Solar panel - circuit for recharge battery during the night

[nings]

Hello,

I have a problem with my solar panel during winter.
The sun is hidden during almost all the day and it's not enough for recharge completely my batteries about 2 months per year. I recharge manually the batteries during evening but it's not very practical.

I search a way for recharge the batteries with a power supply only during the night (no power coming from solar panel) for not have two power sources in the same time and only when the battery level is low. The must is a relay who can cut the power going to the power supply when it's not necessary.

Someone know if something like that already exist ?
It's a little dangerous to play with that and my knowledge is limited.

Thank you

[keeney123]

Re: Solar panel - circuit for recharge battery during the night

So a quick search on the internet brought up this site.

https://www.batterystuff.com/solar-c...ge-controllers

[nings]

Re: Solar panel - circuit for recharge battery during the night

Hello,

I have already a controller for charge the batteries but these devices doesn't support external power.

But thank you

[keeney123]

Re: Solar panel - circuit for recharge battery during the night

Hello,

I have already a controller for charge the batteries but these devices doesn't support external power.

But thank you

I did not realize that, as the controller should have these options. So as far as charging at night that is a easy thing. You would use a light detector and a relay. This is a simple way. There maybe better ways. So the light detector would be connected to a coil that closes a relay. The relay will be a single pole double throw and in one direction it will be Normally closed this is what one would connect to you your battery charger. The other would be normally open this is what would connect to the solar charger. So when the sun shines the light detector would be energized which energizes the coil of the relay and powers the closing of the relay of the solar charger. When the light goes down the detector would not energize and the charger for the battery would connect. I am sure they must have the same this in solid state relay which would have a comparator with some type of qualifier in a time delay so that the relay is not activated by momentary light and perhaps a controllable clock. I will look and see if I can find something. One other note on the relay is you want a break before make.

[keeney123]

Re: Solar panel - circuit for recharge battery during the night

Here is a controller and if you read down to Auxiliary Generators it says you can connect other sources without disconnecting the solar charger.

http://www.ecodirect.com/Morningstar...FRlMDQod0IAHTw

So with this one you could put your power supply on a timer and plug the supply into the timer.

[keeney123]

Re: Solar panel - circuit for recharge battery during the night

https://www.amazon.com/Woods-59408-O...h+light+sensor

Here is one of many light detectors that controls a load of 500 watts.

This one a 15 Amp light detector with timer.

[keeney123]

Re: Solar panel - circuit for recharge battery during the night

Here is another way to do this put a solid state relay coming off of your solar controller. Have it energize when the solar controller is putting out energy. When the relay does not detect energy because the controller has shut down because of lack of voltage then have the deenergize relay make a connection to your power supply. If the power supply has stand-by mode when no load is connected then you can just leave the supply on all the time and it will only use milliwatts until the load is applied. Or the closed relay could connect the power supply to the AC. The power supply would have to have a regulator and a charging current detector so it would switch off when charging current stops. It could be done with power diodes.

[nings]

Re: Solar panel - circuit for recharge battery during the night

Thank you keeney !
You have great ideas

I think to use two relays for connect the power supply to AC.
One connected to a light detector for security and the second connected to the load of the controller.
Load is cutted off when the batteries are lower than 2x.0V so I can connect the power supply to AC and put the power to the solar panel input directly like that a charger controller isn't needed. I have already one diode on the positive wire and one in the other side on the negative for not send power through the solar panel. The controller charge the batteries and wait to reach 2x.0V during some amount of time before open load. When load is open again, it's cut one relay off and the power supply

It should work no ?
I try to draw and simulate the circuit

[keeney123]

Re: Solar panel - circuit for recharge battery during the night

Thank you keeney !
You have great ideas

I think to use two relays for connect the power supply to AC.
One connected to a light detector for security and the second connected to the load of the controller.
Load is cutted off when the batteries are lower than 2x.0V so I can connect the power supply to AC and put the power to the solar panel input directly like that a charger controller isn't needed. I have already one diode on the positive wire and one in the other side on the negative for not send power through the solar panel. The controller charge the batteries and wait to reach 2x.0V during some amount of time before open load. When load is open again, it's cut one relay off and the power supply

It should work no ?
I try to draw and simulate the circuit

If you draw it up I will look at it and also anyone else that see the post. So you should have lots of eyes on it.