Solar set up, Catalina 22

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Actually you can set the Float or the stop charging level on this type.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3utx0h3wjn...USB-6.pdf?dl=0

I've had a few of the with various names but same controller.

The Victrons are better though because they have a proper Adsorption Phase and a true Float

It took a full day of charging in Absorption Phase to get my two 6 volt 220 ah Batteries totally charged after they had been on the cheaper PWM's pictured for a year

Yes I know but I had to use the el cheapo one the customer likely was given due to its minimal features and price ( free)
Not the one I recomended by any means here is a similar unit to the one I recomended for his cheap budget .

https://www.ebay.com/itm/20-30-40-60...edirect=mobile

All parameters are user settable. But don't believe the MPPT claim . It is a PWM controller.

[wtubbs]

Wow, thank you all for the information.

Currently I have these two batteries in the boat:
West Marine 75 Amp
Everstart 101 amp

Here is what I currently have in my amazon cart:

SunPower 50W flex solar panel

Extension cables

Controller for two batteries

LCD Display

The controller specifies: sealed, gel, flooded.
The Everstart is a lead acid. Will the controller work with that battery or will I need to replace it?

Am I missing something with this set-up?

Thanks again!!!

[wtubbs]

It looks like acid and sealed are the same thing.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by wtubbs

Wow, thank you all for the information.

Currently I have these two batteries in the boat:
West Marine 75 Amp
Everstart 101 amp

Here is what I currently have in my amazon cart:

SunPower 50W flex solar panel

Extension cables

Controller for two batteries

LCD Display

The controller specifies: sealed, gel, flooded.
The Everstart is a lead acid. Will the controller work with that battery or will I need to replace it?

Am I missing something with this set-up?

Thanks again!!!

Ok all is good. Sealed lead acid are what is also called maintenance free. Flooded is what we refer to here fla which is lead acid that you can add water to periodically and gel well self explaining as far as I see it for now yes you are good to go .

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by thomm225

The controller reads 14.7 volts!

What's that all about?

You didn't set a Float Voltage?

I forgot to unplug the shore side battery charger at that moment.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by wtubbs

Wow, thank you all for the information.

Currently I have these two batteries in the boat:
West Marine 75 Amp
Everstart 101 amp

Here is what I currently have in my amazon cart:

SunPower 50W flex solar panel

Extension cables

Controller for two batteries

LCD Display

The controller specifies: sealed, gel, flooded.
The Everstart is a lead acid. Will the controller work with that battery or will I need to replace it?

Am I missing something with this set-up?

Thanks again!!!

Didn't think about it to much but my solar MPPT is also a epever trace controller but I have the Bluetooth adapter so I could set the parameters for lifepo4 which are on my boat.
Good choice it can handle another 150 watts worth of panels if you ever want to upgrade solar on your vessel .

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by wtubbs

Wow, thank you all for the information.

Currently I have these two batteries in the boat:
West Marine 75 Amp
Everstart 101 amp

Here is what I currently have in my amazon cart:

SunPower 50W flex solar panel

Extension cables

Controller for two batteries

LCD Display

The controller specifies: sealed, gel, flooded.
The Everstart is a lead acid. Will the controller work with that battery or will I need to replace it?

Am I missing something with this set-up?

Thanks again!!!

That controller in your link is way overpriced and only 10 amp.

Get this one.

It's cheaper, 30 amp, and you can set the Float level are charge cut-off voltage level.

You also don't need the LCD display with this controller. It has it's own display.

https://www.amazon.com/Controller-In...s%2C58&sr=8-15

ABOUT THIS CONTROLLER:



*Voltage: 12V/24V

*Over charge Protection: 14.4V/28.8V

*Over charge Floating charge: 13.7V/27.4V

*Charge recover voltage: 12.6V/25.2V

*Over discharge Protection: 10.7V/21.4V

*Load Mode: 24 hours, 1-23 hours, 0 hour

*Max input power and voltage: 390W /12V; 780W/24V

*Equalization: B01: sealed 14.4V / B02: Gel 14.2V / B03: flood 14.6V

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by thomm225

That controller in your link is way overpriced and only 10 amp.

Get this one.

It's cheaper, 30 amp, and you can set the Float level are charge cut-off voltage level.

