AGM overcharge

[Shamancat]

Hi we will be on the hardstand for 6 months in the rainy season. Will one unregulated 130W solar panel overcharge a 675 Ah AGM battery bank? If so would partially covering it help? TIA

[Pete7]

Why not fit a regulator and be safe? A basic Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) would do and they are not that expensive.

Pete

[noelex 77]

Yes that is too big especially for AGM.
Covering is often seen but does not work very well. It is very difficult to get the voltage correct.
I agree with Pete get a PWM regulator. Cheap and easy to fit.

[btrayfors]

I agree.

Morningstar makes several good controllers, including a 20A SunSaver PWM model (about $75 street price). Or, you could go whole hog and get a SunSaver 15A MPPT model for just over $200.

Either way, you'll be doing your batteries a big favor, and....all for less than the cost of a night out in Petchburi :-))

Bill

[Albro359]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

I agree.

Morningstar makes several good controllers, including a 20A SunSaver PWM model (about $75 street price). Or, you could go whole hog and get a SunSaver 15A MPPT model for just over $200.

Either way, you'll be doing your batteries a big favor, and....all for less than the cost of a night out in Petchburi :-))

Bill

Absolutely ! DIVA has 2 x130W panels connected to a Morningstar MPPT controller connected to the 420Ah house bank and that keeps them in perfect condition. I left DIVA in Fiji from November to April 2011 and the batteries were perfect when I came back, and still are.

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by btrayfors

I agree.

Morningstar makes several good controllers, including a 20A SunSaver PWM model (about $75 street price). Or, you could go whole hog and get a SunSaver 15A MPPT model for just over $200.

Either way, you'll be doing your batteries a big favor, and....all for less than the cost of a night out in Petchburi :-))

Bill

I agree. I've been using a Morningstar PS-15 PWM solar controllers on both my 12 volt house bank (Gels) and 48 volt Electric propulsion bank (AGM) for over five years and both banks are still going strong. At a cost of less than one nights dockage it's cheap insurance and will help your batteries last longer.