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Post by shtnrlse on Jun 18, 2016 8:40:16 GMT -8
I installed a new solar system last winter (200w) in hopes of leaving my generator home while camping. We use our Traeger pellet grill for dinners and sometimes breakfast. I noticed on my new charge controller my batteries seem to drain quickly. Out of 5 bars on the controller, it goes down to 2 or 3 in a matter of minutes. The controller shows the batteries at 14.6 (seems high?) when charged and 12.5 to 12.8 with 2 bars. Which confirms with my multi-meter. Wondering if my system looks to be correct size. Also, do these voltages make sense? I am new to solar energy,any help is greatly appreciated.
Grill; 238w 2.14a (first 10 min) 28.5w .43a (remainder) (approx. 2 hrs./day)
System; (2) Renogy 100w mono panels 20a HQST mppt controller approx. 15' 10g wiring (2) Interstate 6v GC2RD 208 amp hours at 20 hour rating and 415 reserve capacity minutes at 25 amp rating. 800w Whistler inverter (modified sine wave) My location shows 4.5 hours Solar per day |
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Post by spiderbob on Jun 18, 2016 10:56:06 GMT -8
Battery storage capacity is meaured in amp-hours (Ah) and more is better. most RVs come equipped with one 12-volt group 24 battery which will give you about 70-80 Ah of capacity. If you start with a fully charged battery (which I doubt it) and sticking to the rule of using only 1/3 of your total battery capacity each night, you will have only 26 Ah available each evening. Now that is not very much! Upgrade to two 12-volt group 24 batteries wired in parallel will give you 140-170 Ah of capacity, but using two 6-volt golf cart style batteries will give you about 210 - 240 Ah of capacity. You need to figure out what you are using in the way of Ah in a day and/or night to see what is truely happeing. Then depending on what controller you are using, you may have to upgrade that as well.
I'd say, you better take your generator. That way you can charge by generator early morning bringing the batteries up and then let solar take over just before high sun when you solar charger is going to work it's best to maximize your charging. You really don't say what your are camping in? MH, camper, pop up, tent?? as with any of these except tent, you have other items pulling your charging away while the batteries are trying to take a charge at the same time. This reduces your charge current and lengthens your charge time. Need to know what you are using???
Also, how do you know your battery(s) have a full charge. If you are charging with a converter, no converter charges to full, manufactures leave a safe limit so they can't get in trouple if your battery exploids, and I'v seen that happen. That is also to be said with solar chargers, but they do charger at a better rate than converter/chargers.
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