More solar questions

[GATJcampers]

New to solar, trying to figure it out and have some questions. I have 2 brand new 6 volt golf cart batteries from sams club wired in series. I have a new 100 watt solar panel kit that came with the panel, wiring and charge controller. I'm not getting the correct voltage at the batteries. I've run a bunch of tests and suspect the charge controller is bad. So I plugged the panel directly to the batteries. open circuit test show I'm getting about 20 volts from the panel. Then hooked up to the batteries it shows 12.1 and holding for the past hour. It is all hooked up properly. Could the batteries be bad? I have a newer better charge controller on the way but now I don't know if that's the problem. I have a previous post named understanding solar that has a little more back ground info. Any help is appreciated. Thank you

[CA_Traveler]

The typical AD/DC clampon ammeter measures voltage with the probes when it's set for DC voltage. When set for DC amps it measures amps with the clamp on one wire. Follow the manual instructions.

It can take several days to charge the batteries with that small panel. With the panel aimed directly at the noon sun expect 4A with a discharged battery. This is with the batteries disconnected from the RV.

Disconnect the batteries and wait several hours. Then 12.7V for both in series is fully charged and 12.1V is 50% charged.

[2oldman]

You need a voltmeter.

[Lwiddis]

“and holding for the past hour...” You posted at 4:50 pm. Starting to charge at 3:30 pm or so isn’t the ideal time....10 to 3 is the most ideal. How many amps is the panel sending to the controller?

[GATJcampers]

I have an ammeter( not expert with it). It's the clamp type. What am I measuring? Wouldn't it at least show a higher voltage while it's without the charge controller?

[2oldman]

What correct voltage are you expecting? What voltage do the batteries in series read?

[time2roll]

Give it 3 days. You are low on charge and 100 watts is small.
Use the controller.

If you really want to verify then you need an ammeter to check current flow.