Reading AMPS from a solar panel
I have a 12v - 120W solar panel on my TC. This is controlled by a Morningstar Sunsaver 20 into a single group 27 wet cell battery. I have a Trimetric 2025RV battery monitor installed. As far as ...
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OK...Just went outside to try a few things.........
First, hooked up the B&D charger as BFL13 suggested. PERFECTO! The digital readout on the charger said 1.9amps and the Trimetric recorded +1.7...seems accurate enough for government work. I would imagine this number is 1.9 minus the parasitic drain fro the alarms etc. The Trimetric showed the battery at 100% and the "chargeing" LED was illuminated.
I then disconnected the B&D and connected shore power, the Centurion converter registered .9 AMPs and showed the battery at 100%. So it seems the "Mighty" centurion was only putting out .7amps??? The tag on the inside of the Centurions panel says it should output 6amps. Is the output on this 1998 vintage converter regulated?
Now when I connected the B&D AND the Centurion, the centurion stopped working. The fan shut off, no fuses blew, no drama...just stopped working. When I removed the neg clamp from the B&D that was connected to the shunt, the Centurion started back up.......Interesting?
I wonder if this will happen when the camper is in direct sunlight and the Morningstar is outputting its max current?
First, hooked up the B&D charger as BFL13 suggested. PERFECTO! The digital readout on the charger said 1.9amps and the Trimetric recorded +1.7...seems accurate enough for government work. I would imagine this number is 1.9 minus the parasitic drain fro the alarms etc. The Trimetric showed the battery at 100% and the "chargeing" LED was illuminated.
I then disconnected the B&D and connected shore power, the Centurion converter registered .9 AMPs and showed the battery at 100%. So it seems the "Mighty" centurion was only putting out .7amps??? The tag on the inside of the Centurions panel says it should output 6amps. Is the output on this 1998 vintage converter regulated?
Now when I connected the B&D AND the Centurion, the centurion stopped working. The fan shut off, no fuses blew, no drama...just stopped working. When I removed the neg clamp from the B&D that was connected to the shunt, the Centurion started back up.......Interesting?
I wonder if this will happen when the camper is in direct sunlight and the Morningstar is outputting its max current?
