On 19 Oct 2005 17:08:33 -0700, "Matt"
wrote:

Hi,
I'm looking at installing a 30 watt solar panel\on my boat. I'd like
to charge both the starter and domestic batteries. Can anyone give me
some ideas on how I'd wire a setup like this. Also I have a regulator
which is used for a 240 volt charger. Will I need a seperate regulator
for the solar panel?

Cheers

Consider a MPPT-charger to get the most out of your panel. It depends
on where you are but eff can go up with 30%.
Instead of the switchboard you described (which still leaves the risk
of enormous equalizing-currents when one batt is full and the other is
empty and in that situation you bridge/connect them) I'd consider a
FET-based battery-isolator. Old fashioned diodes cause a voltage loss
of 0,7v which prevents full charging of your battery. The voltage drop
these FET-isolator cause can be neglected.
I'm in the Netherlands so I use european url's, sorry bout that.
http://www.victronenergy.com/productlist.php
for mppt-chargers:
http://www.dbcom.nl/mste.htm
You won't have much trouble finding similar products in the us I
guess.

HTH
Len,
S/v Present