More Solar for "Us"

[MrWizard]

Ok, I went off.the deep end?
Bought 3 used 37watt uni-solar panels and a blue sky 2000e controller for the hefty price of $400,
They were being listed as 75w panels, they are not

The tested open circuit voltage was 21+, short circuit amps 2.9
I tested each panel multiple times tilted into the sun and laying flat on the ground , got the same readings each way, that was the deciding factor, they appear to put out full power while laying flat, I will try to mount them tomorrow before it gets hot, right now 104°F
I will use the existing wiring until I buy & install the new wire

[grizzzman]

MrWizard wrote:
New Solar controller, Grape Solar 40a PWM, with Blue tooth remote monitor and setup, using my Android tablet

Would you mind grabbing a screen grab settings set to lithium?

Thanks

[MrWizard]

Pictures were taken right after I started tweaking the settings
Battery type is now SLD sealed aka AGM
It also has a setting for lithium batteries
I posted the pictures so you'all could see all the settings that could be changed

It also has a data saved page aka 'record'
Which keeps daily records
But it seems flaky, some days are missing, showing blank data fields and incorrect math 17Ah total 1.88kWh

I sent them an email about that, got an answer they would forward to engineering

But so far I'm real happy about being about to set my own charge profile

[BFL13]

FLD? ISTR AGMs?

Looks like a very good controller and a 40 amper at that!

[MrWizard]

New Solar controller, Grape Solar 40a PWM, with Blue tooth remote monitor and setup, using my Android tablet

[MrWizard]

Wed June 8 2016

23.05 peak amps
325.6 peak watts

148.00 ampHrs
2043.5 watt Hrs

[MrWizard]

the panels are flat
and thanks to my new Amp/power meter on the kitchen wall
i can see that the batteries are getting a few amps at 7am, and still getting and amp at 7pm when i take the daily reading
and 'reset' the solar watt meter counter

[bigfootford]

MrWizard wrote:
Wed 4-27-16

25.56 peak amps

362.9 peak watts

164.09 amphrs

2328.8 watt hrs

similar results on Monday and tues
two day total for Mon & Tues
307.1 ampHrs
4244.2 watt hrs

need some rain to wash the panels

164 ah is great... At 25 panel amps max that would be over 6 hrs st 25 amps.... We know that 25 is peak. Sun up time is, what, about 8am to 6pm? So 10 hrs to get 164ah... That is an average of 10ah per hr... damnnn goooooood! And you do not tilt your panels do you?

Jim

[MrWizard]

Wed 4-27-16

25.56 peak amps

362.9 peak watts

164.09 amphrs

2328.8 watt hrs

similar results on Monday and tues
two day total for Mon & Tues
307.1 ampHrs
4244.2 watt hrs

need some rain to wash the panels

[MrWizard]

that rain wash Weds & thurs morning really cleaned the panels

Friday 2-19-16
1828.1 whrs
136.7 Ahrs

Sat 2-20-16
1993.0 whrs
147 .07 Ahrs

new records for this time of year

[MrWizard]

Fri Jan 22, 2016 quartzsite

23.44 peak amps 323.0 peak watts

1472.2 watt hrs 107.95 amp hrs

[MrWizard]

Wed jan 6, 2015
heavy rain, but the Sun came out around 1:30 PM

334.7 wh
25.82 Ahr

352.0 PW
25.92 PA

clean panels, cool air, high sun, low batteries
this situation doesn't happen every often
i did not run the generator in the rain , so the batteries, really needed that solar charging
as you can see the total for the day was less than the peak amount
that good sun did not last long
most of the days total was collected in just over one hour

[MrWizard]

Thurs Dec 24

17.95 PA
253.2 PW

1113.0 WHr
82.58 Ahr

a little cool air and Sunny skies is good for solar output

[MrWizard]

today Dec 23-2015 sunny with a few clouds

19.25 peak amps
268.0 peak watts
70.16 amp hrs
965.8 w Hrs

watt ? a difference

[pianotuna]

On the one hand--50 nights a year--no need for a generator even with a modest solar system, so long as there is a large battery bank.

On the other hand--full time--unless there is free shore power available, or a massive solar system with HUGE battery bank, a small generator for battery charging is worthwhile.

Mr Wizard is somewhere in between.

I know that in late October I use 20 kwh per day which would be hard to do with solar alone. But I also know that generator power works out to about $0.40 per kwh. So I need a 15 amp shore power connection.

I can manage pretty well for May and June, but July and August I need to run the air conditioner, consuming 30 kwh plus per day. September and early October works well.

I'm hoping that once I acquire one of those Mexican Autoformers that life will be much easier. I'll be able to use load support and dial down to 13 amps of input allowing for 2 amps for preventing voltage sagging.

[JiminDenver]

Using a single panel on the truck to keep the bank happy over the winter has taught me a lot about the effect of the low winter sun on output and why people tilt. With the weather we have had recently, I sure wouldn't want to be out there without a generator.