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Subject Topic: Solar panel control unit. Help Post Reply Post New Topic
Personparkranger
via mobile 01/6/2024 at 11:16am
 Location: glasgow
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I have just installed a solar kit to my van. It's up and working. I. Noticed on the control unit panel. There is a connection + & - for an invertor. But the terminals look quite small.. Does the inverter go straight to solar control unit in this kind of set up. 🤔


Personnavver
01/6/2024 at 8:46pm
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I think it would be useful to know exactly what equipment you have.


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Personparkranger
via mobile 01/6/2024 at 11:52pm
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100w panel. Via solar control panel. Connected to 2x110amp leisure batteries lead acid. Also have split charge relay from alternator to leisure batteries. And 1000w invertor with 2000 surge rating.


Personparkranger
via mobile 01/6/2024 at 11:55pm
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Just wandering why there are ports on solar control panal for inverter. Is that in case there are no leisure batteries and the invertor is powered directly from solar panel. 🤔


PersonPaul_B
02/6/2024 at 9:08am
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I have a + and - on mine for a power source, however its for small items like tvs, on mine it turns the power off if the battery gets low.

I would couple the inverter direct to the battery, unless you want a fire


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Personbirder99
02/6/2024 at 9:34am
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Not knowing the controller you have, I would guess it is designed to cut the power to the inverter when your battery levels get low.

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Personparkranger
via mobile 02/6/2024 at 12:28pm
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The inverter is connected directly to batteries. Thanks for input. It's one thing watching YouTube videos on how to install this stuff. But the science that goes with this kind of install is probably more important ie volts amps current load cable ratings. The installation is the easy part. This is what I have learned. 👍


PersonMonty15
02/6/2024 at 1:18pm
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Your 1000W inverter is going to draw around 90A, and maybe more on a surge! You wouldn't want that passing through your solar controller!

As mentioned, likely the marked terminals are for a control function (perhaps a matched inverter from the same manufacturer) to disable the inverter when battery monitoring shows it running down. Or maybe to supply a very low power (less than the rating of the solar panel!) inverter direct from solar panel. Your instruction manual should explain their purpose.

The cabling for the inverter supply is likely near the diameter of your little finger and termination by nut and bolt, can't imaging any solar controller having that capability of termination!


Personparkranger
via mobile 02/6/2024 at 1:41pm
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Thanks for explaining this for me. So after reading replies. I think my set up is OK. Inverter is direct to my batteries. Can you tell me is it OK to run my split charge relay along with my solar at same time 🤔



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