Battery volts
- Thread starter Tude
- Start date
Is it sunny there now ?
pappajohn
LIFE MEMBER
12.2v sounds a bit low with just TV unless you've been using DVD player.
Otherwise it looks about right if you had no charge source, except you have solar which is puzzling.
If the sun's shining I would expect 13+ volts as a minimum even with the TV on.
Otherwise it looks about right if you had no charge source, except you have solar which is puzzling.
If the sun's shining I would expect 13+ volts as a minimum even with the TV on.
hilldweller
LIFE MEMBER
Spot on.
Agree with @hilldweller. When a load is placed on your batteries it's impossible for your control panel to display the correct state of your batteries. You will get a better reading when the load is removed and an accurate reading when the batteries are disconnected from any load and allowed to rest. A 100 W solar panel is not going to keep a battery bank of 260 Amps fully charged. I would recommend adding another 200 W of solar panels, depends on your usage and where you intend to travel too.
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Bart
Free Member
Is your fridge running on Gas? Or Battery?
pappajohn
LIFE MEMBER
That paints a whole different picture.
Plus lights... Plus water pump...
Your readings sound good for 3 days off grid.
Yes fridge is running 2 days of sun then today weather crap raining her indoors watching tv all day.batteries full im sure this morning then tv on 6 hours continuous i checked the panel it said 12.2v and i thought that seems low
Bart
Free Member
If you have been running your fridge of solar, then you are doing very very well.
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Camping Gaza
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I would consider a B2B charger, divert your solar 100watt panel output into your starter battery and allow the B2B charge the Hab battery bank. setting the B2B cutoff charge from the starter battery to 12.5v so your starter battery will always start your motor. better still add more solar to the roof if you can.
This floats your starter battery constantly from the solar charger (with correct parameters set) keeping it healthy so you will never get a flat starter, and excess energy once fully charged diverts to the Hab bank, via the B2B charger even in winter.
When driving of course your alternator can rapidly charge your hab bank up to 60 amp (depending on B2B type)
If you still dont have enough power you could get a fold out solar panel where you get out when camped up to suppliment your charge (connect direct via a controller to one of the hab batteries)
This is the system I have and appears to work well. My B2B also has a built in solar Mppt controller as an option so I have one 100w panel going to this. ( I have 300w panels in total on the roof)
Its a bit like a portable Battersea power station!
This floats your starter battery constantly from the solar charger (with correct parameters set) keeping it healthy so you will never get a flat starter, and excess energy once fully charged diverts to the Hab bank, via the B2B charger even in winter.
When driving of course your alternator can rapidly charge your hab bank up to 60 amp (depending on B2B type)
If you still dont have enough power you could get a fold out solar panel where you get out when camped up to suppliment your charge (connect direct via a controller to one of the hab batteries)
This is the system I have and appears to work well. My B2B also has a built in solar Mppt controller as an option so I have one 100w panel going to this. ( I have 300w panels in total on the roof)
Its a bit like a portable Battersea power station!
Spot on then
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