Post by captmack on Aug 20, 2017 20:05:34 GMT -8
Just installed a Renogy starter kit with 2 100 watt panels and a wanderer controller. Looking at the specifications for the wireless controller in the manual it states that there is a four step charging process. The first stage is a bulk charge which uses 100% of available solar power. When the battery voltage reaches a programmed set point , the controller switches to boost mode for 120 minutes. For wet ccell flooded batteries the boost voltage used is 14.6 volts. Then the controller reduces the charge to a float charge at a float charge set point. First question: what are the boost voltage and float voltage set points? Are they a certain percentage of a full charge? Second, how many amps are used for the boost and the float charge? Third, in any D.C. Wiring system there is voltage drop. The voltage is measured at the controller and not the battery. Does the controller adjust for the voltage drop? This is important because for a 12 volt battery to be fully charged to 12.7 volts, it needs at least two hours at 14.4 to 14.8 volts before it enters the float mode, which is a smaller trickle charge. As the voltage drop is directly related to the gauge and length of the wiring, what size are the Renogy cables, and how much drop is there with them? Also, since it is unlikely to fully charge a battery in one day, especially if the battery bank has two or four batteries in series, what does the controller do after nighttime and what level of charge does it go to the following day? Finally, can the set points for the boost and float modes be adjusted, and can the boost mode time be adjusted as well? The adjustments will most likely be differ for every system. We need to be sure we can fully charge the batteries because if they never get to 100% they will weaken over time at their useable life will be reduced.
