spospe Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 I posted a plea for help on the Motorhome Matters Forum, concerning the installation of a Steca solar panel regulator and received exactly zero replies. This is not a moan at Forum members, but it does seem to indicate that knowledge of the installation and peculiarities of these regulators is not very good and I am writing to share my findings with you all. Steca regulators are 12 and 24-volt regulators in the same package and automatically switch to the correct voltage, providing that the battery is connected BEFORE the solar panel. The regulator needs the habitation (leisure) battery voltage to set itself to 12 volt working, if the solar panel is connected first, then there is a good chance that the regulator will switch to 24 volt working. If the panel does set itself to 24 volt working then it will usually show a low voltage alarm and other signs of distress. Solar panels for 12-volt systems usually produce 18+ volts when not connected to the battery and so the regulator is easily fooled into thinking that it is connected to a 24-volt system. The regulator must be connected to the battery first and then to the solar panel and this must always be the case. If the battery feed to the regulator goes via the ignition switched power supply of the motorvan, then in effect when the ignition is switched, on the battery supply is disconnected whilst the solar panel is still connected. When the ignition is switched off, the battery is now reconnected, but the solar panel was connected all this time and so there is a good chance that the regulator will have switched itself to 24 volt working and be in a confused state. Simple message in two parts: 1) Always connect the battery first and solar panel second. When disconnecting always disconnect solar panel first and battery second. 2) Always connect the battery feed to the regulator through a (fused) unswitched, permanent supply.
colin Posted August 27, 2008 Posted August 27, 2008 I don't have a Steca, but on the feed from panel to regulator have a switch so that I can isolate panel from battery for removal or to give battery a 'rest' in very sunny periods of non use. (not a problem this year :-( )
spospe Posted August 27, 2008 Author Posted August 27, 2008 Colin If your regulator, of whatever make, is doing its job properly, then you should never need to give your battery a rest. Michael
colin Posted August 28, 2008 Posted August 28, 2008 I don't think the regulator is doing as good a job as possible, I also have Ecocsol battery, this and the 'cheap' regulator is not a good combination.
spospe Posted August 28, 2008 Author Posted August 28, 2008 Colin You may be interested to know that Steca regulators have two different charging systems built-in, one for 'Liquid' (Lead-Acid) and the other for 'Gel' batteries. Either charging regime can be selected at will, depending on the type of battery fitted, so if you were to change battery type there would be no need to change the regulator. Michael
Paul- Posted September 29, 2008 Posted September 29, 2008 Fit the regulator as near to the battery as practically possible as they (good ones) have a temperature sensor in them to monitor the state of the battery
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