jimmy
Solar Lover
Posts: 52 
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Post by jimmy on Dec 25, 2017 5:44:22 GMT -8
Hi, I just hooked up 15 -100 watt renogy panels in series parallel. Three banks of five. I do not feel I am getting the correct energy from them like there is a short somewhere. Could someone tell me how I check to see if I am getting the correct voltage with a volt meter. I have it connected to an epever etracer mppt 60amp controller. What should my reading be with full sun. Can I check each bank of 5 disconnected with a volt meter. How do I go about that. Would appreciate and help on this. I think there is something not making good connection. I have it connected to 2 100ah deep cycle lead batteries at 24 volts.
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Post by tattoo on Dec 25, 2017 6:02:12 GMT -8
Why do you need so many panels with so few of batteries??
Your not getting much power from your panels because it's not needed with so few and low ah batteries... Instead of buying all those panels you should have bought better higher ah batteries... In my opinion...
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jimmy
Solar Lover
Posts: 52
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Post by jimmy on Dec 25, 2017 6:56:35 GMT -8
Thanks, The 1500 watt panel takes care of almost all of the electricity during the day. Dishwasher, toaster oven, tv, etc. I do charge a one lithium battery during the day and run lights and tv at night. I don't like batteries. Would really rather do grid tie in. But I am not sure how long I can stay here. My etracer with full sun says the pv system is producing 122 watts with full sun and it says charge state boosting 104 volts. Do you know anything about this. What should it read? Seems like with 1500 watts of panels at full sun I should be getting 1500 watts. Does it depend on what I am using or do I have some bad panels?
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Post by tattoo on Dec 25, 2017 8:47:45 GMT -8
It depends on what your using... All your power has no where to go since your batteries are so small... It sounds right to me checking at the CC..
What don't you like about batteries??
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jimmy
Solar Lover
Posts: 52
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Post by jimmy on Dec 25, 2017 12:16:19 GMT -8
They seem to die every 2 years. That is 1 month past warranty. I don't have much room in my solar cabinet. I guess I will add 2 more. You aren't supposed to run them down below 80 or 60%. So it has so little usable electricity. Thanks for your reply. I am going from 1500 watt inverter to a 3000 watt inverter so I guess I will add 2 more. What is your opinion on it? I run a lot of stuff. My ac is 900 watt my pressure cooker is 800 the dishwasher is 1100. I want to run a 1500 watt toaster oven and 1500 watt water heater all of course at high noon full sun. Do you know anything about testing the panels.
I noticed the pv output went to 700 when I was using 850 watts and it was full sun. Wondering why it would not keep up with what I was drawing?
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Post by tattoo on Dec 25, 2017 13:41:20 GMT -8
My 6 6v 215ah ea batteries get down to 12.0 almost every night. If they don't my CC will do it every 3 days or so, so your not cycling them enough.. That might be why they aren't lasting... Do you have a Hydrometer? That's the only way to check to see if your batteries are fully charged..
This time of years your panels might not be at the best angle to make the 850w that you are using..
I would buy batteries with more than 100ah that is a very minimal battery... With all that you are running that is way to small..
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jimmy
Solar Lover
Posts: 52
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Post by jimmy on Dec 25, 2017 14:43:05 GMT -8
So your 6 6v lead acid deep cycle batteries are running at 12 volts and you run them down to 0 every night. I must have heard wrong from some where else. I thought you were not supposed to drop them down below 80 percent. How long have your batteries lasted? Do you have a technical page I could link with for more information about this. I would love run mine down like that. The sun is about 20 degrees lower than the panels. My panels are at a 3/12 pitch facing due south. Do you know if the etracer will cycle mine down every three days too?
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Post by rabird on Dec 25, 2017 14:46:18 GMT -8
Hi Jimmy, testing with a volt meter is easy.
Disconnect a string and measure the voltage of the string, in your case it should be ~100v
Now set you volt meter to amps, be careful cuz you can blow an internal fuse in the voltmeter.
With the meter set to amps and on a scale over say 10A, measure amps just like ya did with volts.
Each panel should 'make' 5-6A (fun sun perpendicular to sun) and many in series will still be 5-6As.
You could repeat for each string or measure them together, ~100v and 15-20A (parralled 3 x 5-6A).
