I am looking to make a 12v golf cart into a solar powered golf cart. What is the best module & controller to use?
What is the best module & controller to use for the solar to charge the battery & utilize 120v AC power also?
I hear Morningstar have a charge controller - but i do not know if it is the right choice & which size solar panel i should use.
Comments
Since a golf cart uses much more power that it can carry in modules, I suggest you go with the biggest module that fits on your roof. For instance, here's the Astronergy 250:
Then you could use the Morningstar Sunsaver MPPT - This charger will allow you to charge the 12v battery with the 30Vdc module. You would just need a couple of in line fuses to protect the two circuits.
Peter, You are correct about the Sunsaver MPPT spec for a 12V battery. The reason I suggested the 250W module is that it will be installed flat on top of the cart (I hope) and 250W is only its STC rating, the actual output will be less than that, depending on ambient temp. The Sunsaver will clip any wattage over 200 - Morningstar does not indicate that there is a warrantee issue, only an efficiency issue. So, my intention is to get as much amperage out as possible during the times when the sun is not normal to the module surface, and deal with a little clipping for the times that the sun is directly overhead. Bonus: Having one large module does away with a space between two smaller ones, thereby reducing the chance of water dripping directly on one's head in the event of a rain shower half way through the 18 holes (if the submitter is planning to replace the roof with the solar array)...
Comments
Since a golf cart uses much more power that it can carry in modules, I suggest you go with the biggest module that fits on your roof. For instance, here's the Astronergy 250:
Then you could use the Morningstar Sunsaver MPPT - This charger will allow you to charge the 12v battery with the 30Vdc module. You would just need a couple of in line fuses to protect the two circuits.
So, my intention is to get as much amperage out as possible during the times when the sun is not normal to the module surface, and deal with a little clipping for the times that the sun is directly overhead. Bonus: Having one large module does away with a space between two smaller ones, thereby reducing the chance of water dripping directly on one's head in the event of a rain shower half way through the 18 holes (if the submitter is planning to replace the roof with the solar array)...