|
solar regulator
& panel
upgrade
We started about eight years ago with 180 watts of solar consisting
of three 60 watt panels wired in parallel on the Jeep roof and a GSL
MPPT12-2 10 amp solar regulator charging a 55 amp hour 12 volt
Optima battery. We only ran a Waeco 50DZ fridge and lights
http://www.campertrailers.org/roof_panel.htm We now have two 66
amp hour 12volt Optima batteries and our needs have increased with
more lighting, 12volt pumps plus computer, phone and camera battery
charging. Sometimes we struggle to keep everything running for
extended stays when camping in very shady places which results in
decreased solar input.
Instead of spending $300 on a extra portable
solar panel, I decided to spend $600 on a new 300 watt 32 volt
Suntech glass solar panel and a Victron Smartsolar 100/20 regulator.
The regulator is capable of handling the output of 100 volt panels
and 20 amps with built-in bluetooth to enable monitoring via a
Victron Connect smartphone app. A ‘Smart Battery Sense’ voltage and
temperature sensor is connected to the battery under the bonnet
which is designed to send accurate voltage and temperature
information to the regulator via Bluetooth. I have turned the 180
watt of solar panels back into a 120 watt portable to use on shady
sites, plus I now have a spare 60 watt solar panel.
the good news
The 300 watt solar panel bolts down perfectly on
the roof rail cross bars of the Pajero and with the regulator it
works well providing up to 20 amps into the batteries when needed.
Even with the engine and alternator running if the batteries are
low, it will produce 20 amps. When the vehicle is running with
engine, aircon, fridge and all lights on the alternator output drops
significantly when the panel is in full sun. This should increase
the life of the alternator and also save some fuel.
The 100/20 regulator is highly configurable, all
voltages, battery types and settings can be changed or defaults can
be used. The Victron Connect app is very good, showing all the
normal battery and panel specs and thirty days of charging history.
The App works on Apple and Android phones. A sample app can
downloaded to pc’s from the Victron website but it can’t connect to
the real regulator, it is just a demo. My aim has been met giving us
reliable power even when camping in shady sites for two weeks which
has been the maximum test so far. In addition it can be left on 24/7
because it uses very little power when not in the sun and it charges
the car and Tvan camper trailer batteries all at the same time when
it is and it means I don’t need DC to DC converters or isolators
because the fridge switches itself off if the battery voltage should
ever get too low.
the bad news
The regulator has load output terminals for the
fridge etc, but it does not like our Waeco DZ50 fridge. When the
fridge is starting up the regulator thinks it is a short circuit and
switches it off. This problem has now been fixed by adding a $3.50
inrush current limiting NTC Thermistor in series with the fridge.
The Smart Battery Sense device uses bluetooth to
send voltage and temperature from the battery to the regulator, very
important when the battery is sitting in the hot engine bay and
allows the regulator to reduce the charge rate at high temperatures.
However it can’t connect to the regulator at the back of the vehicle
from the engine bay. There is no answer to this yet, so I have moved
the sensor to just inside the cabin at the passengers footwell on
extended leads so it reports correct voltage at least.
more good news
Victron Energy have a very helpful online
community of users and staff who take suggestions and work to solve
problems, such as fixing my fridge not starting problem. They advise
a new battery sensor with a stronger Bluetooth transmitter will be
coming out soon.
Now to do more camping and see if it works in the
bush, so far so good.
|
Victron
SmartSolar MPPT Regulator - 100/20 |
| Nominal system voltage
|
12V or 24V (auto
select) |
| Rated charge current |
20A |
| Maximum PV open circuit voltage
|
100V |
| Nominal PV power (input) |
290W @ 12V
|
580W @ 24V
|
| Max. PV short circuit current |
20A |
| Charge voltage in absorption mode |
14.4V @ 12V
|
28.8V @ 24V |
| Charge voltage in float mode |
13.8V @ 12V |
27.6V @ 24V
|
| Temperature compensation |
-16mV/°C @ 12V |
-32mV/°C @
24V |
| Self consumption |
10mA |
| Protection class |
IP43 |
| Operating temperature range |
-30 to +60°C |
| Dimensions (mm) |
100(H) x 113(W) x
60(D) |
| Model |
SmartSolar MPPT
100/20 |
| Manufacturer |
Victron |
|
SunTech
STP300S - 20 solar panel |
| Maximum Power at STC (Pmax)
|
300 W |
| Optimum Operating Voltage (Vmp)
3 |
31.9 V |
| Optimum Operating Current
(Imp) |
9.41 A |
| Open Circuit Voltage (Voc)
|
40.2 V |
| Short Circuit Current (Isc)
|
9.70 A |
| Module Efficiency
|
18.4% |
| Operating Module Temperature |
-40 °C to +85 °C |
| Maximum System Voltage
|
1000 V DC (IEC) |
| Maximum Series Fuse Rating |
20 A |
| Power Tolerance |
0/+5 W |
| Solar Cell |
Monocrystalline silicon 6
inches |
| No. of Cells |
60 (6 × 10) |
| Dimensions |
1640 × 992 × 35mm
|
| Weight |
18.2 kgs |
| Front Glass |
3.2 mm tempered glass |
| Frame |
Anodized aluminium alloy |
new information
Victron have sent me
upgraded replacement units at no charge which have completely
solved my two problems. The fridge now runs happily off the LOAD
output of the regulator and the Victron Connect App has been
upgraded as well and now displays TREND graphs. The new Long
Range Smart Battery Sense now works reliably from the engine bay
to connect via Bluetooth to the regulator at the back of the
vehicle so the regulator can adjust charge rates based on exact
battery voltage and temperature.
BTW, in case you were wondering, I chose a
glass solar panel over the new flexible panels because the
warranty and robustness is better and the right size was
available in an A grade panel to bolt directly to my roof rails
without requiring a roof rack or other hardware.
thanks to Ray for sharing this information
may 2019
|
