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  • 12 volt or 14 volt

    I have 4 battery's and wandering if it will be better to hook them up in series or parallel. I have them in parallel right now and that is 12 volts but isn't it better to have them in series to get 24 volts . It would power lights and other things better.

  • #2
    12 volt or 24 volt

    Originally posted by DeltaFox 25 View Post
    I have 4 battery's and wandering if it will be better to hook them up in series or parallel. I have them in parallel right now and that is 12 volts but isn't it better to have them in series to get 24 volts . It would power lights and other things better.
    Depends on your loads.

    If you have a bunch of 12V appliances, you know the answer

    If you have stuff that runs of 24V, go with 24V

    If you are running things off an inverter, then, generally, the higher voltage choice is better, because you have less amps in the system to create loss, and still retain the same watts. You will need an inverter for the right voltage.

    Mike
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

    Comment


    • #3
      Mike , I just bought a 60 amp inverter to replace the 30 amp one.
      I need to figure out if you can go + - +- on the solar panels. I have everything in parallel right now . I don't think I'm done yet because I have a DC breaker switch coming.

      Thank you for your help.

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      • #4
        You can hook panels in series + - + - + - to increase the volts, but be careful, your charge controller can only accept so much voltage before the magic smoke comes out.

        If you don't have an MPPT Downconverting style of charge controller, you may not want to go more than 20% above your battery voltage, as the power will be lost/wasted.
        Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
        || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
        || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

        solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
        gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

        Comment


        • #5
          I have a Morningstar 60 Amp tristar charge controler. Youn can ajust your rate for 12 , 24 , 48 volts . I was looking to see if it was sine wave or not and I can't find anything. I have a good one for you. What is the PWM battery charging algorithm ?

          I have found on the web sight it provides it is MPPT
          Last edited by DeltaFox 25; 10-28-2009, 04:47 PM.

          Comment


          • #6
            Morningstar makes 2 models of the 60A Tristar.

            Original PWM $200 http://www.altersystems.com/catalog/...48v-p-363.html

            New, Dec 2009, MPPT $561
            http://www.altestore.com/store/Charg...troller/p7728/

            PWM is Pulse Width Modulation, where the PV output is connected to the battery vi a FET, and the charge is controlled by Modulating the On time. Touch the wire, remove the wire, touch the wire, remove the wire. Like controlling engine speed with the fuel pump.
            Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
            || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
            || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

            solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
            gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

            Comment


            • #7
              Yes , My charge controler was $198.88 and I got the remote Temperature probe also $ 28.16. I needed a better one then I have already and it is a sunforce 30 AMp . So mine isnot a MPPT ,o well, It looks like I payed 5 or 6 dollars more.

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