Solar charging two battery banks

[lipets]

I want to add a flexible panel on a Bimini,

two questions

1.how to charge two banks one house one starting
use two controllers splitting the solar output.

Or are there other way to do it.

2 brand panels like or dislike


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[Ka_sea_ta]

Since you have limited output one or two panels aren't going to do much except provide the float charge. I would just use one controller tied into which ever bank is most convenient ( in this case I would most likely use the start side simply because it will most likely enter the float cycle before the house bank) I would connect the two banks together with an ACR... This will eliminate the need for multiple controllers and wiring runs plus will combine other charging sources when appropriate.

 

[lipets]

I was thinking 300w panel, isn't that going to give me more than a float charge?

Please elaborate on an ACR

One other thought is just charge the house because the starting batts should deplete hardly just sitting around

 

[DavidM]

I haven't come across one yet, but just like battery chargers with two independent outputs, there must be solar controllers with two outputs as well. An ACR can isolate the batteries but connect them when a charge is present and do the same thing.

But your last post really nailed it: don't worry- just charge the house battery. The start battery gets very little load on it.

David

 

[Ken E.]

But your last post really nailed it: don't worry- just charge the house battery. The start battery gets very little load on it.

Agree, the house bank should be your emphasis.

 

[kchace]

Connect the solar directly to the house bank with an ACR to the engine battery. I have done this for 9 years now on 2 different boats and it works great.

Ken

 

[pjtemplin]

Charge one bank from solar and be done with it. OR
Send the solar output through a FET-based battery isolator (such as Victron's Argofet). OR
Take a step back and analyze how you'd deal with one bank well-charged and the other not. Is the answer an ACR (tie the two banks together in time of need) or perhaps a DC-DC converter (sends a limited amount of current to the second bank all the time, or at least all the time it's enabled)?

 

[lipets]

Connect the solar directly to the house bank with an ACR to the engine battery. I have done this for 9 years now on 2 different boats and it works great.

Ken

Ken do you have a quick sketch?

I would like to have at least one starting battery fully charged.

Someone mentioned to put a battery charger on the house bank it should show about 13V
then check voltage on other banks, it may back feed them.
Not sure that's possible??

 

[lipets]

contacted Blusea, they sent diagram.

I think I have it figured out now.

https://d2pyqm2yd3fw2i.cloudfront.n...diagram/7610QuickInstall-w-BatteryCharger.png