Solar panels and lithium batteries

I also installed a couple of like this

wa8yxm wrote:
T
How many watts do we use per day

This should really be figured out first.

Also, as someone else suggested, you may not be fully charged. While hydrometer is the gold standard, turn off the generator and let the batteries rest for an hours. If they aren't up around 12.7v, you didn't fully charge them. What you likely saw was the charging voltage which tends to be up over 13v.

The panel will show full long before a hydrometer will show full (A temperature compensated hydrometer is the only way to be 100% sure of full on flooded wet cells) you might want to test using one of those.. Resting voltage is also a good indicator but you must DISCONNECT the battery for a while before measuring. Else you see only "Surface charge" or the converter output.

I'd recommend the hydrometer. Auto stores still have 'em in many cases.

The major advantage of LI is that you can run 'em down near zero before they reduce voltage.. Just make sure you have the proper solar controller.
Also you need to do a bunch of math to decide

How many watts do we use per day
How many watts will the panels actually produce (Figure half their rating)

and the loss in the charging cycle. MPPT controllers Maximum Power Point Transfer) will charge fastest .

Please don't tell us the four light panel is saying full and the generator is turned off. Need to get these batteries up in the 14.4 to 14.8 voltage range and hold for an hour minimum to be about 95% while camping.

Going to need to get this right for lithium & solar anyway so dig into the inverter/charger specs and verify with a voltmeter what is going on. Post your findings.

And yes I have solar and lithium. Huge improvement over GC2.

prstlk wrote:
Has anyone switched to the lithium batteries?

Not yet, but when I do, I’ll install at least two of these 206 Ah SOK batteries.

Remember, your charger will need to have adjustable Absorbtion and Float battery voltages.

prstlk wrote:
Will installing just the solar panels be enough with 4 new golf cart.

Probably not since you are draining fully charged batteries each night.

I’d replace your lead-acid with lithium batteries first.

My solar system works well with my 200 amp hour Lithium battery but the panels, battery and controller are properly sized to my usual electrical use. Start with your average daily amp use then multiple it by 1.5. Size the three from that number. Done right, you’ll be able to camp without generator noise and maintenance.