Master Switch

Sorry, the line looked vertical before shipping.
Jim

On Wednesday, October 23, 2013 2:34:15 PM UTC-4, JS wrote:
Sorry, the line looked vertical before shipping.

Jim

I would put a fuse downstream of the PV charger. If it develops a short, your whole system dies.

Thanks Kirk,

The panel on my LAK is incredibly small and I'm pulling out my hair trying
to figure out where to cram terminal strips.

"kirk.stant" wrote in message
...
On Thursday, October 17, 2013 9:10:25 AM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:

Or I could simply divide my equipment across two (or three) busses and
then

rely on the load division to allow the batteries to last an entire
flight.

Dan, that's how I've had my LS6 setup for over 13 years and it has worked
just fine so far.

2 separate busses, one for each battery, with load divided as equally and
logically as possible (split varios and loggers, for example).

In addition, the master switch for each buss can also select either
battery, so if one battery fails (forgot to charge it?) the essential
instruments can be powered by the remaining battery.

Probably WAY over-engineered, but it was fun to wire up and has worked as
designed so far (ugly to look at, though - bit of a spaghetti factory
behind that small LS6 panel that I want to clean up some day...).

Kirk
66

Those switches look like what I used as my new master switch, except mine is
DPDT. I could use one to power two separate busses from two separate
batteries.


"JS" wrote in message
...
How about this, diagram below.
Each battery should have its own fuse.
Switches are drawn as -o\-
Vertical line is the Master bus.
Optional PV charge controller charges the active battery, whether avionics
are on or off.
I'd suggest locking switches like Alcoswitch MTL106D available from Mouser
for $12.60.
Jim

Bat 1 -----o\-----|
Bat 2 -----o\-----|
Bat 3 -----o\-----|
|-----o\----- Avionics
PV Charger -------|

Right you are, Flub.
As well as the individual loads.
Jim

On Wednesday, October 23, 2013 5:10:37 PM UTC-7, son_of_flubber wrote:

I would put a fuse downstream of the PV charger. If it develops a short, your whole system dies.

In article JS writes:
How about this, diagram below.
Each battery should have its own fuse.
Switches are drawn as -o\-
Vertical line is the Master bus.
Optional PV charge controller charges the active battery, whether avionics are on or off.
I'd suggest locking switches like Alcoswitch MTL106D available from Mouser for $12.60.
Jim

Bat 1 -----o\-----|
Bat 2 -----o\-----|
Bat 3 -----o\-----|
|-----o\----- Avionics
PV Charger -------|

I would seriously recommend against this.

If you only turn on the avionic load switch, with no batteries in
the circuit, the avionics will see the full open circuit output of
the solar panel.

Many "12 volt" panels deliver in the vicinity of 21.6 volts open
circuit -- even if not that high, they can easily be enough to damage
electronics.

Charge should be applied through a charge controller, so the panel
doesn't overcharge and cook the battery, and should be applied in
such a way that it cannot be applied directly to the load alone.

Alan

If anyone is interested my panel wiring can be found he

www.boffins.co.uk/downloads/j1mwiring.pdf

Jim

Very nice, Jim. I'm going to save a copy of that!


"Jim White" wrote in message
...
If anyone is interested my panel wiring can be found he

www.boffins.co.uk/downloads/j1mwiring.pdf

Jim

I have just rewired my Lak19T and have shared your frustration with the
small panel. I have Butterfly vario, Butterfly dispaly for powerflarm,
ClearNav vario and display (remotely mounted, Oudie (remotely mounted) ASI,
T/S, Radio and Altimeter all packed in running off two extra batteries
mounted 'in' the wheelbox. The standard batteries and mountings supply the
engine management.
For the instruments two terminal strips are mounted at the side of my knees
in the sloping part of the panel and the common earth sits on the floor of
the panel behing the ASI.
There are two way switches and fuses for each instrument. A master switch
each for engine and instrument circuits.
Have fun i did. i am sending a photo of the panel but photo of the rear of
the panel or a circuit diagram will take a little longer.
Oh i forgot there is panel space for a transponder display but sadly not a
main unit but i think this might be able to go on the cockpit floor behind
the panel unit if i eventually fit one.
Strzeb

At 01:01 24 October 2013, Dan Marotta wrote:
Thanks Kirk,

The panel on my LAK is incredibly small and I'm pulling out my hair trying

to figure out where to cram terminal strips.

"kirk.stant" wrote in message
...
On Thursday, October 17, 2013 9:10:25 AM UTC-5, Dan Marotta wrote:

Or I could simply divide my equipment across two (or three) busses and

then

rely on the load division to allow the batteries to last an entire
flight.

Dan, that's how I've had my LS6 setup for over 13 years and it has
worked
just fine so far.

2 separate busses, one for each battery, with load divided as equally
and

logically as possible (split varios and loggers, for example).

In addition, the master switch for each buss can also select either
battery, so if one battery fails (forgot to charge it?) the essential
instruments can be powered by the remaining battery.

Probably WAY over-engineered, but it was fun to wire up and has worked
as

designed so far (ugly to look at, though - bit of a spaghetti factory
behind that small LS6 panel that I want to clean up some day...).

Kirk
66

Sorry to confuse.
There's a Strobl OS2H charge controller on the glider installations:
"Optional PV Charge Controller" Abbreviated like the fuses and connectors are in the text-only drawing.
Jim

On Wednesday, October 23, 2013 10:55:06 PM UTC-7, Alan wrote:
In article JS writes:

How about this, diagram below.

Each battery should have its own fuse.

Switches are drawn as -o\-

Vertical line is the Master bus.

Optional PV charge controller charges the active battery, whether avionics are on or off.

I'd suggest locking switches like Alcoswitch MTL106D available from Mouser for $12.60.

Jim



Bat 1 -----o\-----|

Bat 2 -----o\-----|

Bat 3 -----o\-----|

|-----o\----- Avionics

PV Charger -------|



I would seriously recommend against this.



If you only turn on the avionic load switch, with no batteries in

the circuit, the avionics will see the full open circuit output of

the solar panel.



Many "12 volt" panels deliver in the vicinity of 21.6 volts open

circuit -- even if not that high, they can easily be enough to damage

electronics.



Charge should be applied through a charge controller, so the panel

doesn't overcharge and cook the battery, and should be applied in

such a way that it cannot be applied directly to the load alone.



Alan