Need New House Batteries - HELP!
Hello all, I could sure use some help and guidance from the experts! I'll do my best to keep this short and really appreciate you taking the time to read about my dilemma. I have a 2005 American E...
Forum Discussion
Last off and just my opinion and what I would do..
Get those panels wired up in series. Find a competent solar guy. That will give you 24 volts coming out of the panels instead of the 12 volts parrelel you probably have now.
But when doing that you need to change your controller to an MPPT type. This will take that extra voltage and turn it into amps.
Since you have surface mount PWM now a good choice for replacement would be this blue sky model. This will fix your solar charging issue immensely.
As I said now that you have higher voltage putting thos panels in series you will start charging early in the morning as the panels will generate the 14.8 volts needed.. Probably by 9 am.
This unit will mate up perfect with your two 160 watt panels if they get wired in series for 24 volts out of the solar. This charger takes that 24 volts and charges your 12 volt batts. And extra voltage is converted to more amps.
You PWM controller you have now cant campare.. As I said with the controller you have now your probably not getting the 14.8 volts to charge your batterys until mid noon. Since the panels are wired for 12 volts.
( Technically 12 volt panels are about 17 volts. Two 12 volt panels in series is about 30 volts)
http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/uploads/pdf/Datasheet_SB3000i.pdf
http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/products/details/solar-boost-3000i
https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Boost-Charge-Controller-SB3000i/dp/B0179V9JQI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493567365&sr=8-1&keywords=blue+sky+solar+charge+controller
Next is the main electrical panel in the coach. That is the unit with the circuit breakers. This is what charges the batterys when on shore power or generator.
If you can post a pic of that we can look up the specs. It would be best to upgrade this if its a 14.4 volt model. Not a big deal but it would help with bulk charge.
Solar after upgrade will work wonders. If your use is that high and you are using a lot of power, then the scenerio would be start gen in morning for an hour to bulk charge. Then let solar take over rest of day.
But a 14.8 volt convertor main panel would be better then the 14.4 unit you most likely have now.
Heck you may even have this option already but we need to see the make and model of your main panel...
Last last if you equalize that batts you have now they can probably be restored.
I understand your issue that they are hard to get to so maybe AGMs may be better for your needs. But again as stated you will just kill them if you do not look to upgrade what you have there.
As stated you are not going to learn this overnight but we are here to help and guide you so as you say " I Just Want It To Work"
Get those panels wired up in series. Find a competent solar guy. That will give you 24 volts coming out of the panels instead of the 12 volts parrelel you probably have now.
But when doing that you need to change your controller to an MPPT type. This will take that extra voltage and turn it into amps.
Since you have surface mount PWM now a good choice for replacement would be this blue sky model. This will fix your solar charging issue immensely.
As I said now that you have higher voltage putting thos panels in series you will start charging early in the morning as the panels will generate the 14.8 volts needed.. Probably by 9 am.
This unit will mate up perfect with your two 160 watt panels if they get wired in series for 24 volts out of the solar. This charger takes that 24 volts and charges your 12 volt batts. And extra voltage is converted to more amps.
You PWM controller you have now cant campare.. As I said with the controller you have now your probably not getting the 14.8 volts to charge your batterys until mid noon. Since the panels are wired for 12 volts.
( Technically 12 volt panels are about 17 volts. Two 12 volt panels in series is about 30 volts)
http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/uploads/pdf/Datasheet_SB3000i.pdf
http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/products/details/solar-boost-3000i
https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Boost-Charge-Controller-SB3000i/dp/B0179V9JQI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1493567365&sr=8-1&keywords=blue+sky+solar+charge+controller
Next is the main electrical panel in the coach. That is the unit with the circuit breakers. This is what charges the batterys when on shore power or generator.
If you can post a pic of that we can look up the specs. It would be best to upgrade this if its a 14.4 volt model. Not a big deal but it would help with bulk charge.
Solar after upgrade will work wonders. If your use is that high and you are using a lot of power, then the scenerio would be start gen in morning for an hour to bulk charge. Then let solar take over rest of day.
But a 14.8 volt convertor main panel would be better then the 14.4 unit you most likely have now.
Heck you may even have this option already but we need to see the make and model of your main panel...
Last last if you equalize that batts you have now they can probably be restored.
I understand your issue that they are hard to get to so maybe AGMs may be better for your needs. But again as stated you will just kill them if you do not look to upgrade what you have there.
As stated you are not going to learn this overnight but we are here to help and guide you so as you say " I Just Want It To Work"
