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Post by chrisw on Nov 14, 2014 15:01:28 GMT -8
I have the 100w panel kit, with 30a PWM charge controller. I have read here and elsewhere that the battery and charge controller need to be connected first, THEN the solar panel connected. Does the charge controller need to be disconnected every evening when there is no longer a light source? If that controller is left connected overnight, does will this cause drain or damage to the batteries? I'm a little confused. My panel is on the roof of my barn (powers the lighting for barn and horse stalls), and connecting/disconnecting is a pretty involved process, climbing up and down into the hay loft to get to the connectors. I understand that the charge controller's purpose is the regulate the charge going to the batteries...I'm just not clear on what happens once the sun goes down.
Thanks,
Chris
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Post by jsb2000 on Nov 14, 2014 15:52:18 GMT -8
Does the charge controller need to be disconnected every evening when there is no longer a light source? If that controller is left connected overnight, will this cause drain or damage to the batteries? Hi Chris, No. the charge controller is designed to be connected at all times. It won't discharge or damage the batteries when the sun goes down. The only way I could see it draining the batteries is if you specifically program the controller to energize the load terminals after sundown (and have a load connected to those terminals). As shipped, I believe the controller is programmed with the load terminals switched on/off manually by the switch on the front. I'm not an employee of Renogy (just a happy, satisfied, and loyal customer!) but I have a fair knowledge of/experience with electronics and their solar products. If you have any other questions or need any advice, feel free to ask. I'm happy to do what I can. |
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Post by chrisw on Nov 14, 2014 17:37:01 GMT -8
Thanks for the info...that's really good news
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Post by defleron on Dec 6, 2014 11:43:13 GMT -8
I purchased the same system. I found if the batteries become drained at night the solar cell must be disconnected for a moment. This resets the controller and the battery light goes from red to green. At this point the solar cell can be reconnected to the controller and the batteries will charge normally.
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Post by jsb2000 on Dec 8, 2014 3:42:33 GMT -8
I purchased the same system. I found if the batteries become drained at night the solar cell must be disconnected for a moment. This resets the controller and the battery light goes from red to green. At this point the solar cell can be reconnected to the controller and the batteries will charge normally. After thinking about this for a while, this sounds like proper behavior for the controller. I believe that the load voltage cutoff setpoint is 11.1 volts. Draining a battery to that level is not a good thing. Charging a battery that's been drained to that level is...tricky. So, the controller won't try unless you "trick it" into doing so. It assumes that you know that you've overdrawn your battery and have brought it back up to safe levels by other (safer) means. In fact, the load voltage reconnect setpoint is 12.6 volts. That's the level where the controller will resume charging after a cutoff event without disconnecting anything. By the way, if you're repeatedly draining your batteries down that low, you're killing them. Plan on replacing them often! |
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