MJLorton Solar Power and Electronic Measurement Equipment Forum

Solar Power => Solar Power => Topic started by: Dawie on May 20, 2014, 02:06:00 AM

Title: Charging multiple batteries from a single PV panel
Post by: Dawie on May 20, 2014, 02:06:00 AM

Good day All

Requesting advice on the following question please:

Is it possible to charge two batteries (different capacities and physical size) from a single PV panel using a single charge controller?


Reason for the question is this.  We had a sliding gate installed with PV to charge the battery.  The installer added a second larger battery to the setup which is apparently connected in parallel with the smaller internal gate motor battery.  This parallel battery configuration is then connected to a single charge controller.
I am not convinced that this is the correct way to connect the batteries to the controller and some Googling suggested a charge controller per battery - which makes more sense.

Appreciate any feedback

Title: Re: Charging multiple batteries from a single PV panel
Post by: MJLorton on May 20, 2014, 12:58:18 PM

Hi Dawie,

You feeling is correct. Just one reason is that they will be at different states of charge as they have different capacities and a single charge controller won't control the charging process correctly across both batteries.

I would remove the smaller capacity battery and just leave the larger. If you need the additional capacity replace the smaller battery with one identical to the larger one.

Cheers,
Martin.

Title: Re: Charging multiple batteries from a single PV panel
Post by: Dawie on May 20, 2014, 01:50:15 PM

Cheers Martin, appreciate your feedback.

Dawie