excess power from solar panel

[Imala730]

We have 150w solar panel and it is over charging. Fitted by Falcon. It keeps "pipping" due to it overcharging. Can this excess power be used in some kind of heater that we can use when the van is not in use? Or what can we do to stop it overcharging as it does not appear to dissipate the excess power.

 

[Boringfrog]

What controller do you have fitted?

 

[Imala730]

Hubby just going to look

 

[Imala730]

Epsolar dual charger. Falcon said the solar panel was supposed to dissipate the excess charge but ours doesn't appear to do this so was wondering about using it to keep the van aired by using some sort of 12 v heater.

 

[Flamenca]

Controllers like this are available to divert or dump excess power:

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I believe they are commonly used on installations for people living off grid.

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[TinaLes]

Sounds like you solar controller is Kaput, check voltages in and out of it, should be pretty low solar power this time of year in the UK, unless you are in sunny climes somewhere else.
If you are concerned that its overcharging, then isolate the controller asap,dont let it destroy your batteries.
Good luck
Les

 

[Portland]

It could be your batteries, how old are they

 

[Imala730]

New leisure battery 2 months ago. It's done this from he first day we had it fitted. We put 90% into the car battery and 10% into the leisure battery.

 

[Portland]

New leisure battery 2 months ago. It's done this from he first day we had it fitted. We put 90% into the car battery and 10% into the leisure battery.

Hats ok then suspect control as said in previous posts

 

[jezport]

New leisure battery 2 months ago. It's done this from he first day we had it fitted. We put 90% into the car battery and 10% into the leisure battery.

Surely the other way round?
Either way the regulator should control the charge without any further intervention.

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[funflair]

What are your battery voltages?

Martin

 

[Richard n Ann]

The dumps are for wind generation. Solar doesn't need them. The controller is knackered if its overcharged the batteries.

 

[Campervan_man]

I have a box van and I check the solar control charger each time that I go inside the van.
Fully charged = 14.4V
The other week it was reading 17V so I changed the Charge Controller from a 10A to a 30A - problem sorted.

 

[Campervan_man]

The Solar chargers can be relatively cheap and are usually the weakest link in the system.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yep, sounds like the controller is faulty. That one is only a cheap PWM regulator, I would replace it with a Vitronic MPPT regulator.

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