Voc (voltage open circuit) on the sticker on the back is what you are measuring, ~22v x 5
Isc (current short circuit) on the sticker on the back is what you are measuring, ~6A, 5 in series is still ~6A
If the batts are full the controller does limit charge current so that some set pt batt voltage is not exceeded. This set pt is either the mid 14v in boost/bulk/absorption or 13.?v when the controller is in 'float'. (double voltage values for 24v)
If in float and you apply a load the panel output should increase, if the panel can provide enough power it will never get out of float, if the load is big enough to trigger the controller to go into boost then full panel power should be produced until the batteries get to set pt.
Dec 25, 2017 16:43:05 GMT -6 jimmy said:
Do you know if the etracer will cycle mine down every three days too?
NONE as in no controller should do this.
good quality deep cycle can handle 50% discharge if FULLY recharged regularly.
your controller should 'equalize' or a short equalize ever month. This is an intentional over charge to rejuvenate cycled batteries.
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Post by tattoo on Dec 25, 2017 15:22:58 GMT -8
So your 6 6v lead acid deep cycle batteries are running at 12 volts and you run them down to 0 every night. I must have heard wrong from some where else. I thought you were not supposed to drop them down below 80 percent. How long have your batteries lasted? Yes 12v.. I've only had my batteries for 1 year but my Hydrometer shows they are at 1300.. All of them... I should have said my CC is showing 12.0 which is only 50%, but that is sag so I would say the batteries are no lower than 12.3 before a draw.. |
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Post by tattoo on Dec 25, 2017 15:29:36 GMT -8
Do you know if the etracer will cycle mine down every three days too? NONE as in no controller should do this. I didn't think so either but Mine does it.. I took all of my loads off just to check and it showed the lowest voltage of the day was 12.0. Man you got me.. I don't really care as my batteries are back up to 12.7v by 11:00 in the morning... |
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jimmy
Solar Lover
Posts: 52
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Post by jimmy on Dec 25, 2017 15:58:41 GMT -8
Thanks so much Rabird and Tattoo. I just ordered a hydrometer. Read up a little more on batteries. I am happy to hear about the 50 percent. I am going to 4. I have one battery 3 weeks old and 1 14 months old should I ditch the 14 month old battery before hooking them all up together is it that important? Rabird do the 5 panels in series equal 100 watts or 500 watts? The setting is on dc correct?
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Post by tattoo on Dec 25, 2017 16:36:29 GMT -8
Yes set the 14 month old battery to the side and save it in case of an emergency..
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Post by rabird on Dec 25, 2017 17:59:28 GMT -8
Rabird do the 5 panels in series equal 100 watts or 500 watts? The setting is on dc correct? 5 in series is 100+v @ 5A or 100 * 5 = 500 watts. 3 of these strings in parallel would be 100+v, 15+A 5 in parallel is 20+v @ 25A or 20 * 25 = 500 watts. DC volts, yes. Remember that most volt meters require you to change the red lead to a different plug in on the meter to measure amps.. Also remeber you are measuring the 'ends' of the IV curve, not where the panel operates at max power point. (40 watt panel) your panels IV curve would be the same except Ics would be near 6A www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/I/AE_I-V_curve.html |
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jimmy
Solar Lover
Posts: 52
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Post by jimmy on Dec 26, 2017 4:43:21 GMT -8
Rabird,Thanks again especially the reminder to use the other plug for testing amps. I remember burning up a volt meter when I did that under load but this will have no load.
Tattoo you use the hydrometer. Mine should be here in a couple of days. Can I check it hooked up under load at 24 volt in series. Do I need to disconnect the batteries and test them individually at 12 volt no load?
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Post by rabird on Dec 26, 2017 5:25:29 GMT -8
blow many a fuse measuring amps with a probe meter, clamp on has no probes!!! Just open and close around a wire.
When you short the panel(s) with an amp meter there is current, that is what you will measure, amps.
Your 800 watts and poor angle suggest everything is OK.
You can use a hydrometer any time, protective gear!, the turkey baster style makes it easy to add water to cells if needed.
You are measuring the specific gravity in each 2v cell.
I usually fill the hydro and then squirt it back in to mix up the fluid, (good charging does this with bubbles mixing the fluid), then suck some up for a reading.
When done I suck up some distilled water to rinse the hydro for storage.
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