Post by johnnyalm on Mar 27, 2017 12:37:25 GMT -8
I have a Rover 40 amp ppt controller connected to 3-100 watt panels and 2-6 volt 225AH golf cart batteries for my travel trailer. I see the load terminals say you can have a maximum load of 240 watts (20 amps at 12 volts). I don't have any thing that draws a lot of current on the 12 volt system, just CPAP (2.4 amps), LED lights, water pump, radio/stereo, cell phone/tablet chargers, small fan. The batteries should be able to supply 20 amps for 5 hrs before they have to be recharged. I have the following questions:
1. Can the trailer be directly connected to the load terminals and not use a separate connection to the batteries?
2. Should I put a 20 amp fuse on the + load wire or does the controller have a circuit breaker?
3. When the batteries are not being charged by the solar panels, can I keep the controller load wires connected when the batteries are being charged by the trailer converter connected to 120AC or being charged by the alternator in my truck? Should I disconnect the controller load wires in those situation and connect the trailer directly to the batteries?
4. Is it better to not use the load terminals and just connect the trailer directly to the batteries? (I suspect this is the right answer)
5. If I am not using solar power can the controller remain connected to the batteries? The trailer would be directly connected to the batteries and not the load terminals. Do I have to disconnect the controller from the batteries when the batteries are being charged from the trailer 120AC converter or the truck alternator?
6. Is it reasonable to expect the 3 panels to recharge the batteries from 50% discharged if they get 8 hrs of direct sunlight? I will assume that I only get 50 watts from each panel in real life use (50 watts*3 panels =150 watts*8hrs =1200 watt hrs/12 volts = 100 amp hrs (1/2 the capacity of the battery bank)
I might be mistaken but the advantage of using the load terminals is that you can see how much power you used from the batteries and it automatically turns off the power when the batteries reach 50% discharge. You don't get that if you connect the controller and trailer directly to the batteries Am I mistaken?
Confused yet?
?
JohnnyAlm
1. Can the trailer be directly connected to the load terminals and not use a separate connection to the batteries?
2. Should I put a 20 amp fuse on the + load wire or does the controller have a circuit breaker?
3. When the batteries are not being charged by the solar panels, can I keep the controller load wires connected when the batteries are being charged by the trailer converter connected to 120AC or being charged by the alternator in my truck? Should I disconnect the controller load wires in those situation and connect the trailer directly to the batteries?
4. Is it better to not use the load terminals and just connect the trailer directly to the batteries? (I suspect this is the right answer)
5. If I am not using solar power can the controller remain connected to the batteries? The trailer would be directly connected to the batteries and not the load terminals. Do I have to disconnect the controller from the batteries when the batteries are being charged from the trailer 120AC converter or the truck alternator?
6. Is it reasonable to expect the 3 panels to recharge the batteries from 50% discharged if they get 8 hrs of direct sunlight? I will assume that I only get 50 watts from each panel in real life use (50 watts*3 panels =150 watts*8hrs =1200 watt hrs/12 volts = 100 amp hrs (1/2 the capacity of the battery bank)
I might be mistaken but the advantage of using the load terminals is that you can see how much power you used from the batteries and it automatically turns off the power when the batteries reach 50% discharge. You don't get that if you connect the controller and trailer directly to the batteries Am I mistaken?
Confused yet?
?JohnnyAlm
