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I was thinking of putting my Redarc Solar Regulator in a similar Project Box with a clear Lid however I am concerned that it will get quite Hot inside the Box.Quote:
Originally Posted by threedogs
Does anyone have any ideas about the Heat
PS
Just checked the Manual for the Redarc Regulator and it operates up to 55 Degrees C and then swithes itself off.
Thanks Bob was reading somewhere about having the controller and the battery in similar enviroments.
What I might do is mark and drill a heap of holes or fit a computer fan to it straight off the panel.
I'm sure ET will tell me why this is not a good idea,
55c is achievable if in a box so some kind of ventilation might be the go.
@ Bob that box is about $23 from Jaycar, I just drilled it, but if I did it again I'd buy a piece of PCB to suit
as it has mounting holes and then mount the controller to the PCB this will allow air circulation, but its still in a sealed box eh
FYI I can now get my batteries to 14.4v so very happy with that,
so with that result I recommend to 20amp solar controller used
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/12V-24V-5...item3a90a5017c
TD if you choose to believe that that regulator actually is what it says it is that is up to you. Folks may not need bells & whistles in their solar regs, but this one will be analogous to using a hammer & chisel to tighten up the bolts on your motor! With all that you spend on your car I can’t believe that you’ve been such a cheapskate when it came to buying a regulator!Quote:
Originally Posted by threedogs
its doing whats its supposed to do cant beat that.
All I want is for it to top up my battery box if it needs it
My battery use ATM is confined to weekends up the Murray
or where ever I choose to go.
So far I've not needed to top up any battery on any trip.
I rarely take the solar panel[s] for that reason.
As I say to others It suits my needs it may not suit you lol
These panel top my batteries at home BTW not out bush
My box has two latches and hinges on it so its only closed when it has to be but your reg should be at the batteries so it's not hard to keep it in the shadeQuote:
Originally Posted by Bob
Would it in your opinion get hot enough to warrant running a small fan powered by the solar side of things into the box.Quote:
Originally Posted by megatexture
Like a computer fan
I don't see the point in getting a box then cutting a hole in it for a fan, it's no longer water/ dust proof then.
I've put mine in the box to protect it from salt spray, sand and rain if we go camping without the trailer on the beach.
If your worried about the heat maybe throw a thermometer in there when its charging the batt and see what temps it reaches in the shade. Could mounting the reg in a cast alloy box with a Perspex window on the front dissipate the heat faster possibly
If they are floating at 14.4 that isn't good, Cobber.Quote:
Originally Posted by threedogs
If they are absorbing at 14.4 then dropping to 13.2 ish float charge then that is fine.
as soon as i took them off they went to 13.2v
So to me thats doing it job.
Did some reading where it wasnt good to have it at 14.4 for too long
As long as you’re happy ........... however it is incorrect to say that it is doing it’s job, it’s not. It’s only doing part of it’s job. What you have read is correct.Quote:
Originally Posted by threedogs
It should drop into float mode once it gets up to 14.4v & has held it there for a set time, & that doesn’t sound like it’s happening. If you were to forget to disconnect your battery it would kill it by overcharging, or worse it could kill you. Unlikely, but possible. If it’s a wet battery it could boil it dry. If it’s an AGM you could end up with thermal runaway.
From: http://www.bdbatteries.com/lifelinebatterysafety.php
Thermal Runaway
Thermal runaway is a condition in which the battery temperature increases rapidly resulting in extreme overheating of the battery. Under rare conditions, the battery can melt, catch on fire, or even explode. Thermal runaway can only occur if the battery is at high ambient temperature and/or the charging voltage is set too high. As the battery accepts current, its internal temperature rises. The rise in temperature reduces the battery impedance, causing it to accept more current. The higher current further heats the battery, and so on, causing the battery temperature to “runaway”. An upper limit will eventually be reached when the electrolyte starts to boil, but once the electrolyte has boiled away, the temperature can climb even further to the point of plastic meltdown and possible fire.