Charging battery box from solar charge controller

dimarrco · Jun 16, 2024

I see that the max input for solar is 20a and the max of 50a dc via Anderson plugs.
Solar charge controller question:
I will need a solar charge controller with 20a max output from the panels I’m thing of purchasing? 3 -100w panels or that equal to 300w.
Next question:
Can I use a solar charge controller on the 50a max input Anderson plug or only on the solar input? Below is the build I will be using.
Licitti new generation 2000w battery box
Non affiliated link.

seneysolar · Jun 16, 2024

Solar input refers to PV input. Unregulated from the panels as it has its own controler built in.

Yes you should be able to feed a regulated pv source to the 50A Anderson input as well.

From what i can tell, thats just a box, battery not included?

dimarrco · Jun 16, 2024

seneysolar said:
Solar input refers to PV input. Unregulated from the panels as it has its own controler built in.

Yes you should be able to feed a regulated pv source to the 50A Anderson input as well.

From what i can tell, thats just a box, battery not included?

It is just a box, I have 4-280ah licitti batteries purchased for this box.
So I can have up to 50A coming from a charge controller, that have the proper solar panels connected to it, and feed that controller into the 50A input, correct?
Please explain the second sentence of the first section to me.

mikefitz · Jun 16, 2024

dimarrco said:
I can have up to 50A coming from a charge controller, that have the proper solar panels connected to it, and feed that controller into the 50A input, correct?

Yes, the 50 amp port connects to the battery.

The Solar Input port connects to a built in controller. You can connect a panel, or panel array, directly to this port. Maximum input volts, 55 volts. ( this is the Voc of the panel).
Three 100 watt panels in parallel or a single 300 watt, ( or higher), could be connected to this port.

Rednecktek · Jun 17, 2024

Yes, I do that for my Licitti's when we're camping. I have 4x 100w panels out on a cable going to a 40a SCC and into the Anderson ports. Works great!

timselectric · Jun 17, 2024

It would be better to use the solar input, if possible.
As it can take more power in.

Rednecktek · Jun 17, 2024

timselectric said:
It would be better to use the solar input, if possible.
As it can take more power in.

Huh?? Those Licitti boxes only take 30v and are only rated for 10a, anything is better than that.

timselectric · Jun 17, 2024

Rednecktek said:
Huh?? Those Licitti boxes only take 30v and are only rated for 10a, anything is better than that.

I was going on the information posted.

dimarrco said:
the max input for solar is 20a and the max of 50a dc via Anderson plugs.

55v maximum on solar.
And approximately 14v on Anderson connector.

Solar input
50v x 20a = 1000w

Anderson connector input
14v x 50a = 700w

Rednecktek · Jun 17, 2024

Aaahh, I was thinking the older 1Kw boxes which only have a 10a SCC in them. The new ones have a 20a so still less than half the charging capacity (280w) of the Anderson port and an external SCC (700w).

Sure, you could put IN 1000w, but it's only gonna USE 280 of it.

timselectric · Jun 17, 2024

Rednecktek said:
Sure, you could put IN 1000w, but it's only gonna USE 280 of it.

That's weird.
It seems that they could have saved some money on a smaller CC.

ULR · Jun 17, 2024

Rednecktek said:
Aaahh, I was thinking the older 1Kw boxes which only have a 10a SCC in them. The new ones have a 20a so still less than half the charging capacity (280w) of the Anderson port and an external SCC (700w).

Sure, you could put IN 1000w, but it's only gonna USE 280 of it.

No, it will use it all. Between the input and the cells the charge controller should be a switching regulator, dropping the voltage and raising the current in proportion on the way from the input to the cells, so virtually all the power drawn from the panels goes to the cells and only a percent or so goes to heating the controller. It will adjust the load on the panels to maximize the power drawn from them (or the power delivered to the cells - almost exactly the same thing.)

That's what MPPT controllers DO.

Rednecktek · Jun 17, 2024

ULR said:
That's what MPPT controllers DO.

Right, but as I understand it a 20a SCC can't output more than 20a. That's how MPPT's are rated.

dimarrco · Jun 17, 2024

Rednecktek said:
Yes, I do that for my Licitti's when we're camping. I have 4x 100w panels out on a cable going to a 40a SCC and into the Anderson ports. Works great!

What size box and gen?

timselectric · Jun 17, 2024

Rednecktek said:
Right, but as I understand it a 20a SCC can't output more than 20a. That's how MPPT's are rated.

According to the label posted, it's 20a input at maximum of 55v.

Rednecktek · Jun 18, 2024

dimarrco said:
What size box and gen?

I have the 1Kw boxes, 2 with 280Ah and 1 with a 304Ah battery.

timselectric said:
According to the label posted, it's 20a input at maximum of 55v.

According to the posted link, the 3rd picture in the "Features" section says "20a MPPT Solar Controller" which tells me if you input 20a @ 14v you'd get the same as putting in 20a @ 55v, 280w. So by your reading, a Victron 250/20 can put 5000w into a 12v battery?

Either way, my Gen1 1Kw boxes have a 10a SCC and even with more panels I can only get 140w into the battery according to the BMS.

timselectric · Jun 18, 2024

Rednecktek said:
I have the 1Kw boxes, 2 with 280Ah and 1 with a 304Ah battery.

According to the posted link, the 3rd picture in the "Features" section says "20a MPPT Solar Controller" which tells me if you input 20a @ 14v you'd get the same as putting in 20a @ 55v, 280w. So by your reading, a Victron 250/20 can put 5000w into a 12v battery?

Either way, my Gen1 1Kw boxes have a 10a SCC and even with more panels I can only get 140w into the battery according to the BMS.

Don't compare it to Victron.
Victron rates their MPPT's by the output. (Probably because they work on different battery voltages)
This one gives input specs.

Charging battery box from solar charge controller

dimarrco

New Member

seneysolar

Solar Addict

dimarrco

New Member

mikefitz

Solar Wizard

Rednecktek

Solar Wizard

timselectric

If I can do it, you can do it.

Rednecktek

Solar Wizard

timselectric

If I can do it, you can do it.

Rednecktek

Solar Wizard

timselectric

If I can do it, you can do it.

ULR

New Member

Rednecktek

Solar Wizard

dimarrco

New Member

timselectric

If I can do it, you can do it.

Rednecktek

Solar Wizard

timselectric

If I can do it, you can do it.

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