Quality / Experience Share: We have a much larger solar array 10 x 130W wired in parallel (voltages start to get a little high for my liking if they were in series) on our 14 m Catamaran, but when I upgraded our old solar controller to a new Victron MPPT 85A one, I naturally placed it where the original boat manufacturer did - in our port engine room. This unfortunately was a fair distance away (9 m wire run) from our 900A battery bank situated below the seats in our main saloon. While in the Caribbean, I noticed after a couple of rainy days that I never saw more than 55A of charging current (even though our batteries had become rather depleted from a series of wet weather systems), so during a Xmas stop in St. Lucia, I decided to move the controller next to the batteries (approx. 1 m) and the difference was spectacular. I was now seeing up to 75A of charging, when our batteries would get depleted and we were able to concurrently charge our batteries, run our 12v water maker and use the inverter to run our washing machine while at anchor - it was a game changer. I have installed a 120A blue seas breaker at the controller (per the Victron manual) and a 100A blue seas breaker after a positive bus bar where we combine the positive wires of the panels, as Victron states the controller will become damaged should the panels be connected to the controller when it is not connected to the batteries. I found this extra breaker ideal (used as a switch) when I connected the solar charging system 2 years ago to the new smart shunt and colour system monitor. From time to time, I like to also check the output of individual panels, as we had significant problems with our original flexible panels dying and ended up discarding them for traditional hard type Victron panels. We have had zero issues with the additional Blue Seas breaker between our controller and our panels over the past 5 years...
Well, when I bought my two 110W panels I spent just very few more money to by the 24V version of the panels. Then I connected each with a dedicated Victron MPPT 75/15 controller. That is what I would recommend to overcome that issue.
Voltage drop depends fully on wire thickness. If you make the wiring between controller and battery thicker, you can put it further away without any difference. Of course you'd have to calculate to compare. Calculating voltage drop between panels and controller should also be calculated; you may need thicker wire for this.
Your channel has really great videos. I have a few questions regarding solar charging my bass boat. I’m confused on what exactly I need and where they should be placed in the charging system. I currently have four batteries on my bass boat and a minn Kota four bank on board battery charger. I’m wondering from the panels to the onboard charger, What do I need in between to regulate my charging? Your comments are much appreciated.
I agree; the controller should be closer to the batteries. Typically, the panel feeds are running at a higher voltage with an MPPT, so those wires can be smaller. The feeds to the batteries are seeing battery-range voltages, and thus are at a higher amperage requiring larger conductors, so shorter runs are more beneficial on this end; saves weight, voltage drop, money, etc. I personally DO put a breaker/disconnect on the MPPT to battery positives. Keep your zincs fresh. :)
My plan is to put a switch between the panel and the mppt. I am still doing a fair bit of work on the boat and I'm likely to disconnect the battery at some time, which I believe would harm the mppt if the panels have voltage. Is that logical?
70w panels should be put in series on victron controllers these panels only put out about 16-18 volts victron controllers only kick in at 6 volts over battery voltage to start. Will not harvest any power early or late hours of the day or cloudy days without hitting peak voltage output.
Hello Jeff and Group: Can I use a Blue Seas Battery Bank 9001-e battery bank switch On two battery banks that are charged from a solar controller? I wanted to have two batter banks that where 12 volt In parallel and make a 24 volt, and in series 30 volt 100 ah battery X 2 batteries 100 ah 30 x 4x 2= 240 amps per battery bank times two battery banks total 480, would this work? Or should each bank of batteries needed it’s own solar controller/charger? Could the Blues Seas Battery Bank switch 9002 HD or 9003 HD could be used for this type of project and they can handle 500 amps. The battery bank switch would be connected to the inverter as a on/off and to switch to the different solar battery bank directly linked to the inverter Would this work or could this work? Regards Hope
Unfortunately, never tried this setup before. Not sure if the solar panels would handle being disconnected when using the switch. Anyone else have experience with this setup?
Yes it can be done. The technical experts at Blue Seas Symptoms are wonderful and knowable and patient with newbie people who want to set up a solar system in a RV or a Van and a house system can have a two battery banks system. In my ruff idea and design I was seeing what creative way to manage batteries and to have a back up battery bank. Regards Hope
With the Victron Smart Solar MPPT controller the bluetooth connection allows you to turn the controller on and off through the Victron app. Would that suffice as a disconnect to the battery?
I have a solar panel on the parking area and connect to the controller in order to charge the batteries. When i leave the parking for a searide, is it secure to leave the cable from panel disconnected from the controller and leave it that way? Keep it mind that i secure the cable male plug with a female.
