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Post by andrewfustos on Jun 26, 2016 10:18:30 GMT -8
I recently purchased the 100 watt suite case kit. It says that I CANNOT attach "Power Inverters" directly to the controller. I want to keep the batteries charged in my R.V. But My R.V. has a power inverter built into it's electrical system. Is it O.K. to charge the battery while the power inverter is on and functioning inside of my RV? It would be impractical to NOT be able to charge my cell phones, Lap Tops etc, while I was connected to the Renogy Charge controller.
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Post by jsb2000 on Jun 27, 2016 7:29:47 GMT -8
I recently purchased the 100 watt suite case kit. It says that I CANNOT attach "Power Inverters" directly to the controller. If you read carefully, the manual says specifically "Do NOT connect any inverters or battery charger into the load terminal of the charge controller." You can use a power inverter by connecting it directly to the batteries, which is where most RVs draw from anyway. Inverters typically require much more current than the load terminals on the controller are designed to provide...hence the warning. Therefore, it is okay to charge the battery while using the power inverter. Unless, of course, if you have the load terminals of the controller connected to your RV's electrical system. If so, that's wrong! |
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Post by Hunting Shed on Jul 27, 2016 14:46:50 GMT -8
Hello. Newbie question here......
I purchased a Renogy Solar Panel with PWM Charge Controller with LCD Display 10A/20A.
Intend to use it to charge 12v automotive battery in my hunting shed.
Also have a Cobra 400watt continuous DC to AC converter.
Wanted to be able to charge a cell phone, power a small radio,small fan and maybe power a LED bulb, not all simultaneously.
I think I should connect the inverter directly to the battery, as opposed to the load terminals on the charge controller.
Am I correct?
I might be missing something in the instructions.
Appreciate any tips/info.
Thanks
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Post by ross on Jul 27, 2016 17:35:10 GMT -8
Hunting Shed
correct, connect the controller to batt, connect your inverter to batt.
controller load terminals are for controlling lights dusk to dawn or for a few hrs after dawn, don't use em
turn your inverter off when not being used, they draw some power all the time when on.
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Post by Hunting Shed on Jul 28, 2016 13:57:56 GMT -8
Hunting Shed correct, connect the controller to batt, connect your inverter to batt. controller load terminals are for controlling lights dusk to dawn or for a few hrs after dawn, don't use em turn your inverter off when not being used, they draw some power all the time when on. Thanks for the quick response Ross. Really appreciate it. |
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Post by Hunting Shed on Aug 16, 2016 15:04:22 GMT -8
Another question......
Hooked up my 50watt panel, charge controller and new 12v deep cycle battery on Sunday afternoon. Tested panel with multi-meter, putting out 21-22 volts in partly cloudy skies.
Tested battery with multi-meter prior to hooking it up, and it read 12.6 volts.
After connecting battery to controller, then panel, controller displayed 20% at 12.7 volts. Got as far as 70% before I left.
Last evening it was 90%.
This evening it was 80%.
Is this normal to have a drop like this?
I hooked up my inverter(which I know draws significant power) to test the USB port to charge my cell phone.
Phone started charging, bit after a few minutes the controller said battery was at 30%.
Disconnected inverter and hooked up to USB on charge controller, phone indicated it was charging.
How long in average sunlight, with panel oriented true south, correct angle to horizontal for my latitude, should it take for the controller to indicate 100%?
Thanks!
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Post by ross on Aug 16, 2016 15:41:47 GMT -8
if you discharge the battery faster than it can recharge, it will never read 100%
these SoC percentages are a joke.
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Post by Hunting Shed on Aug 18, 2016 15:50:08 GMT -8
Thanks again Ross.... The only thing I had hooked up to it was my cell phone(75% charge) hooked it up and the controller dropped down to 30%.... Controller and multi meter show the same voltage...
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Post by frank on Aug 21, 2016 9:43:47 GMT -8
batteries are weird on how they actually work. another thing is over time lets say 4 hrs when you fully charge a battery the battery might be fully charged to start out and with nothing connected the voltage will actually drop most of the time.
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Post by Hunting Shed on Aug 21, 2016 10:40:52 GMT -8
Thanks Frank
The battery is good, the panel putting out power, checked both with miltimeter.
Yesterday I undid all my temporary connections, mounted the charge controller to a wall mounted board, hooked up battery first, like instructions, and immediately got a code of E1 on the charge controller instead of the E0 I had been getting, which is the one it should display. Unhooked everything, tried it again same error. Think I have a bad charge controller.
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Post by Admin on Aug 23, 2016 8:06:31 GMT -8
Hello Hunting Shed,
One thing to keep in mind as well is the controller we carry are designed for deep cycle batteries. We would not recommend charging the automotive batteries. The Soc Reading is calibrated for charging voltages so it really is more of an estimation then anything. Its normal for the Soc to drop as much as 25% when the sun goes down. That doesn't mean you just lost a quarter of your battery just that the controller is no longer sending a charging voltage to the battery. If you feel like your controller is defective though please give our tech support a call so we can troubleshoot that controller for you 800-330-8678.
-A.L.
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