Low Amps from New Solar Install
I did my first solar install on the roof of my fifth wheel this weekend. Two Renogy 100w mono panels to a Solar30 controller via a 10AWG cable down the gray tank vent. In going through the displays o...
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Set at 14.5V for starters, and see if you get to 15.0V at the battery terminals when close to fully charged, you might only get 14.8V. Depends on length of run from charge controller to battery terminals, gauge of wires, connectors if any, etc. Some setups create voltage loss, others are so good that you see .3 to .5V gain from that showed. Use a good Digital Multi Meter on the battery terminals to confirm. Amperage charging rate will tell you bit also, with practice.
If you are leaving this attached to the batteries to float charge daily, drop your V down to 13.2 to 13.5 indicated or so. Set the V higher when you are out camping daily, 14.2 to 14.5V for daily recharging.
You could probably "tune" the voltage loss to that actually displayed by running something like 14 gauge or 16 gauge wire, to induce a little more loss from the controller to the battery bank. In doing so, however, you'll lose the ability to almost equalize charge the battery.
If you are leaving this attached to the batteries to float charge daily, drop your V down to 13.2 to 13.5 indicated or so. Set the V higher when you are out camping daily, 14.2 to 14.5V for daily recharging.
You could probably "tune" the voltage loss to that actually displayed by running something like 14 gauge or 16 gauge wire, to induce a little more loss from the controller to the battery bank. In doing so, however, you'll lose the ability to almost equalize charge the battery.
