This is probably the most stupid question ever.....
I have ''inherited'' some PV panels from the previous owner of a property... There are 7 PV panels wired in parallel, actually 8 but one is broken... Wired through a rather basic charge controller, to charge a 12 volt car battery.
The systems was installed to run security lighting (15 x 4W LED lamps), and also back up power for an ADSL modem, and provide day time power through an invertor for a couple of fridges. The previous owner tells me it was never really a success because during winter months the battery does not get enough charge to last the night, there is a dawn to dusk switch to turn the lights on and off.
![20191111_093252[1].jpg](https://www.electriciansforums.net/attachments/20191111_093252-1-jpg.53885/ "20191111_093252[1].jpg")
THE QUESTION..... I think the PV panels should be wired in pairs in series/parallel to give 24V instead of 12V to give more output on dull days, but do solar chargers automatically regulate the charging voltage to 12V to suit the 12V battery????
The data sheet on the controller is rather brief, but there is an inference that as the battery is connected first, followed by the PV panels, the controller will automatically limit the charging voltage to 12 V.
Am I right in thinking this??
Looking at the specs on various controllers, the inference is that all of them will take a 24V input from the PV panels and happily use it to charge a 12V battery, but maybe I am reading them wrong. (Attached is a picture of the relevant controller).
I have ''inherited'' some PV panels from the previous owner of a property... There are 7 PV panels wired in parallel, actually 8 but one is broken... Wired through a rather basic charge controller, to charge a 12 volt car battery.
The systems was installed to run security lighting (15 x 4W LED lamps), and also back up power for an ADSL modem, and provide day time power through an invertor for a couple of fridges. The previous owner tells me it was never really a success because during winter months the battery does not get enough charge to last the night, there is a dawn to dusk switch to turn the lights on and off.
THE QUESTION..... I think the PV panels should be wired in pairs in series/parallel to give 24V instead of 12V to give more output on dull days, but do solar chargers automatically regulate the charging voltage to 12V to suit the 12V battery????
The data sheet on the controller is rather brief, but there is an inference that as the battery is connected first, followed by the PV panels, the controller will automatically limit the charging voltage to 12 V.
Am I right in thinking this??
Looking at the specs on various controllers, the inference is that all of them will take a 24V input from the PV panels and happily use it to charge a 12V battery, but maybe I am reading them wrong. (Attached is a picture of the relevant controller).
