Solar Isolator

[Pudsey Bear]

Those smartcom relays were frankly junk ...
I remember folks raving about them when they came out on the market ...
I fitted several and never had one work reliably for long ...
Then started using Durite VSR s
And had great success with them .

Mine has worked flawlessly since 2011 and I bought it used, so no idea how old it actually.

 

[wildebus]

Those Smartcom relays are generally used as a Towing Relay I think. pretty limited output.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

Those Smartcom relays are generally used as a Towing Relay I think. pretty limited output.

At the time, they were very popular for self builders David and you could adjust the cut in and out voltage

 

[Geek]

Redarcs original BCDC combo charger worked in a similar way but you had to add in an external relay. Their newer one would use both inputs simultaneously, but in a clever way ... it would take all it could from solar and then make up the difference to the max output with power from the alternator - makes the most of the 'free' power.

I have one of the 'old' sort but I have never got round to fitting the relay.
I was thinking it might be interesting to see the results, because mppt controllers are normally only buck controllers, but the Redarc is a buck/boost controller. It might give a small output in weaker light Do you know how well it works like that?

 

[Geek]

Those Smartcom relays are generally used as a Towing Relay I think. pretty limited output.

I've never understood why people fit VSR when it is so much better and cheaper to connect the d1 wire to a simple relay.

 

[merl]

I have one of the 'old' sort but I have never got round to fitting the relay.
I was thinking it might be interesting to see the results, because mppt controllers are normally only buck controllers, but the Redarc is a buck/boost controller. It might give a small output in weaker light Do you know how well it works like that?

It doesn't take a lot of light before the open circuit panel voltage reaches its nominal voltage of around 20v but of course delivering any sort of significant current at low light is another thing because the voltage drops away as soon as you try and load the panel. I've never tested it but because of the above the useable current of a panel at sub 13v ish ( ie when the controller moved from buck to boost) would be miniscule I think?

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I've never understood why people fit VSR when it is so much better and cheaper to connect the d1 wire to a simple relay.

Would that power the fridge and charge both batteries?

 

[trevskoda]

200w solar charges my les and startery battery and runs a fridge no problem witout sun for 2 days.