Easy way to measure solar output (Amps)?
I tried measuring the circuit between my solar panel and the controller today, but couldn't get a reading. I was wondering, should a digital multimeter (I have a Fluke 115) be able to read small amou...
Forum Discussion
rexlion wrote:Readings are strange because the circuit is "strange". It is also possible that your meter is a lemon, or needs a fresh 9V battery.
I still don't understand why I get such strange readings
I sense some misconceptions here.
You don't - normally - plug controller into trailer's pigtail. Controller should be connected to black and red wires that are sticking from under the front of your rig, same wires as you connect the battery to.
Converter doesn't come into play when you are not on shore power.
TV is charging the trailer battery directly - because again, converter is Off when there is no 120VAC input.
rexlion wrote:
I have found that the voltage in the TT interior (it has a cigarette-lighter style receptacle that I can easily check) runs as high as 14.3V during the midday charging, so that led me to believe that the converter is not reducing what the solar controller puts out.
In the absence of loads during solar charging the voltage in DC circuit is a bit higher than 12V unless your battery is very-very low. Normal voltage during charging starts near 13V, then it goes up to pre-set value of 14-something (called Bulk setpoint), and then drops to pre-set value of 13-something (called Float). This is called a 3-stage charging. If there is a temperature compensation feature in your controller (not likely in a cheap controller) and it is cold where it is mounted, the voltages will be higher, at any stage. OTH, in presence of loads the voltage can be lower, at any stage.
Maybe somebody here could suggest gentleman a good, easy 101 on battery charging?
