Solar regulators and motoring

[contrail]

Originally Posted by john61ct

OP, workaround alert.

Since the high current charging makes solar redundant, just wire a Blue Sea Dual Circuit switch, for both between the panels and SC, and to the bank.

No voltage loss worth worrying about.

After you shut down the engine, turn on the solar.

Alternately, if your solar bank keeps up with your usage, install a field disconnect to your alternator and run the engines without charging, except when you need to.

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by Oceansailor

The house bank is 1100Ah. Start charging at 50%. It takes about 3 hours to get to around 80%. I’m quiet happy to reach 80% in 3 hours.

100% I would never try with the engine as it would take much to long.

How large is your alternator? What type/brand is it? Do you have an external regulator for it?

With an 1100AH bank at 50% and 80% achieved after 3 hours running you will have put 330 AH into the bank. This doesn't take into account alternator output reducing due to its temperature increase.

That leaves a long way to go to get to full, with acceptance declining.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Make the target voltages on the regulator and controller different. Maine Sail has discussed this many times.

+1

The most likely explanation is absorption voltage of the alternator is the same as, or higher than the absorption voltage of the solar controller. If this is case It is easily fixed and with a few changes the charge sources will behave correctly.

What are the voltage and time set points for the alternator and solar regulator and what type of batteries do you have?

[rom]

Originally Posted by Oceansailor

Anyone recognizing the problem?

Are there any smarter units available?

That behaviour seems normal to me. On very rare occasion I want my 2 victron controllers to go from float to bulk/absorption I just start the water heater for a few seconds to bring the battery voltage down. Those victron MPPT will automatically reset and start a new charge cycle. Easy.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Oceansailor

Anyone recognizing the problem?

Are there any smarter units available?

Yes and that is why I got an Outback Flexmax controller because pretty much may function, setpoint, and time can be controlled from the controller including forcing it back into Bulk.

But why don't you just put a toggle switch on the solar input to flip on/off?

[Oceansailor]

Thanks everyone! As some of you noticed I most probably do not recharge 30 % in 3 hours, the 50/80 % was just a very round figure. I should have been just writing batteries absorbs 30A when shutting off. Solar controller stay in float and do not charge until I have been resetting them. (Power them off) A switch between input and controller will make that easier. But have to say it is a primitive solution! A reset function in the controller would have been much nicer.

[hpeer]

http://www.flexcharge.com/custom-1/N...ual%202012.pdf

I have these controllers. 25A but can also use a remote relay for virtually unlimited amperage. They do the trick for me.