Solar power battery novice question
I recently purchased a Used Fox mountain by Northwood that has solar power using Go Power equipment. The control panel allows you check battery status by pushing a series of buttons to scroll thru i...
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This might be what you have: (scroll down to "dual bank")
https://gpelectric.com/product-category/solar/page/2/
Lots to read on how the controller works in the "Products" links.
If you believe that battery SOC from a solar controller, you are living in fantasy land. You need an hydrometer to check the SG for the real SOC. Also your own battery voltage reading does not give you the SOC unless the batts have been disconnected entirely for an hour or so (actually a day is more accurate, but an hour gives you a "close enough").
The controller does not know where its output amps are going. How much to loads and how much to battery. (Not talking about the "load" terminals--just the "battery" terminals which also have loads as well as battery) An actual battery monitor such as a Trimetric shows battery only. Even it needs to be calibrated (reset) fairly often using the SG with Flooded batts or its ammeter with AGMs.)
In their blurb they say the batts are at 100% when they reach the high voltage set-point. That is false. That is just the start of the Absorption Stage.
Anyway, you will figure it all out best by watching it work while camping. Just don't believe that SOC reading!
https://gpelectric.com/product-category/solar/page/2/
Lots to read on how the controller works in the "Products" links.
If you believe that battery SOC from a solar controller, you are living in fantasy land. You need an hydrometer to check the SG for the real SOC. Also your own battery voltage reading does not give you the SOC unless the batts have been disconnected entirely for an hour or so (actually a day is more accurate, but an hour gives you a "close enough").
The controller does not know where its output amps are going. How much to loads and how much to battery. (Not talking about the "load" terminals--just the "battery" terminals which also have loads as well as battery) An actual battery monitor such as a Trimetric shows battery only. Even it needs to be calibrated (reset) fairly often using the SG with Flooded batts or its ammeter with AGMs.)
In their blurb they say the batts are at 100% when they reach the high voltage set-point. That is false. That is just the start of the Absorption Stage.
Anyway, you will figure it all out best by watching it work while camping. Just don't believe that SOC reading!