Next to your NAV station and other gauges would be the Smartest place , close to an accessible location and halfway between where the batteries and where the Solar wires come into the cabin. Use common sense
Thanks for sharing Chris. Personally i get the controllers as close to the battery as possible and your correct, quite often the panel is close to the batteries.
www.amazon.com/dp/B07GST347D?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share. This is a waterproof cover that will hold 2 of the breakers I described in my previous comment, I hope that helps 🙂
Quality / Experience Share: We have a much larger solar array 10 x 130W wired in parallel (voltages start to get a little high for my liking if they were in series) on our 14 m Catamaran, but when I upgraded our old solar controller to a new Victron MPPT 85A one, I naturally placed it where the original boat manufacturer did - in our port engine room. This unfortunately was a fair distance away (9 m wire run) from our 900A battery bank situated below the seats in our main saloon. While in the Caribbean, I noticed after a couple of rainy days that I never saw more than 55A of charging current (even though our batteries had become rather depleted from a series of wet weather systems), so during a Xmas stop in St. Lucia, I decided to move the controller next to the batteries (approx. 1 m) and the difference was spectacular. I was now seeing up to 75A of charging, when our batteries would get depleted and we were able to concurrently charge our batteries, run our 12v water maker and use the inverter to run our washing machine while at anchor - it was a game changer. I have installed a 120A blue seas breaker at the controller (per the Victron manual) and a 100A blue seas breaker after a positive bus bar where we combine the positive wires of the panels, as Victron states the controller will become damaged should the panels be connected to the controller when it is not connected to the batteries. I found this extra breaker ideal (used as a switch) when I connected the solar charging system 2 years ago to the new smart shunt and colour system monitor. From time to time, I like to also check the output of individual panels, as we had significant problems with our original flexible panels dying and ended up discarding them for traditional hard type Victron panels. We have had zero issues with the additional Blue Seas breaker between our controller and our panels over the past 5 years...
Well, when I bought my two 110W panels I spent just very few more money to by the 24V version of the panels. Then I connected each with a dedicated Victron MPPT 75/15 controller. That is what I would recommend to overcome that issue.
Thanks for sharing.
Voltage drop depends fully on wire thickness. If you make the wiring between controller and battery thicker, you can put it further away without any difference. Of course you'd have to calculate to compare. Calculating voltage drop between panels and controller should also be calculated; you may need thicker wire for this.
Well said.
Your channel has really great videos. I have a few questions regarding solar charging my bass boat. I’m confused on what exactly I need and where they should be placed in the charging system. I currently have four batteries on my bass boat and a minn Kota four bank on board battery charger. I’m wondering from the panels to the onboard charger, What do I need in between to regulate my charging? Your comments are much appreciated.
Loving your work Jeff
Thanks.
I agree; the controller should be closer to the batteries. Typically, the panel feeds are running at a higher voltage with an MPPT, so those wires can be smaller. The feeds to the batteries are seeing battery-range voltages, and thus are at a higher amperage requiring larger conductors, so shorter runs are more beneficial on this end; saves weight, voltage drop, money, etc. I personally DO put a breaker/disconnect on the MPPT to battery positives. Keep your zincs fresh. :)
Thanks Tao4409 for the weigh-in. Very well explained.
@@PacificYachtSystems It is always my pleasure Sir. :)
If i wanted to install a solar panel on my 18 ft shallow sport, what would you recommend. It currently has 2 batteries. It came with 1 originally.
My plan is to put a switch between the panel and the mppt. I am still doing a fair bit of work on the boat and I'm likely to disconnect the battery at some time, which I believe would harm the mppt if the panels have voltage. Is that logical?
Correct, one should avoid disconnecting or connecting solar panels that are energized.
70w panels should be put in series on victron controllers these panels only put out about 16-18 volts victron controllers only kick in at 6 volts over battery voltage to start. Will not harvest any power early or late hours of the day or cloudy days without hitting peak voltage output.
Good point George.
Hello Jeff and Group:
Can I use a Blue Seas Battery Bank 9001-e battery bank switch On two battery banks that are charged from a solar controller? I wanted to have two batter banks that where 12 volt In parallel and make a 24 volt, and in series 30 volt 100 ah battery X 2 batteries 100 ah 30 x 4x 2= 240 amps per battery bank times two battery banks total 480, would this work? Or should each bank of batteries needed it’s own solar controller/charger? Could the Blues Seas Battery Bank switch 9002 HD or 9003 HD could be used for this type of project and they can handle 500 amps.
The battery bank switch would be connected to the inverter as a on/off and to switch to the different solar battery bank directly linked to the inverter Would this work or could this work?
Regards
Hope
Unfortunately, never tried this setup before. Not sure if the solar panels would handle being disconnected when using the switch. Anyone else have experience with this setup?
Yes it can be done. The technical experts at Blue Seas Symptoms are wonderful and knowable and patient with newbie people who want to set up a solar system in a RV or a Van and a house system can have a two battery banks system. In my ruff idea and design I was seeing what creative way to manage batteries and to have a back up battery bank.
Regards
Hope
With the Victron Smart Solar MPPT controller the bluetooth connection allows you to turn the controller on and off through the Victron app. Would that suffice as a disconnect to the battery?
Interesting point, never tried. Wil check this out.
I have a solar panel on the parking area and connect to the controller in order to charge the batteries. When i leave the parking for a searide, is it secure to leave the cable from panel disconnected from the controller and leave it that way? Keep it mind that i secure the cable male plug with a female.
Yep, it's OK to have a panel disconnected and left in the sun.
Next to your NAV station and other gauges would be the Smartest place , close to an accessible location and halfway between where the batteries and where the Solar wires come into the cabin.
Use common sense
Thanks for sharing Chris. Personally i get the controllers as close to the battery as possible and your correct, quite often the panel is close to the batteries.
If you're buying a boat, checkout SailboatData's iPhone/iPad app. It's so much easier than their website.
Sounds good.
www.amazon.com/dp/B07GST347D?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share. This is a waterproof cover that will hold 2 of the breakers I described in my previous comment, I hope that helps 🙂