Wiring solar controller

[chris_gee]

Finally installing a 20 w panel with controller.
The system has a link 20 and xantrex charge controller.
The electrician working on unrelated stuff said the +ve from the solar controller goes to +ve on start battery ie 2, and when charge exceeds 13.7 it diverts to bank 1.
The negative goes to battery 2 bank.
That seems wrong to me. First the default on the charge controller is less than 13.7 default is 13.2. SInce the panel may put out 17 I think I should increase the high voltage cut out to max about 16.
Secondly it looks like if battery 2 high charged it diverts to 1, even if no charge incoming.
Third the charge controller manual says contact x is for battery or incoming charge. I have no idea where the alternator lead goes. But this looks like the sp +ve goes to bank 2 charge controller +ve.
For this to register on the link I suspect the -ve has to go through the link do dackey. Not sure if it should be on the battery side or the load side though.
The other thing is the diagram says bank 1 and 2 negatives should be connected. Thing is they are already via each -ve going to the top of the bridge whatsit going through wires to the system ground for each battery. I kinda see this but have some difficulty with negatives being at different voltages etc. Hence the difficulty in seeing a battery drain ie neg current flowing from battery neg to ground but a positive current flows what from ground to battery neg so it does nt matter if -ve from solar connected to battery or the upper part of link shunt, after all they are contiguous?
Any simple explanations for a dummy?

Managed to fix an issue with the link. Bad connection. Only took (a considerable time) after going home to consult the manual. There is a wee bit about after unscrewing stick in a paper clip. Ha.

However observed the electrician to make a .....up. Nice except it costed. Seems the way it goes.

[mdbee]

I would call Xantrex. They should know more about their product than some "electrician". They should be able to explain their instructions.

My controller (a different brand) had separate connections to each battery. You can adjust the charging priority. Charge both at the same time or fully charge one, then start charging the second. You can also prioritize the batteries.

[Stu Jackson]

Chris,

If you have a Link 20, you should have a dual shunt. Once the negatives (load side) pass through the shunt, they are combined to go to the engine (ground) off of one of the "load" side dual shunt taps.

Ammeters & Shunts 101

[chris_gee]

Thanks have managed to get it all worked out and going right.

[tdw]

Originally Posted by chris_gee

Thanks have managed to get it all worked out and going right.

Good man...I was going to have a look at our setup and see if there was any advice I could give but looks like you've sorted it,

cheers to you

Andrew

Chris..I know you are North Island but hope no one close was in Christchurch.