Monitoring

[TritonSailor]

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to multitask and do bottom work and revamp electrical system. I am designing my electrical system and I plan on using solar as the main recharging system and later when I can afford it, I'll add a wind gen. From my reading I know that I need some kind of monitoring system to tie in the batteries and recharging systems. Is that all I need? Will the Blue Seas ACR I have still be needed or does the monitoring gizmo handle those duties? For my 28.5' boat, how complex of a system do I need? I don't want to over do it, but I also want to allow myself room to add the wind gen and such.

Thanks,

Jeff

[sneuman]

I think you're referring to the charge controller? If so, yes, you need that in solar-charged systems to keep the panels from dissapating the charge in the dark.

[TritonSailor]

So is that something specifically for the solar panels or will the wind gen utilize the same controller?

Thanks,

Jeff

[sneuman]

No, I believe it's specifically for the solar panels. When they are not charging, they actually reverse the process and radiate the charge out, so the charge controller keeps that from happening.

There may be a separate controller for wind generators to keep them from over-charging a battery.

[Sandero]

Multiple charging sources confuse each other unless you isolate them or manage them.

[gosstyla]

Check out:
Ample Power Company Home Page

[David M]

Charging sources only know the system voltage....not of each others presence. A charging source will charge in inverse proportion to the system voltage.