pgr
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Posts: 5 
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Post by pgr on Aug 27, 2016 8:00:54 GMT -8
I have a new 100 w panel that came with the B00BCTLiHC PWM controller. The output from the panel usually shows 18v - 19v but as soon as I connect the wire from the panel to the controller the voltage on the panel side always read .2 less the the voltage of the battery (AGM CA 100V CCA 800). The battery runs down under a load after about 4 days and if I shut the load off it takes about 4 more days to charge up .5v. Do have a bad controller? Both lights are on green.
I have 2 - 150 W panels connected to a Tracer 30A MPPT controller on my camper and the voltage at the controller always read correctly on both sides (in and out).
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Post by spiderbob on Aug 27, 2016 8:33:17 GMT -8
May I ask what kind of load do you have on the controller and/or battery? What size is your battery as well?
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pgr
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Post by pgr on Aug 27, 2016 10:09:44 GMT -8
I have a 4 amp. 12v bilge pump on a large size 31 AMG battery, CA 800 CCA 1000. If I charge th battery with a charger it drops from 13.6 v to 11.9 in 4 days with the pump running 7 AM to 4 PM. In my camper the battery stays at 13.6 v all day long with no load
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Post by spiderbob on Aug 27, 2016 10:54:43 GMT -8
That charger is going to take some time to charge that battery, 4 days is not even unheard of if the battery is down to begin with. If it had a full charge, it would keep it up but with a load on it, even at 4 amps, that over four days will bring your battery down. It is also dependant on the days and of course sun you are getting. Is this bilge pump in a boat or a fountain, I also thinking if it's in a boat it is not running the full time, in which case you should be charging better. Does a panel get shaded at anytime during the 9 hour period your running the pump? With a shaded panel (even a portion of the panel) it will drop out the panel completely from charging until you get once again full sun.
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pgr
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Post by pgr on Aug 28, 2016 5:55:20 GMT -8
Yes it's a bilge pump and it's being used in a waterfall. I'm well aware of the charging details and the sun, etc, what concerns me is the controller only reads the same voltage as the battery, less .1 v when I connect the feed from the panel, not the actual voltage the panel is putting out which typically is 18 - 19 volts. This does not seem correct and it certainly isn't what my camper set up does.
My question is "Do I have a faulty controller?"
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Post by spiderbob on Aug 28, 2016 10:11:56 GMT -8
Yes it's a bilge pump and it's being used in a waterfall. I'm well aware of the charging details and the sun, etc, When I answer a question from another, I don't "direct" my answer to that person alone. I'm directing my answer to all that may read this, yes, you may be totally aware of the charging details, but others may not be aware of that sir. |
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Post by rex on Aug 28, 2016 11:12:44 GMT -8
PV/panel voltage should always be = or greater than batt v.
At first, panel voltage should equal batt voltage until batt v has climbed to set pt of 14.4v or whatever for type of battery.
Then PWM kicks in to limit charging, holding batt v @ 14.4. It does this by turning on/off the connection from panel to battery at a very high frequency. The off time increases as the amps taper (less power is needed as the battery reaches 100% charge). Measuring PV/panel voltage during this time is an average of the batt v panel V (Voc).
Your camper is in float (another set pt), there is not much charging going on.
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pgr
New Member
Posts: 5
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Post by pgr on Aug 29, 2016 14:52:58 GMT -8
Thanks, I understand all that. What I'm tring to determine is if I have a defective controller. The input from the panel always show .1 v less that the batter no matter what the battery charge is.
I believe the controller is bad but I'm trying to get some feedback on if it rally is or not. If the battery is fully charged the input from the controller should read whatever the panel is putting out, not .1 v less, correct?
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Post by xvz on Aug 30, 2016 5:13:28 GMT -8
yes
can ya use a ammeter to measure current while charging?
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Post by jon1 on Aug 30, 2016 7:30:29 GMT -8
I think I'd hook the panel directly to the battery, 4A x 9 hrs ~ 36ah/day discharge, panel ~ 20ah/day
of course you'd need to disconnect if battery voltage topped upper 14+v.
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Post by jsb2000 on Aug 30, 2016 11:06:15 GMT -8
I think I'd hook the panel directly to the battery, 4A x 9 hrs ~ 36ah/day discharge, panel ~ 20ah/day of course you'd need to disconnect if battery voltage topped upper 14+v. Sorry, but hooking the panel directly to the battery is generally a bad idea. Charge controllers exist for a reason! First, there's absolutely no regulation going on. It would be very easy to overcharge the battery, overheat it, etc. Your battery health is going to suffer big time. Secondly, the panels don't have blocking diodes. Most controllers, including Renogy's, are where those diodes are located. So, without a controller, cloud rolls in front of the sun and that battery will start discharging back through the panel! |
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Post by jon1 on Aug 30, 2016 11:53:24 GMT -8
your second point is valid but not the first as I suggested disconnecting when charged, a PWM controller connects the panel directly to the battery during BULK, there is no voltage regulation. The panel's voltage is drawn down to that of the battery and follows the IV curve of the panel.
The OP can certainly get an idea of how his battery would respond to the panel since it sure seems his controller is junk.
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Post by rabird on Aug 30, 2016 17:30:33 GMT -8
if I shut the load off it takes about 4 more days to charge up .5v. Do have a bad controller? Both lights are on green. 4 days to raise battery voltage 0.5v? something ain't right, use a amp meter to verify amps are making it to the battery. |
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Post by waymore on Sept 4, 2016 9:14:00 GMT -8
I have a similar problem. Just hooked up system yesterday. I have a RNG-100D panel connected to a Renogy 30 Amp Wanderer Charge Controller charging 2 (two) nearly new Exide flooded deep cycle batteries connected in parallel on my RV. In bright sunlight the no-load PV output is 21 volts (+/-). When connected to the charge controller I read 12.1 volts on PV output and 12.0 volts charge controller output to the battery. The charge controller does not appear to be charging the battery.
When I apply an AC Battery Charger to boost battery voltage I read the elevated battery voltage everywhere on the solar charge controller.
Lite status on the charge controller: PV = 1 blink per second; battery light is solid green/red; mode is red (flooded).
Need help troubleshooting. Suggestions?
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Post by rabird on Sept 4, 2016 11:03:26 GMT -8
100 watt panel in bright light is ~5A charger (4 hrs a day).
2 x 100 ah battery is 200 ah @ 50% discharge that's 100 ah missing (yours' are more than 50% discharged).
it will take a 5A charger 20 hrs+ of bright sunlight to replace 100 ah missing.
5/200 x 100 = 2.5% charger!!!!
amp meter?
leave ac charger connected overnight!
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