Getting back to solar panels.
Well it was easy enough to get the replacement. In the meantime whilst waiting for it to arrive ........
I book the installer to fit the two panels. By this time no replacement panel had arrived. So I get the one I had fitted. A slight problem with the regulator which was delivered - it is positive ground. Oh dear. I get that sorted with the manufacturer and we manage to hook up the fridge directly through it.
Apparently so long as the equiptment is not negative ground its ok.
Well less see what this 200 Watt panel can do. So the dingo has plenty of readings which it took a while to work out. days really. The one thing I notice is the amp reading seems to low always.
I am thinking I should get 8 to 11 amps but I was seeing 4 to 5 at the most over the best days. The fridge was drawing 5 to 7amps. This was not ok.
Image of solar panel specs.
Which lead me to do some testing on the newly arrived panel.
Isc =
Test showed this maximum current reading. But here is the hammer. The Voc test was 47 Amp. Which means?
Well it was not as advertised 12V but 24V. So what options do we have.
1. Change the regulator to an MTTP
2. System to 24V
3. Return panels.
4. Rewiring to 12V
1. would only bring another 10% power
2. Impossible as all equiptment was 12V
3. Meant uninstalling and paying for return postage.
4. Best option but I will show you why it did not work.
I received an image from seller. Showing how to rewire.
Image panel terminal box rewiring from seller.
Multi meter tests proved that this method was inadequate. All it did was block out 1/2 the panels power. The reading of Voc was 1/2 but the current remained the same, no difference. So basically now that large panel would be a 90 watt panel.
Diodes must be moved. With the help of forum members we took a deeper look into it.
Image: Plan - terminal solar panel diodes must be moved.
But then a few comments in new posts and my tests proved that the panel was split into 3 sections and no method could work at all. This was a 24 Volt grid panel.
So my only option was to uninstall and return both panels back. You might think I would be able to replace them right? But it gets worse...... to be continued.
Well it was easy enough to get the replacement. In the meantime whilst waiting for it to arrive ........
I book the installer to fit the two panels. By this time no replacement panel had arrived. So I get the one I had fitted. A slight problem with the regulator which was delivered - it is positive ground. Oh dear. I get that sorted with the manufacturer and we manage to hook up the fridge directly through it.
Apparently so long as the equiptment is not negative ground its ok.
Well less see what this 200 Watt panel can do. So the dingo has plenty of readings which it took a while to work out. days really. The one thing I notice is the amp reading seems to low always.
I am thinking I should get 8 to 11 amps but I was seeing 4 to 5 at the most over the best days. The fridge was drawing 5 to 7amps. This was not ok.
Image of solar panel specs.
Which lead me to do some testing on the newly arrived panel.
Isc =
Test showed this maximum current reading. But here is the hammer. The Voc test was 47 Amp. Which means?
Well it was not as advertised 12V but 24V. So what options do we have.
1. Change the regulator to an MTTP
2. System to 24V
3. Return panels.
4. Rewiring to 12V
1. would only bring another 10% power
2. Impossible as all equiptment was 12V
3. Meant uninstalling and paying for return postage.
4. Best option but I will show you why it did not work.
I received an image from seller. Showing how to rewire.
Image panel terminal box rewiring from seller.
Multi meter tests proved that this method was inadequate. All it did was block out 1/2 the panels power. The reading of Voc was 1/2 but the current remained the same, no difference. So basically now that large panel would be a 90 watt panel.
Diodes must be moved. With the help of forum members we took a deeper look into it.
Image: Plan - terminal solar panel diodes must be moved.
But then a few comments in new posts and my tests proved that the panel was split into 3 sections and no method could work at all. This was a 24 Volt grid panel.
So my only option was to uninstall and return both panels back. You might think I would be able to replace them right? But it gets worse...... to be continued.
After visiting my mum over night. I went well over 12hrs running the fridge on my 100Ah accessory battery. In the morning I discovered water everywhere as the fridge had defrosted, although strangely enough the fridge was still running but obviously not at capacity.
Battery reading of, get this 4.9V.
So my first thought! The fridges auto cutoff switch at low voltage can't be working and now the battery is stuffed.
Dave - at RV super store was kind enough to do a battery load test and I carried out tests over the next week - it was in perfect shape! Nevertheless I bought then a new 100Ah so that makes now 200Ah
Now it really does irritate me having to think constantly on the fridge so to improve the situation more the only thing I can do is solar panels.
Well I want the biggest most powerful I can get! "SIZE MATTERS"
1. Organize installer.
2. Roof space, step number one.
3. Find appropriate panel size to fit. (Max watt in my case 2 x 200 watt panels in a square format)
4. Find appropriate solar controller/Regulator
Sound easy enough?
Well it's not. It took a full week of research and speaking to some companies who enlightened me as to why and what etc. all before I found what to be the right products.
You see it is not just a simple method once you get over a 360 Watt array it gets more expensive going to the next level regulator 40Amps.
I wanted MTTP (high tech) regulator but ended up with the best PWM that Australia has to offer thanks to a very good salesman / technician.
Dingo 4040 thats a 40Amp regulator.
Solar panels - found the size and had 3 brands to choose from or so it seemed at the time?!?!?
Paid and posted Beginning of Dec. It's now heading towards end Jan. and I am still am waiting to receiving the correct panels ha?
It a long story but very informative one to learn big lessons from.
Panels get lost in transit Found then arrive 9 days later. The boxes are damaged on arrival it doesn't look good - Rather large foot prints on one box!
Opened the box .........
Smashed solar panel.
But it gets worse more to come -
Battery reading of, get this 4.9V.
So my first thought! The fridges auto cutoff switch at low voltage can't be working and now the battery is stuffed.
Dave - at RV super store was kind enough to do a battery load test and I carried out tests over the next week - it was in perfect shape! Nevertheless I bought then a new 100Ah so that makes now 200Ah
Now it really does irritate me having to think constantly on the fridge so to improve the situation more the only thing I can do is solar panels.
Well I want the biggest most powerful I can get! "SIZE MATTERS"
1. Organize installer.
2. Roof space, step number one.
3. Find appropriate panel size to fit. (Max watt in my case 2 x 200 watt panels in a square format)
4. Find appropriate solar controller/Regulator
Sound easy enough?
Well it's not. It took a full week of research and speaking to some companies who enlightened me as to why and what etc. all before I found what to be the right products.
You see it is not just a simple method once you get over a 360 Watt array it gets more expensive going to the next level regulator 40Amps.
I wanted MTTP (high tech) regulator but ended up with the best PWM that Australia has to offer thanks to a very good salesman / technician.
Dingo 4040 thats a 40Amp regulator.
Solar panels - found the size and had 3 brands to choose from or so it seemed at the time?!?!?
Paid and posted Beginning of Dec. It's now heading towards end Jan. and I am still am waiting to receiving the correct panels ha?
It a long story but very informative one to learn big lessons from.
Panels get lost in transit Found then arrive 9 days later. The boxes are damaged on arrival it doesn't look good - Rather large foot prints on one box!
Opened the box .........
Smashed solar panel.
But it gets worse more to come -
Ho ho and were into the new year with new projects underway.
Solar panels and I won a council tender to trade on the beach.
Most recent photo I thought you might appreciate.
Van & Young Australian model.
Van on beach site. New flags give it a live kick.
Solar panels and I won a council tender to trade on the beach.
Most recent photo I thought you might appreciate.
Van & Young Australian model.
Van on beach site. New flags give it a live kick.
