Mike and Edd, Actually, the right (?) way is to connect to the _house_ battery (bank of batteries) and then use a combiner or the ACR (or the Echo Charger) to charge the starting battery.
The rationale behind is that the starting battery does not need much charge; your house bank is the one that needs replenishing. However, if you don't have the ACR and don't want to install one, and you can afford it, a dual charge controller is an easy way out. One that David mention is an option. I use the Morningstar Sunsaver Duo (https://www.morningstarcorp.com/products/sunsaver-duo/). I added the remote panel that shows the voltages and the charge (Ah) put into the batteries. This controller also has a setting that allows for 50/50 or 90/10 charging. I use the 90/10 setting (90 to the house, 10 to the starting battery). The beauty of it is that it charges the house battery first, but when it is full (or close to), all the spare current is going to the starting battery, anyway. An extra point to consider - don't skimp on the cables leading from the solar panel to the controller. They will be long and you will have some voltage drop. If you get better cables (i.e. thicker), the voltage drop would be less. Marek 1994 C270 "Legato" Ottawa, ON From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Edd Schillay via CnC-List Sent: Saturday, December 30, 2017 11:41 To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Edd Schillay <e...@schillay.com> Subject: Re: Stus-List Solar panel - how to hook one up? Mike, The best way (IMHO) is: Solar panel to charge controller input. Charge controller output to starting battery Install a combiner or ACR so that when a charge is in the system (over 13V), it combines the batteries. All the best, Edd Edd M. Schillay Starship Enterprise C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B City Island, NY Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log<https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fenterpriseb.blogspot.com%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Ccbb4c128e41f4faa3da008d54fa448df%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636502489370422762&sdata=JB6CtR8n9Uc15N%2Bh6pt7LWvD6TgCcMWhYmn33PjnMLo%3D&reserved=0> On Dec 30, 2017, at 11:30 AM, Mike Casey via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote: I have just taken the Power and Sail Squadron Marine Electronics course. If you can take it, I would urge you to do so. It has to be one of the best courses I have taken. I bought a solar panel for my C&C 30. I can attach it to the boat fine, but hooking it up so it can recharge the batteries is a mystery. Is there anyone out there who can give me some good instructions that I can understand? My specifics are: There are three batteries (one starting, two house) that have to be charged It has to be on all the time It needs the charge controller to be entered into the equation somewheres. Assistance would be greatly appreciated! Mike Casey Halifax, Nova Scotia C&C 30 1980 _______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray<https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.paypal.me%2Fstumurray&data=02%7C01%7C%7Ccbb4c128e41f4faa3da008d54fa448df%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C636502489370422762&sdata=BR1QLeaDh7PqID5c3gnYw00owR5t4tQgKOij232pWWg%3D&reserved=0>
_______________________________________________ Thanks everyone for supporting this list with your contributions. Each and every one is greatly appreciated. If you want to support the list - use PayPal to send contribution -- https://www.paypal.me/stumurray