Flexible Solar Panel - Will This Wire Cause Problems

OP HERE:

FINALLY got the panel hooked up, full sun, 200W inverter connected with a 40W bulb plugged in and turned on, and temperature thing plugged into controller...



How's it look now?

mitch5252 wrote:
Here are several suitcase panels (1 x 60w and 2 x 100w) for much less money from Renogy.

Renogy Suitcase Panels

I've seen those folding panels at different places, including this past spring at Quartzite. They're pretty slick and a good portable/movable solar panel solution for moderate to larger RVs.

For our little 24 foot Class C, I'd still prefer the panels you fold up and can almost store in a cabinet drawer. Our large outside storage cabinet is too full of a lounge chair and a dog pen to hold those hard-panel folding ones like the Renogy models. We also don't like to load up our shower and/or beds with stuff that constantly has to be shifted around, either.

Three of the military type foldable solar panels (for 180 watts, total) like those in my link above would be perfect for us ... at budget-busting prices, though. :E

mitch5252 wrote:
OP HERE.

The charge controller was just at $50.

The adjustable things are (as stated in the "manual"):

1) Voltage charging station
2) Undervoltage protection voltage
3) Undervoltage recovery voltage
4) Load control

I have no idea what any of those things are, except perhaps a slight inkling of Load Control.

Here is an example of how the "manual" reads (verbatim):

TO CHARGING FAILURE HANDLING METHOD

a) Solar energy to battery charging, if there is no correct configuration solar panels of power or exceed rated charging current, voltage, will appear charge fault, the checking and debugging, press XX the button, recoverability work.k

The sun had already set before I remembered I had a small inverter in my truck to be able to put a load on the panel. So, I'll give it a try tomorrow and report back in! :)

Ignore 2-4 as they are to do with loads direct from the controller (but with controller on battery)

For 1, IMO start with 14.8v as your setting. (that 14.8 will change as temperature changes--goes higher when cold or lower when hot out--just let it do that)

What you want to observe after picking your setting, is what does the controller do once battery voltage reaches 14.8? It might just stay there till dark when voltage drops anyway. OR it might drop to 13.8 and stay at that till dark, then fall some more. OR it might stay at 14.8 for a fixed time like two hours and then drop to 13.8. If it doesn't say in the manual, you have to find out by watching it. Then you can adjust the voltage setting for "charging" as required.

Yes, plug that temp comp antenna thing in and leave it there forever. Don't lose it.

IMO you will get good service from that controller. The most interesting thing now is what does it do once the battery reaches your chosen "charging" voltage"

MrWizard wrote:
For RV use, load control is not used
Load control was essentially for night time dc lighting, powered from the battery... security lighting on a remote site

Plug in the temp sensor, some controllers will not ouTput any power, If the external option is not connected or jumpered

So, on that temp sensor thing, just leave it plugged in all the time? Maybe that's why the readings didn't look right to all your experienced eyes. I'll know more tomorrow. THANKS!

For RV use, load control is not used
Load control was essentially for night time dc lighting, powered from the battery... security lighting on a remote site

Plug in the temp sensor, some controllers will not ouTput any power, If the external option is not connected or jumpered

Like with the Eco-worthy the simple manual is in the ebay ads.

click

Also like the Eco-worthy, there isn't much there.

OP HERE.

The charge controller was just at $50.

The adjustable things are (as stated in the "manual"):

1) Voltage charging station
2) Undervoltage protection voltage
3) Undervoltage recovery voltage
4) Load control

I have no idea what any of those things are, except perhaps a slight inkling of Load Control.

Here is an example of how the "manual" reads (verbatim):

TO CHARGING FAILURE HANDLING METHOD

a) Solar energy to battery charging, if there is no correct configuration solar panels of power or exceed rated charging current, voltage, will appear charge fault, the checking and debugging, press XX the button, recoverability work.k

The sun had already set before I remembered I had a small inverter in my truck to be able to put a load on the panel. So, I'll give it a try tomorrow and report back in! :)

It would be worth knowing for others who might order that controller (how much was it anyway?), just how it works now that you might have it working right. EG, a picture like the other one of the read-outs, only now with some action (PV amps etc) showing on it.

If any of the settings are adjustable, such as Absorption and Float, we can suggest some good settings to choose depending on your camping situation (latitude and time of year) for using the solar. EG, on the Solar30 for while camping, I chose to make my Float voltage the same as Absorption voltage because I wanted some time at that voltage before dark, where otherwise it would have dropped to whatever lower Float was set too soon for my situation.

OTOH, had I been using solar for storing the trailer and just wanting battery maintenance, I would pick Absorption and Float both to be in the low 13s depending on seasonal ambient temperature.

Just how it behaves without you changing any settings should be in the "charging profile" If not, then you have to let it run for a day and note what it does.

OP HERE.

There was a tiny, double sided "manual" (little piece of paper), translated from Chinese. I am sure I would not have understood it had it been written firsthand in English! :)

Just remember - everyone was Solar Ignorant at some point in their lives...mine just came on in later years!

pianotuna wrote:
Hi BFL13,

Have you tried it with an extension cable?

No, but I see your cunning plan. It is so crazy it might even work. :)

I had my Solar30 right by the batteries (photo somewhere) so it made no difference to ambient. I am still unclear on the whole internal/external battery temp business for temp comp, but I don't really care either! :) I don't need temp comp where and when we use solar.

My Solar30 is not in use since I sold my 130w panel and am now strictly an MPPT guy (Sob!) Maybe someday I will return from the dark side and get to use that Solar30 again. I like it a lot.

I am unclear on just what the OP has, but it seems similar to the Solar30. It ought to have a user's manual and she ought to have read it. :)

However I did get my "RJ Special" (fake MPPT too) delivered last year with no manual although it was supposed to be in the package. Its manual was on-line so no big deal. (I sold that with my 130w panel to a guy camping here and that little $13 controller is still going strong.)