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
Read maybe this on battery charging - from the diagram and below.
Battery CAN and SHOULD go to 14-something volts by the end of charging process, which can occur by late morning, or mid-day, or later (or never, if your battery is too low and solar harvest is too poor because of weather or because the panel is small).
Yes, 7-pin pigtail might be convenient for low-current controllers, though I don't like it for the following reasons:
1) Voltage drop. With my 30A array the drop would not only be very high, but probably would burn those thin pigtail wires, I think they are only designed for 10A per lead.
2) This plug is exposed to elements and brass contacts on my plug are more green than yellow now. Less contact = higher losses.
3) God only knows what is connected to what contact on that 7-pin plug. There are few different wiring diagrams for this plug, depending on the manufacturer.
Battery CAN and SHOULD go to 14-something volts by the end of charging process, which can occur by late morning, or mid-day, or later (or never, if your battery is too low and solar harvest is too poor because of weather or because the panel is small).
Yes, 7-pin pigtail might be convenient for low-current controllers, though I don't like it for the following reasons:
1) Voltage drop. With my 30A array the drop would not only be very high, but probably would burn those thin pigtail wires, I think they are only designed for 10A per lead.
2) This plug is exposed to elements and brass contacts on my plug are more green than yellow now. Less contact = higher losses.
3) God only knows what is connected to what contact on that 7-pin plug. There are few different wiring diagrams for this plug, depending on the manufacturer.
