hour, and at fairly high speed, I have noticed in only one or two instances, that the controller will actually shutdown. Once the outboard is turned off, I then restart the controller and it is then back to normal reading battery voltage and solar panel charging rate...but if batteries are fully charged it will not overcharge the batteries.

Edited by - OLarryR on 02/08/2012 16:33:43

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