Re: [A/S] Univolt and Solar Power

[bill jacobs <bjacobs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes and NO.  The univolt (at least mine) is only 11.5 volt.  this is the
RMS voltage.  It will deliver all the 12 volt you would want and charge
the battery to about 13.5 volt.  It will not over charger the battery. 
Battery gassing occurs about 14.2 volts.  The main problem I see it that
it will not charge a reasonable charged battery very fast.  When the
battery is low, you will be able to get a charge rate of maybe 25 amps. 
This will taper off fast and the finishing charge will be in the .3 to
.2 range.  This will take an overnight charge to top off the battery. 
The Univolt if operating right will not discharge a battery.  Also, they
are simple.  There is very little to go wrong.  Mine only has 3
components.  There is a transformer, a capacitor, and a diode bridge. 
This is very simple.  I feel you should add a switch on the 120 volt
line.

> Seems like I can just chuck it (the Uni), put another panel and
> controller on the roof, and wire that up to the original battery to
> provide a regulated charge to that battery.  Then I'd have separate,
> dedicated 120VAC and 12VDC systems that would be more efficient.
Yes you could but you would not be able to charge from shore power.

bill
25 ft Trade Wind in WV