Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Guys,

I am very new to all this solar stuff.... I have bought 2x 100w solar panels, and am rigging them into a solar charge controller (or called similar)....from there, I am connecting into a battery which also through the controller is rigged to a 12v to 24ov inverter to power the pump.

I want to have this as the main setup, but I also somehow want it connected to mains power so that if the solar panel doesnt get enough sun and the battery goes flat, that mains power will then charge the battery.

Is there a way to do this?

Thanks in advance....

Dan

There is probably a charge controller with that option.

You can also use a DPDT relay that will keep the pump on the battery as long as there is voltage from the charge controller and fallback to mains if there isn't.

there will be a solar controller to do this.

it'll essentially detect a voltage drop past a set point and open a relay to the 240v.

I have this one, I don't have solar hooked to it yet, but it can handle up to 3 separate battery banks. It will shut down on its own when solar power is present, it will charge the batteries if they get low, and it will also work as an inverter to run the pump if needed. Everything is automatic.

http://www.emarineinc.com/products/TRUE ... arger.html

Thanks very much for all the input, I will certainly have a look at all those options...
Dan

Hi Guys.

I am having some issues with the whole solar thing....I am based in Nedlands, Perth. I am sure that it is something quite simple to fix. If there is some kind person on the forum who knows a bit about this stuff and is willing to come over to fix it for me, I am happy to pay them for their time....

It is a simple setup, with 2x 100w panels (12v) daisy chained together and feeding into a solar power charger. From the charger box it is connected to a battery, and also a modified sine wave converter....the box is working, the battery is working and the sine wave converter is working...the problem is from the solar panel into the charger....

Thanks

Dan 0429 690 813

Do you have a multimeter?

Also a picture of your setup would be useful.

Hi...I dont have a multimeter...will attach a picture tonight....am at work at the moment....

My initial guess is that something is not properly plugged in...

I might have an old dick smith special I can drop off to you. I'll have a look around.
Its about as accurate as holding the wires to your tongue and guessing the voltage! But you will be able to confirm whether there is an open circuit

Hi all, so...I went with my new multimeter and checked the cables coming from the solar panels and they are dead, no volts at all....leading me to think that perhaps one is not making contact correctly....hmmm looks like the weekend involves taking them down...

Dan

Perhaps PM Burnsy memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=3598

He does solar stuff as a side job, should be able to set you straight..

are your panels connected in series or parallel?

They are in series

Depending on your solar reg there could be an output that can turn on an external battery charger.
The plasmatronic PL20 has an output that's calls for a generator to start. This could be used in the same manner to start a battery charger. Have the output of the battery charger connected across the battery and switch the mains on and off. Don't feed the battery charger through the solar reg.

I'm keen on something solar the only proble is I don't know how it goes together and whats needed for a setup like this. I've got a 1.5kw system installed at home but wouldn't mind a seperate system just for the aquaponics.

I suppose my questions are to anyone who knows are..

1 If I decided to setup a seperate bank of panels to a plug in inverter would that during the day add to my grid input?

2 secondly if not what componants do I need to set up a solar system with a 240v switch?

I've installed solar panels previously to grid connected systems but yea I'm not a sparky so I wouldn't attempt anything that wasn't plug and play usually hmmm well besides replacing male plugs which my dogs chewed off