Victron 75/15 Solar Controller Mounting

[thomm225]

So I want to properly mount my solar controller this time and also cleanup the (wiring) rats nest that I have on my boat now.

Controllers are sort of held in place by the wires they are attached to but usually sort of move around depending on the sea state. I have to dig them out to see the displays. Battery attachments are alligator clips so I can unhook when I want. (this for the past 11 years)

On this controller I will securely attach the wiring.

Anyway, Victron says:

Mount the solar charger vertically on a non-flammable substrate

I was just wondering what sorts of non-flammable substrates some of you out there are using?

My background is Tech. (Electronics, Computers, some Cyber, etc). This means before I was a manager I maintained systems, I didn't build them.

[rslifkin]

I think the non-flammable recommendation is mostly a CYA measure. My 100/30s are mounted to a plywood bulkhead, although the 75/15 lacks the big heat sink on the back. It's possible the back panel of the unit gets hotter than the bigger units, but the bigger ones carry the same warning. I've seen plenty of other people mount them to wood as well. I've never noticed my units getting more than a bit warm when I've checked.

If you're concerned, make some standoffs to hold the controller away from the surface and allow some airflow behind it. The extra cooling air is probably good for it anyway.

[Frankly]

I mounted mine (3ea 75/15) on 1/4" standoffs. They run warm but not hot.

Frankly

[noelex 77]

They are fine mounted on plywood or other timber, but the units do run hot and it is worth optimising the passive cooling as much as practical. Don’t mount them in a small space with little clearance above and/or below.

I mounted mine on some aluminium profiles. This neatens the wiring and moves the heatsink away from the timber therefore providing some extra airflow.

[thomm225]

Some good ideas and information.

Thanks.

Tom

[Secondshift]

When I devised a panel for our previous 26'

I mounted it on Starboard plastic. It is flammable.

If memory serves, the combustion temp of Starboard is higher than plywood.

Additionally I worried about conductivity using metal.


Also from memory, the mounting instructions state close to but not directly

over the battery. I may have assumed a temperature sensor.


As a disclaimer: I am reporting my own choices not deciding yours.

[Secondshift]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

I mounted mine on some aluminium profiles. This neatens the wiring and moves the heatsink away from the timber therefore providing some extra airflow.

Thanks for the photo.

Wondering if you used the additional battery temperature sensors?

[PaulCrawhorn]

Mount close to the battery bank.

But if using FLA, not above, fumes are corrosive.

[Be Free]

I expect that is mostly a CYA instruction. They are unlikely to get hot enough to damage most materials.



They do get warm though. Mounting them with an air gap behind them (the standoffs mentioned earlier) will allow more air to flow around the unit and keep it cooler.

[Quadrille in JB]

Noelex.
What a nice clean installation. I thought that mine was pretty good, with input and output breakers but your installation puts mine to same.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Be Free

I expect that is mostly a CYA instruction. They are unlikely to get hot enough to damage most materials.



They do get warm though. Mounting them with an air gap behind them (the standoffs mentioned earlier) will allow more air to flow around the unit and keep it cooler.

Yeah looks like there is room on the aft lower end of my battery box to mount the Victron on some stand offs.

That will be a vast improvement on what I have had in the past.

You can just see the battery box to the right in one of the photos showing both PWM controllers. Battery box contains two 6 volt golf cart batteries.

Just one panel connected to it's panel and charging at time of photo.

Plus my (the PO"s) awesome analog Battery Monitor. Just tap for a some what accurate reading.

My setup since around 2011.

[hjohnson]

We just have ours screwed down on the same plywood backing panel as the rest of our electrical equipment. That said, we're only feeding it with 120W worth of solar panels. We haven't noticed an issue yet, even when definitely pumping 125W through it.

[thomm225]

Yeah I’m only running 115 watts from two panels.

Sailed most of the day on autopilot with VHF and depth on plus computer for OpenCPN at times.

At anchor now and voltage still above 13 volts. Still on PWMs at this point.

[robinco]

Originally Posted by thomm225

I was just wondering what sorts of non-flammable substrates some of you out there are using?

Cork flooring tiles.
Very low flammability.
Not expensive, readily obtainable.

[SaltyMetals]

I also have a 75/15 but mount it on wooden panel in an aired cupboard on stand-offs. Works fine. never gets v hot.
I have another MPPT that handles both solar and wind. When it is blowing like stink >30 Kn it gets v hot but has its own fan and will cut out the windgen if wind is >35-40Kn. Also mounted on stand offs. Works fine. no excessive overheating