Photonic Universe Ltd - Bringing you the benefits of solar power -
Registered office: Tel: +44 (0) 203 150 11 11
13 David Mews Fax: +44 (0) 203 150 12 12
Porter Street Email: info@photonicuniverse.com
London W1U 6EQ UK Web shop: www.photonicuniverse.com
Load
Please note that the maximum current allowed for the solar charge controller is 5A. If you are using the
load terminals of the solar controller, please make sure your load is not drawing more than 5A from your
battery. Install a fuse into the load circuit as recommended in the solar controller manual.
Common positive / negative ground of vehicles and boats
Most vehicles (including motorhomes and caravans) and boats typically have a common ground
connection when the vehicle body (or boat hull) is used as a shared connection point by the engine,
generator, battery, lights and other system components. When installing the solar kit on such vehicles /
boats, please pay attention to the following recommendations.
To avoid any short circuits or conflicts between you vehicle / boat system and the solar kit system, you
should never ground the solar panel (i.e. never connect it to your vehicle body / boat hull). The solar
panel cable should be fully electrically isolated from your vehicle body / boat hull and should be
connected directly to the solar controller.
Similarly, if you are using the load terminals of the solar controller, your load should be fully isolated from
the vehicle body / boat hull and should be connected directly to the solar controller.
If required, your battery can remain connected to the vehicle / boat system when the solar charging kit is
connected to it (in parallel). It should not cause any interference with the solar controller except when you
are charging the battery by the engine. In such cases the following might happen:
- The voltage in the battery circuit will increase due to the generator charging your battery
- The solar controller will treat this as if the battery was fully charged and will cut the solar panel off
temporarily (or reduce its output) to prevent overcharging of your battery
- When you stop charging by you engine, the solar kit will resume charging automatically.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What type of batteries can be used with this kit?
A. Any sealed, gel of flooded 12V DC battery with capacity larger than 15Ah.
Q. Can this kit charge a 24V battery?
A. No, this kit is designed for charging a 12V battery.
Q. Can the kit charge two 12V batteries connected in parallel?
A. It’s possible but only for batteries always wired together as a single 12V battery bank (batteries should
have the same type and capacity).
Q. Is there any risk that the solar kit will overcharge my battery?
A. The solar charge controller has a built-in overcharge protection function – it will ensure that your
battery is not overcharged.
Q. Can I leave the solar kit connected to the battery overnight? I heard that power might flow back into
the solar panel and discharge the battery.
A. The solar charge controller will prevent any reverse current flow, so your battery will not get discharged
during the night.
Q. If I want to disconnect the system, how do I do this?
A. Disconnection should follow the order reverse to the order of connection. Solar panel should be
disconnected from the charge controller first, and then the charge controller should be disconnected from
the battery.
