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Post by oregonperson on Jul 18, 2017 22:52:01 GMT -8
I just recently purchased a 100 watt Eclipse solar suitcase with 30 amp Adventurer PWM controller with LCD to use with my travel trailer. I am also a newbie to the use of solar power.
1. Is there anything on the Adventurer controller LCD that indicates which phase of battery charging it is currently operating in?
2. The solar suitcase is comprised of two 50 watt panels that appear to be connected in series. I read a Renogy blog that says if you are using a PWM charge controller you must connect multiple panels in parallel.....why then are these connected in series??
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Post by rabird on Jul 19, 2017 3:00:22 GMT -8
2. they are in parallel, inside the junction box on the back the + of one is connected to + of the other.
1. no, PV voltage would be an indicator, if near batt voltage = boost
in absorption or float the PV voltage will be much higher.
so charging starts as the sun comes up/out
PV and batt voltage rise and eventually get to 14+v
Once the set pt is reached, the batt V should stay constant for a couple of hrs while PV voltage rises - absorption.
The set pt changes to float 13.?v, batt v will decline to this while PV voltage remains high.
During the time the controller is doing any regulation, it connects and disconnects from the battery very fast to limit amps trying to maintain 14.?v at the battery. Connected a panel operates at batt voltage, disconnected it operates at Voc or ~21v.
The connect/disconnect happens faster than the voltage meter so one gets an average. If connect and disconnect time are equal so as to limit panel output to 50%, the ave PV voltage would be (14.6v + 21)/2 ~ 18v. As current is further limited the disconnect time is longer and therefore the ave PV voltage is higher.
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Post by oregonperson on Jul 19, 2017 4:41:47 GMT -8
Thanks rabird.
Another question: in reading solar fusing information it seems that most recommend using a fuse between the charge controller and batteries equal in amps to the charge controller but on this product they use a 7.5 (??) amp fuse close to the alligator clips......why not a 30 amp to match the 30 amp Adventurer charge controller??
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Post by rabird on Jul 19, 2017 5:21:42 GMT -8
got a link to 'this product' where it may state to use a 7.5A fuse near the alligator clips.
I'd would not modify it to add a fuse, just clip it to the batt and then point the panel at the sun.
fusing is generally based on wire size and are located near the source (controller) when charging, battery for loads.
Your house breakers are located at the begining of the circuit as are your vehicle fuses, they protect the wires from melting ...
If it has a fuse holder it may be smaller than 30A since it is designed for 100 watts or less than 6A.
In short the controller starts out in bulk mode each day, there may not be enough sun to beyond bulk.
Also, usage may be such that it never gets beyond bulk.
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