Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 27-11-2012, 17:57   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 2
12v solar to 36v battery bank

I recently installed a 7A 128W solar panel to a 36V battery bank made up of 6 6V batteries connected in series. After routing it through the MPPT controller it's putting out 12V so I connected the neutral line to neutral and the positive to the positive on the second battery so it connects 12v to 12 v. Did I do this correct? Will the power spill over to the other 4 batteries since they are connected in series?Thanks!
Cruisingirie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-11-2012, 18:37   #2
֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎֍֎

Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 15,136
Re: 12v solar to 36v battery bank

No, no, no. "Shirley you're joking" [Airplane]

There's no "neutral" in a DC system, there's positive and ground. Neutral refers to a line in AC systems.

All you are going to do is make one battery very well charged while the others aren't, and the resulting difference is just going to screw up your system. Disconnect it now before something blows out or blows up. If you have a 36V battery bank, that sounds like an aircraft not a conventional BOAT.

You need a nominal 36-volt solar panel, or three 12volt panels in series, and an MPPT controller that can handle 36 volts, to charge the 36-volt house bank, if that's what you really have.

I'd strongly suggest some heavy reading or calling in an electrician before something exciting happens.
hellosailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-11-2012, 19:17   #3
Registered User

Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 2
Re: 12v solar to 36v battery bank

Thanks for the reply. The panels not hooked up right now so that's good. Do they make 36V panels? It is a Duffy electric boat that runs on 6 golf cart batteries.
Cruisingirie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-11-2012, 19:26   #4
Commercial Member
 
CharlieJ's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Boat: Gulfstar Long Range Trawler; 53'; BearBoat
Posts: 1,525
Re: 12v solar to 36v battery bank

Quote:
Do they make 36V panels?
Yes.

Quote:
calling in an electrician before something exciting happens.
You are dealing with real energy here that can do significant damage in the blink of an eye if the system is not installed correctly. Based only on your initial question; hire a professional and learn from him/her.
__________________
Charlie Johnson
ABYC Master Technician
JTB Marine Corporation
"The Devil is in the details and so is salvation."
CharlieJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-11-2012, 19:31   #5
Registered User
 
Nicholson58's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Caribbean live aboard
Boat: Camper & Nicholson58 Ketch - ROXY Traverse City, Michigan No.668283
Posts: 6,356
Images: 84
Re: 12v solar to 36v battery bank

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cruisingirie View Post
Thanks for the reply. The panels not hooked up right now so that's good. Do they make 36V panels? It is a Duffy electric boat that runs on 6 golf cart batteries.
If you have an MPPT you can use any panels that produce more than 36 volts. We bought 54 VDC Sanyo panels vor our 24 VDC batteries. MPPT can only drop voltage. It cannot boost. Spend som time reading Handy BOb's Blog. - a great source of hard knocks wisdom. HandyBob's Blog
Nicholson58 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-11-2012, 19:44   #6
Registered User
 
Dsanduril's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Petersburg, AK
Boat: Outremer 50S
Posts: 4,229
Re: 12v solar to 36v battery bank

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicholson58 View Post
MPPT can only drop voltage. It cannot boost.
Generally true, but Genasun makes one exactly suited to the OP's purpose:

https://genasun.com/products-store/s...ollers/gvb-pb/

This will boost a 12V panel to charge 24/36/48V batteries.
Dsanduril is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27-11-2012, 19:47   #7
CF Adviser
 
Bash's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: sausalito
Boat: 14 meter sloop
Posts: 7,260
Re: 12v solar to 36v battery bank

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cruisingirie View Post
Thanks for the reply. The panels not hooked up right now so that's good. Do they make 36V panels? It is a Duffy electric boat that runs on 6 golf cart batteries.
Cool boat! I think you're going to be far better off going with panels made for 36v (or larger if using a MPPT controller that will bank it down to whatever your charge voltage is.)

I'll bet the folks at Duffy have already figured this out and may have suggestions as to the best solar array. Have you checked with them?
__________________
cruising is entirely about showing up--in boat shoes.
Bash is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
battery, solar

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 14:38.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.