Here are some questions/concerns:
- Is the solar system overcharging my batteries slowly killing them?
This one seems possible to me. Your generator should be booming
those batteries compared to the panels. If the gen cant get the
batteries up to full charge, I suspect the batteries are getting
damaged or need distilled water.
On my boat, I got hit with lightning and it took out the diodes in my alternator (how I charged them with motor). Not sure how onan generators work. My batteries boiled and died.
- Maybe I am leaking back power through the solar panels at night?
Any good solar charge controller should not let this happen.
They should only let charge flow to the batteries from the panel.
- Would putting an ammeter inline help figure this out? Maybe a Doc Wattson http://www.rc-electronics-usa.com/ammeters/rv-battery-monitor.html
I think this device, if I remember correctly is for tiny currents?
Your panels will be lots from the looks of them. Like 5-10 amps maybe.
The solar panel manufacturer and partno. should be on the back of the
panel I think. You can look up partno. on internet.
But, I think they should be like 15 to 25 volts dc if you disconnect
their wires and put a voltmeter on them (panel in sun).
- How to test my batteries to see if they are still good? Maybe only one battery is bad? Need to test under BIG load. Take to store?
and.... I never heard of using batteries to make heat....
making heat takes lots and lots of energy. Energy that batteries
don't have. Maybe that's how the batteries are dying.
Most people use fossil fuels to make heat.
Theres a reason that no one can replace gasoline or diesel or propane.
A teaspoon of that stuff has a lot more energy than anything else. Its not even close.
So most people use a propane heater, electric heater (hooked up to
power company), or diesel/kerosene, or even a coal stove. lol.
gh