You also don't need the LCD display with this controller. It has it's own display.

https://www.amazon.com/Controller-In...s%2C58&sr=8-15

ABOUT THIS CONTROLLER:



*Voltage: 12V/24V

*Over charge Protection: 14.4V/28.8V

*Over charge Floating charge: 13.7V/27.4V

*Charge recover voltage: 12.6V/25.2V

*Over discharge Protection: 10.7V/21.4V

*Load Mode: 24 hours, 1-23 hours, 0 hour

*Max input power and voltage: 390W /12V; 780W/24V

*Equalization: B01: sealed 14.4V / B02: Gel 14.2V / B03: flood 14.6V

Except it won't work as he wants it to the Epever unit he wants will do 2 battery banks. he wants to charge 2 battery banks off one controller.

It's a Catalina 22 it doesn't have much that will draw power especially if he converts to all led . Let's see 2 cabin lights . 4 navigation lights when needed and one of them is also his anchor light . Which is actually not required on vessels under 7 meters .
( fought a ticket one time )
His expected max power draw would be likely in the 5ah range .

Personally I would remove one of those batteries and use that 45 pounds for something else like food or drink in a cooler .

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Except it won't work as he wants it to the Epever unit he wants will do 2 battery banks. he wants to charge 2 battery banks off one controller.

It's a Catalina 22 it doesn't have much that will draw power especially if he converts to all led . Let's see 2 cabin lights . 4 navigation lights when needed and one of them is also his anchor light . Which is actually not required on vessels under 7 meters .
( fought a ticket one time )
His expected max power draw would be likely in the 5ah range .

Your kidding right?

Take a look at the two controllers.

You see all those big differences???!!! NO? Right.

That BS about Duo batteries is a selling gimmick. (if you know enough)

I charged two batteries or battery banks with these for years.

Last year I had one charging my two 220 ah Golf Cart batteries

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Your kidding right?

Take a look at the two controllers.

You see all those big differences???!!! NO? Right.

That BS about Duo batteries is a selling gimmick. (if you know enough)

I charged two batteries or battery banks with these for years.

Last year I had one charging my two 220 ah Golf Cart batteries

No I'm serious . You ought to do some research on the Epever controllers. They are right up there with victron but at a fraction of the cost .
You should quote my whole post.
It would make your cheap controller viable .


You don't want to know the number of those cheap controllers I have replaced after they fail and fry a battery .

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by newhaul

No I'm serious . You ought to do some research on the Epever controllers. They are right up there with victron but at a fraction of the cost .
You should quote my whole post.
It would make your cheap controller viable .


You don't want to know the number of those cheap controllers I have replaced after they fail and fry a battery .

I've used those controllers for 10 years with no fried batteries.

I have a Victron 75/15 SmartSolar (Bluetooth) Controller now and it's way better than either of the ones posted above.

Plus you can see the data on your phone or Laptop.

It also has true Bulk, Absorption, and Float phases where as those others do not

[thomm225]

*****For his set up though if he wants to charge the two batteries separately that Duo Controller does have the separate hookups.*****

I had to magnify the photo to see them.

So I missed that one.

Trying to do too many things at once.

I'm always charging all my batteries together since they are usually hooked up in series like my two 6 volt Golf Cart Batteries are now or in parallel the way my two 12 volt batteries used to be hooked up.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by thomm225

*****For his set up though if he wants to charge the two batteries separately that Duo Controller does have the separate hookups.*****

I had to magnify the photo to see them.

So I missed that one.

Trying to do too many things at once.

I'm always charging all my batteries together since they are usually hooked up in series like my two 6 volt Golf Cart Batteries are now or in parallel the way my two 12 volt batteries used to be hooked up.

Ok cool I agree with charging all batteries as a single bank on boats with multiple banks.
I however stand by my comment about removing one off his 22 ft boat there are much better things to do with that 45 pounds . And a 100ah would be plenty for him .

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Ok cool I agree with charging all batteries as a single bank on boats with multiple banks.
I however stand by my comment about removing one off his 22 ft boat there are much better things to do with that 45 pounds . And a 100ah would be plenty for him .

You could charge both batteries on the "normal" type controller but one battery since his are different wouldn't receive a full charge.

But these controllers still are not as efficient as a Victron with its true Bulk, Absorption, and Float phases.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by thomm225

You could charge both batteries on the "normal" type controller but one battery since his are different wouldn't receive a full charge.

But these controllers still are not as efficient as a Victron with its true Bulk, Absorption, and Float phases.

Of course not the victron you quoted to is an MPPT controller not a PWM like what he is wanting to install.

Now I put my epever tracer 3210an the same specs just about 20% cheaper .
Than your victron 3210an