……..or am I expecting too much? oh:We decided to put our solar system & batteries to the test this weekend.
We’re normally on a 10amp hookup 24/7 so this was a first for us.
185watt solar panel
2 x 110amp batteries
600watt inverter
Friday
1;00pm – Got home from work and removed the hook up. Controller screen had been
showing 13.6 v & .30amp charge (Controller pre-sett to knock off at 13.7
volts but this has never been achieved yet, even with both the solar panel AND
hook up connected)
Friday evening. Out for most of the evening so max of 1/2hour TV (125 watt) via the
inverter before bed.
Saturday
7.30 am – 12.5 v & .40amp charge. Only thing on at night was the 12v supply for the
fridge circuit board. (Fridge on gas)
8.30 am 12.5v & 1.30amp charge. ( After showers, breakfast etc)
11.30am 12.5v & 1.10amp charge
3.30 pm 12.0v & 2,20 amp charge (At this point, the 207 watt cooker had been run via
the inverter for about 3 hours, my theory being that
so long as the solar panel was putting more in than
the cooker was taking, it was ok?).
7.00pm 12.3v & .30amp charge (Start watching ColourTV / SKY – total 125watt for just
over 2 hours)
10.00pm 12,3v & no charge Bed with ½ hour reading-1 bulb.
Sunday
05:30 am Low DC warning alarms from fridge and gas detector!!!!!!!
Reading 10.3 volts and .10amp charge as the sun comes up.
So, that’s where we’re at now. With me thinking that my 2x110 amp batteries should have lasted overnight until the solar panel started charging again!
The ONLY thing running last night was the fridge circuit board. We made sure that absolutely EVERYTHING else was turned off, even the red light on the water pump switch!
One thing I did notice this morning was that when I crept outside to check the batteries, the “telltale” window in the top of them was showing GREEN-FULLY CHARGED, even tho my multimeter read them both at 10.2 and 10.3 amps?
Batteries are originals (2 years old) and have been used for fulltime use on hook up 24/7.
Thanks for reading and sorry that was so long winded, I just wanted to give all the info I could for an informed opinion!