Regulating battery output?

[MrNoodly]

I don't remember this being discussed anywhere. Maybe that's because it's not an issue. But here goes.

I have a solar setup charging my batteries. (Sometimes, in winter, I'll use a charger when shore power is available.) Some of my electrical stuff runs AC off an inverter and some runs DC off the batteries (via a fuse block). The DC voltage coming off the batteries varies from the mid twelves at night to the upper fourteens during the charging cycle. Are the higher voltages bad for things like my fridge and cellular booster? Would it be better if there was some kind of voltage regulator? Or is it nothing to worry about?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

It's nothing to worry about UNLESS you are doing an equalization charge.  At 15 to 16 volts, that's high enough to damage some things, and they recommend that you not power anything while equalizing.  Pulling the main fuse is one safe way of handling that.

 

[jimindenver]

Your car/truck alternator can bring voltages up too, so many things can handle it. I do shut down for equalization and I suppose there are regulators that could be added to a system if you wished. I know regulated LEDs have it and some none regulated can become damaged by lower than equalizing voltages. It normally only effects those that have shore power or charge late via a generator. It doesn't effect mine since my voltage comes up with the sun when I am not using my LEDs. I do know that LED regulators can cause RFI and possibly the whole house type as well.

You can always check what ever you are using to see what its voltage limits are if you are worried.

 

[SternWake]

Some things like LEDs will run hotter at higher voltages, Some things like DC to DC transformers (laptop 'car adapters') actually run cooler as they do not have to raise voltage as much.

The circuit boards on some 3 way propane fridges are 15.3 volts max.

I'd not stress 14.4v hurting anything

I had one powerful 180Mm fan, a Silverstone AP182, that did not like charging voltages when set to max speed. the Hub would get stinky plastic hot.

I limited the voltage it received to 11 volts via a device similar to this:

https://www.amazon.com/DROK-Numeric...494092225&sr=1-5&keywords=drok+buck+converter

There are many similar products. I have some badly made LEDS which start flickering at 12.0v or higher in my workshop and use one of these to lower voltage until flickering stops:

https://www.amazon.com/eBoot-LM2596...rd_wg=ItqrA&psc=1&refRID=MJPWNZPR3JEM82A7RJZY

In hot weather I lower voltage to them more.


My dashboard temp and fuel gauges run on 5 volts DC. The original voltage limiter is some mechanical monstrosity whose tech dates back to the '30's and cost 40$ to replace.
I used this instead for 7$

https://www.amazon.com/DROK-Waterpr...rd_wg=ItqrA&psc=1&refRID=MJPWNZPR3JEM82A7RJZY