Ran batts down so I could watch the Solar charge them up

Searching_Ut wrote:
You can check the output of the solar without charging the batteries, but that takes some of the fun out of it.

This is bordering an addiction :)

First few weeks after I connected my panels I used to check the charging amps and in/out voltage every half an hour. A well known solar syndrome. Controller was sitting temporary on the milk crate outside, on-board display on controller. Then installed it in obscure though accessible nook so that I wouldn't be tempted to do this too often. There is no need.

Plotting rel-time output graph on laptop didn't cross my mind, for 2 reasons:

1) too greedy to spend few more amp-hours to run the laptop when I don't have to, and

2) I don't have to. The amount of data on my Rogue display is enough. In the evening it tells me total amp-hours harvested for the day, max charging current reached, max panel wattage reached, did it go into Absorb mode (and if so, whether the Abs stage was completed, or if not, then how many minutes it stayed in Abs), and how many hours it stayed in Float after completing the Abs. Transition from Abs to Float is current-based (user adjustable) with timer override (also adjustable), so when it says "Absorb - Yes" I know that batteries were at 93-95% before entering Float. Touch of a button brings the data for the previous 30 days if I'm really paranoid.

I've been dwelling that much on those battery charging details because the bottom line is whether you are getting enough amp-hours by the evening to bring batts to 97-99%. Max current is less important, especially current of panels before controller.

With a lower end controller you won't have that much data on display (or the data can't be trusted, ex. controller went into Float without staying in Abs long enough). It would make sense then to buy $30 amp-hour meter on Ebay, people here know which one.

Yes, there is no need to discharge the batteries to see max panel output. Just increase the load. Not much need to do this either - just check the panel specs where it says Isc /Imp.

You can check the output of the solar without charging the batteries, but that takes some of the fun out of it. If you don't see how much charge you can get into the batteries, and how long it takes to do it it's kind of like cooking your baby back ribs in oven rather than outside in the smoker. It's all about enjoying the journey, even if it's out in the driveway.

CJW8 wrote:
No need to run batteries down to test for max solar output. If you have a large inverter, 500 watts or greater, load it up at high sun and measure solar input to the batteries. Also a good idea to turn off all other charging sources.

thanks, hadn't thought of doing that but it makes sense.

No need to run batteries down to test for max solar output. If you have a large inverter, 500 watts or greater, load it up at high sun and measure solar input to the batteries. Also a good idea to turn off all other charging sources.

hedge wrote:
Ran batts down so I could watch the Solar charge them up

too much solar? :B

Finally you can camp without battery issues and this gives worry?
You may need a new activity ;)

pianotuna wrote:
Did you note the results? If so, how about telling us about them?

Searching_Ut wrote:
I have to say, you're weird, bizarre, possibly mental etc.... That said, I did the same thing when I installed my panels earlier this year. Worse yet, I wasn't even camping, just parked out front of the house, ran them down to 50 percent according to my trimetric overnight, then went out at the crack of dawn t0 see what sort of output I got prior to sunrise and verify battery state of charge, then periodically checked throughout the day as the sun rose.

I'm hoping to have my RV pad poured and should probably take some pictures and show my install as a contribution for whatever it's worth to the forum. As for what I recall from the first day.

Mountains to the east, so it gets fairly light out prior to the sun breaking over the mountains. Solar output reached about 1.5 amps prior to the sun hitting panels direct. (Battery switch off so all pwr to batteries) With 5 100 watt panels on roof, parallel wiring and only tilt being curvature of roof the current jumped up to 7 amps when sun broke over the mountains. Hit 34 amps by 10am maxed out at 25.2 then dropped down around 24 amps until it started dropping fairly quickly until the charger dropped out of absorb when batteries hit 85 percent according to the trimetric. Voltage dropped from 14.8 to 13.2 and current down to around 8 amps slowly falling off from that as I recall. I hit 100 percent on around 3pm (3 Group 24 batteries, started at 49 percent state of charge according to trimetric.) Temperature at Sunrise was approx. 68 degrees climbing up to 91.

You are completely normal.
So you haven't been graphing the amps, volts and SG? If it aint broke.........buy another panel instead of a controller, as long as it can handle it.

westend wrote:
The Morningstar controller software allows real time panel output viewing.

I have the remote display that shows volts, amps from panel and volts, amps going to the battery.

Did you note the results? If so, how about telling us about them?

Searching_Ut wrote:
I have to say, you're weird, bizarre, possibly mental etc.... That said, I did the same thing when I installed my panels earlier this year. Worse yet, I wasn't even camping, just parked out front of the house, ran them down to 50 percent according to my trimetric overnight, then went out at the crack of dawn t0 see what sort of output I got prior to sunrise and verify battery state of charge, then periodically checked throughout the day as the sun rose.