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Post by Dk1ss on Jul 21, 2017 20:21:07 GMT -8
I yesterday installed my Renogy 200w kit with the 30 amp wanderer controller. This morning as the sun came up I was watching the led lights come on showing pv- blinking green, batt- solid green, yet when I put a volunteer to the controller terminals for the panels or battery its showing 12.2volts not the 14 that I'm expecting to see in charge bulk mode...and sure enough I lost power this afternoon with just a small fan running. What is happening here??!!
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dk1ss
New Member
Posts: 1 
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Post by dk1ss on Jul 21, 2017 20:25:24 GMT -8
Voltmeter not volunteer
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Post by rabird on Jul 22, 2017 1:55:31 GMT -8
what does 'lost power' mean.
it takes time for the batt and panel voltage to rise from charging.
Panel v should be near the same as batt v until the batt gets to 14.8v (flooded batt).
it gonna take almost an entire sunny day (or longer) for 200 watts to fully charge a 100ah battery @ 50% state of charge (12.2v), with no loads.
and if 12.2v was after the sun was high and some charge going to the battery, the batt might have been way less than 50% charge.
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Post by Dk1s on Jul 22, 2017 4:39:04 GMT -8
what does 'lost power' mean. it takes time for the batt and panel voltage to rise from charging. Panel v should be near the same as batt v until the batt gets to 14.8v (flooded batt). it gonna take almost an entire sunny day (or longer) for 200 watts to fully charge a 100ah battery @ 50% state of charge (12.2v), with no loads. and if 12.2v was after the sun was high and some charge going to the battery, the batt might have been way less than 50% charge. O0.k thank you that does make sense because my 87ah battery was below 50% to begin with. When I say "lost power" I mean my inverter alarm went off and wouldn't supply any more 120v. Ill update this thread after I see what happens today.. |
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Post by tattoo on Jul 22, 2017 4:49:17 GMT -8
Unplug everything from running off the batteries until the batteries are fully charged... Then hook them back up...
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Post by rabird on Jul 22, 2017 5:23:54 GMT -8
Dk1s, sounds like you are using more power than the sun is making! Battery death spiral.
200 watts is FUll Bright sun pointed at the sun = 11A DC
In a whole day one gets 4-5-6 hrs of sun on average, I usually use 4 as a multiplier. Winter = less.
11a x 4 = 44ah or ~1/2 of your battery. any that goes to use can't recharge. limit discharge to 1/2 for long batt life and fully charge regularly.
A 3A 120v fan = 30+A x 12v via inverter!!!! Time to find a small 12v fan.
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Post by tattoo on Jul 22, 2017 7:10:03 GMT -8
A 3A 120v fan = 30+A x 12v via inverter!!!! Time to find a small 12v fan. Or it's time to up grade.. |
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Post by Dk1sss on Aug 7, 2017 5:07:06 GMT -8
Ok so the battery was overly discharged. But now I have another problem. I have one batter that is rated rc=140 ah=87 and the 200w kit brings it to full charge from 50% in a day right now with nothing being drawn from it. However if I run a small fan the battery will be dead in 6 hrs. By dead I mean the inverter will sound alarm and shut down. And that's six hrs the solar is charging as well.
You can't tell me that 1 86ah battery with a full charge is only capable of running a 8inch fan for half the day!!? This is a 100watt fan...the deep cycle is only 3 months old and oreilys says it tests ok??? Please help
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Post by Dk1ssss on Aug 7, 2017 5:12:48 GMT -8
Dk1s, sounds like you are using more power than the sun is making! Battery death spiral. 200 watts is FUll Bright sun pointed at the sun = 11A DC In a whole day one gets 4-5-6 hrs of sun on average, I usually use 4 as a multiplier. Winter = less. 11a x 4 = 44ah or ~1/2 of your battery. any that goes to use can't recharge. limit discharge to 1/2 for long batt life and fully charge regularly. A 3A 120v fan = 30+A x 12v via inverter!!!! Time to find a small 12v fan. My fan is 0.3 amps not 3.0 to be clear. |
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Post by rabird on Aug 7, 2017 6:41:56 GMT -8
how much power does the inverter use? what is it low voltage cutoff.
so a 100 watt fan is 100/120 = .833 amp NOT .3 amps that @ 120v at 12v it is 10 times as much!
or 8.33A @ 12v - 100/12
8A x 6 hrs is 46ah,
Use a 12v fan rated ~1-3A.
an energy audit would include stuff like the ineffiency of the inverter, fan power, hrs of run time ....... .... .... ...
I think you are suggesting that if you start with a full battery and frun the fan and solar you should still have a full battery at the end of the day, and that should be if there is enough sun and the fan/inverter are not using more than the sun provides. Inverters suck!
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