Solar Systems

[Lightspeed]

Nix,

update on our 12v system after two years service.

We ended up siting the batteries in the centre of the ground floor of the house. this has better temperature stability.

In the end the switching relays that I installed were an unnecessary complication. The accumulators are permanently attached to a 12v smart charger, one of the ones designed to permanently condition car batteries. Alarm, security lighting and CCTV all run from the batteries. When power is cut, power continues to flow, but without being replaced by the smart charger. When power is resumed the smart charger delivers increased current until the batteries are recharged, at which point they revert to conditioning charging.

We feed the alarm, cctv and security lighting via a solar charge controller which is pre wired for our stored solar array, so that if the grid fails for an extended period, we can break out the cells and have them operational very quickly.

I gave the accumulators their 6 monthly check this evening and they are in fine shape. Thanks for your recommendation, it was sound.