[[edit: nevermind the cooler question - somebody was able to answer at another forum - however, still wondering: I just want to buy a 30w panel and charge controller and then hook them up to my current battery bank? -- specs below -- I don't want to buy anything else -- very simple -- Thanks!]]
Thanks for your help. I’ve been reading other posts, but I have a pretty low tech, low wattage question. Can I combine two different panels with two different watts by using two of the same charge controllers to the same battery bank? I already have the Kyocera and batteries; I can add an Instapark 30 and an extra controller for not much money. Also, the Kyocera has been discontinued.
Here are the details of what my system would look like:
(x1) Kyocera KC 40 Panel -- 43 watts – 17.4 volts – 2.48 amps
(x1) Instapark 30W Panel – 30 watts – 17.5 volts – 1.68 amps
(x2) SunGuard/Morningstar 4.5 amp Charge Controllers – I use Morningstar chargers because I heard they are better for sealed batteries?
(x3) UB 12350 Sealed Lead Acid Battery 35 Ah (total of 105 Ah) – I got these batteries because they were offered with free shipping to rural Alaska – anything larger is very, very expensive to get here. Also, these sealed batteries can be legally shipped via USPS flat rate boxes for around ten bucks.
(x1) Wagan 400 watt Power Inverter (works but loud fan runs all the time)
As a side, my current setup is for lights, laptop for movies, etc for a rec cabin in the woods. We only use the cabin in the summer and we get around 13 – 15 hours of sun per day depending on the month. The KC40 is working well but we’d like to add some capacity for a portable beverage cooler to store some meat/cheese. Would this system be big enough for a cooler that draws 4 amps at 48 watts? Thanks again for your advice. – Dave
Thanks for your help. I’ve been reading other posts, but I have a pretty low tech, low wattage question. Can I combine two different panels with two different watts by using two of the same charge controllers to the same battery bank? I already have the Kyocera and batteries; I can add an Instapark 30 and an extra controller for not much money. Also, the Kyocera has been discontinued.
Here are the details of what my system would look like:
(x1) Kyocera KC 40 Panel -- 43 watts – 17.4 volts – 2.48 amps
(x1) Instapark 30W Panel – 30 watts – 17.5 volts – 1.68 amps
(x2) SunGuard/Morningstar 4.5 amp Charge Controllers – I use Morningstar chargers because I heard they are better for sealed batteries?
(x3) UB 12350 Sealed Lead Acid Battery 35 Ah (total of 105 Ah) – I got these batteries because they were offered with free shipping to rural Alaska – anything larger is very, very expensive to get here. Also, these sealed batteries can be legally shipped via USPS flat rate boxes for around ten bucks.
(x1) Wagan 400 watt Power Inverter (works but loud fan runs all the time)
As a side, my current setup is for lights, laptop for movies, etc for a rec cabin in the woods. We only use the cabin in the summer and we get around 13 – 15 hours of sun per day depending on the month. The KC40 is working well but we’d like to add some capacity for a portable beverage cooler to store some meat/cheese. Would this system be big enough for a cooler that draws 4 amps at 48 watts? Thanks again for your advice. – Dave
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