Now I've been reading threads on here and other places for a few months now. I need some confirmation on the setup I plan to use and any tips or advice is appreciated. I know there is a LOT of knowledge on this topic here so please allow me to pick your brains!I have two 6 volts, 232 amp hour batteries. So am I safe to assume I'm working with 464 amp hours or am I misunderstanding? All our lights are LED and we run our fridge on propane. We charge a few iphones daily, use the 12 volt fantastic fan and will be adding a 22"LED tv that will be used 1-2 hours a day at most. I think this kit will be the start, the 200 watt Renergy kit.HereNow we live in Oregon so I do understand the limits of the system...what I'm after is a proper battery monitor! I hated going this weekend and not knowing my true charge of my batteries. The factory is lame to include the monitor for all systems..... Is this enough for our uses? I do plan to have a 2000 watt gen set but we want quiet and peace so the less I can run one, the better.Thanks, I know I've started a bunch of threads but gotta get moving on things to have this thing ready for the rest of the year!

Batteries connected in series will increase the voltage but the amp hours remain the same so your two 6 volt batteries at 232 amp hours gives you 12 volts at 232 amp hours.To monitor my batteries, I have a combination panel volt/amp meter. I check my battery voltage in the morning before the sun rises. This gives me an idea of my state of charge. It's best not to let batteries drop below 12.1 volts which is considered half charge.200 watts of solar should work fine.

So what does this battery moniter tell you. I looked at the add but couldn't tell. Seems like a decent price though.

I run a Trimetric Monitor from BestCoverter.com. Once you set the battery capacity, it will show you volts, charge/discharge rate (A), and % full. Simple 4 wire hookup and a shunt in the ground wire just before the battery. More than you, I was worried about battery usage until I installed the monitor. Then I realized just how frugal I was and started having a blast.I didn't go with the kit, but did go with the Renogy 100W panel with a PWM control similar. Max I have seen is just over 4A, but the battery was mostly recharged before the sun was high over head. The one panel will easily give me 20A recharge on my single battery which is all I need.

zb39 wrote:So what does this battery moniter tell you. I looked at the add but couldn't tell. Seems like a decent price though.The meter I bought on eBay displays battery voltage and charge or discharge current (+/-). It comes with a shunt that is mounted close to the negative post of the battery. I believe that the cheaper models will not display discharge current so check closely before purchasing. There are also models that will display amp-hours.Here's a link:Volt/Amp meter on eBay

Vinsil - I think you would get more info if this thread was on the Tech Issues Forum. If there are questions unique to TCs, then this is the correct Forum. I will leave it here for a while, then move it unless you have specific questions for the TC crowd.WayneModerator

Solar advice | Good Sam Community

time2roll
Nomad
Sep 08, 2015
If the controller will be in plain sight I would opt for the display option.
I think you will find knowing the simple battery voltage is enough without spending $200 on a full monitor.

200 watts solar will provide good power with 232 amp hour battery and your conservation efforts.
(assuming you get some sunshine)
Reddog1
Explorer II
Sep 08, 2015
Vinsil - I think you would get more info if this thread was on the Tech Issues Forum. If there are questions unique to TCs, then this is the correct Forum. I will leave it here for a while, then move it unless you have specific questions for the TC crowd.

Wayne
Moderator
Tom_M1
Explorer
Sep 08, 2015
zb39 wrote:
So what does this battery moniter tell you. I looked at the add but couldn't tell. Seems like a decent price though.
The meter I bought on eBay displays battery voltage and charge or discharge current (+/-). It comes with a shunt that is mounted close to the negative post of the battery. I believe that the cheaper models will not display discharge current so check closely before purchasing. There are also models that will display amp-hours.

Here's a link:Volt/Amp meter on eBay
kohldad
Explorer III
Sep 08, 2015
I run a Trimetric Monitor from BestCoverter.com. Once you set the battery capacity, it will show you volts, charge/discharge rate (A), and % full. Simple 4 wire hookup and a shunt in the ground wire just before the battery. More than you, I was worried about battery usage until I installed the monitor. Then I realized just how frugal I was and started having a blast.

I didn't go with the kit, but did go with the Renogy 100W panel with a PWM control similar. Max I have seen is just over 4A, but the battery was mostly recharged before the sun was high over head. The one panel will easily give me 20A recharge on my single battery which is all I need.
zb39
Explorer
Sep 08, 2015
So what does this battery moniter tell you. I looked at the add but couldn't tell. Seems like a decent price though.
Tom_M1
Explorer
Sep 08, 2015
Batteries connected in series will increase the voltage but the amp hours remain the same so your two 6 volt batteries at 232 amp hours gives you 12 volts at 232 amp hours.

To monitor my batteries, I have a combination panel volt/amp meter. I check my battery voltage in the morning before the sun rises. This gives me an idea of my state of charge. It's best not to let batteries drop below 12.1 volts which is considered half charge.

200 watts of solar should work fine.

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