Solar charge controller selection help needed
I am looking to put in a solar system that will produce about 30 amps per day. I choose a semi-flexible 135 watt panel made by Sunpower which meets my capacity needs. My only problem is choosing t...
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Your solar controller is rated at a maximum 20amps load to a battery. It probably does not provide that current through the "load" terminals. You don't NEED to trash your converter. If it worked to charge your battery, previously, there is no reason to "trash" it.
The best way to connect the output of the solar controller is directly to the battery. If you install a copper bus and connect both the converter and the solar controller to that bus, you can connect the bus to the battery with one set of large cables and have everything working to the max. You can also leave your converter wiring "as is" and connect wires from the controller to the battery.
The connections to your distribution panel are already in place. The distro panel is fed from the battery and also, in a parallel scheme, from the converter. Installing the solar controller is just adding another parallel charging source into the distribution.
None of this has any effect on the monitoring panel. The connection to the monitor is made through RJ45 socket in the controller. You may also have to grab a 12v (+) and install a shunt if that is applicable to the monitor. My guess is that the monitor only measures amps produced by the solar controller and interprets battery voltage into amp hours used or SOC.
You can call me if you wish. I'll send my phone number to you via PM.
The best way to connect the output of the solar controller is directly to the battery. If you install a copper bus and connect both the converter and the solar controller to that bus, you can connect the bus to the battery with one set of large cables and have everything working to the max. You can also leave your converter wiring "as is" and connect wires from the controller to the battery.
The connections to your distribution panel are already in place. The distro panel is fed from the battery and also, in a parallel scheme, from the converter. Installing the solar controller is just adding another parallel charging source into the distribution.
None of this has any effect on the monitoring panel. The connection to the monitor is made through RJ45 socket in the controller. You may also have to grab a 12v (+) and install a shunt if that is applicable to the monitor. My guess is that the monitor only measures amps produced by the solar controller and interprets battery voltage into amp hours used or SOC.
You can call me if you wish. I'll send my phone number to you via PM.
