24V Battery with a 12V Inverter

[cmwardy2000]

Hi Folks,

I just can't seem to find this answer anywhere, but this may be just the right place. I'm definitely a newbie to the solar world. I have 4 18V 8A solar panels, 2 12V marine batteries. I need to figure out what type of charge controller will take all the power from the panels and keep the batteries charged. I have a 12 V 1750W inverter. I see that I can hook up more power by creating a 24V battery system, but I'm not sure that can run a 12V inverter on this. Anyone who can advise me on this would be great. It's for a small cabin that is not wired for power so I'd be using extension cords from the inverter to power various things (Radio, LCD TV/DVD, coffee maker if possible, and a few LED lights, sometimes simultaneously)

[Mike90250]

Don't try to feed your 12V inverter with 24V . It will only work for a few seconds.

As to what to use for a controller, you have 32amps possible, there are 2 controllers I like in that range, both made by Trace/Xantrex The C-35 or the C-40. Simple PWM controllers, and well made. 35 & 40 amps respectively.
The 2 batteries in parallel ( pos to pos, neg to neg) should be fine charged from your 4 panels. But beware the coffee maker, it's also a battery killer, using half your day of sunlight. Get a little propane or butane stove.