Is this reading normal? (1 Viewer)

WESTY66

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 17, 2017
5,775
14,116
South Yorkshire
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49,064
MH
Carthago Chic C-Line
Exp
All the gear, and no idea!
Right peeps, first chance I’ve had to look at my newly installed votronic mppt and display In the daytime whilst the sun is out. Is this what you would expect from the winter sun from a 100w solar panel feeding two 110ah gels?
E469341D-0B43-4763-86E7-5DE573B3E6F0.jpeg

It’s also got other readings if I scroll down but I don’t know what they’re for🤷‍♂️
 
Feb 9, 2008
4,093
5,910
SW Scotland
Funster No
1,453
MH
LP Coachbuilt
Exp
Since 2008 after caravanning for 20 years
You are doing well to get 1.6A in January. I have 100w and it's not enough to keep the batteries alive, I need to plug in. JUst been out to check mine and it's in full sunshine, the sun is so low in the sky the panel is not making anything at all, 0.0A.
 

eddie

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 4, 2007
8,143
41,176
Taunton Somerset
Funster No
540
MH
RV
Exp
since 1989
Right peeps, first chance I’ve had to look at my newly installed votronic mppt and display In the daytime whilst the sun is out. Is this what you would expect from the winter sun from a 100w solar panel feeding two 110ah gels?View attachment 453164
It’s also got other readings if I scroll down but I don’t know what they’re for🤷‍♂️
It’s probably faulty 👍🏻

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Feb 8, 2014
1,662
4,649
Sheffield
Funster No
30,022
MH
Eldis Majestic 115
Exp
Vans and tugs since mid 70's
Right peeps, first chance I’ve had to look at my newly installed votronic mppt and display In the daytime whilst the sun is out. Is this what you would expect from the winter sun from a 100w solar panel feeding two 110ah gels?View attachment 453164
It’s also got other readings if I scroll down but I don’t know what they’re for🤷‍♂️
Just been out to check mine and I'm getting the same - 1.6a in the sunshine.

edit: but I have 2 x 100 panels
 
Jun 8, 2019
4,931
18,760
Bexley Kent
Funster No
61,505
MH
Given up Motorhoming
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May 2019
Don’t you just hate peeps sitting in the sun?😂😂
I am sitting inside watching the rain, with cold feet.😭😭
At least I have a hot casserole for tea tonight 😀😀👍🏼👍🏼
You probably got a boring old salad with droopy lettuce leaves 😀
 
Jan 19, 2014
9,368
24,704
Derbyshire
Funster No
29,757
MH
Elddis Accordo 105
Exp
since 2014
With the sun so low in the sky you'll probably get more power from an overcast white sky.

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funflair

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 11, 2013
19,294
30,058
Guisborough
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29,351
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MORELO palace
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since 2012
Hi WESTY66 you know you can add Bluetooth monitoring to your Votronic MPPT regulator,

IMG_B6A14ABF35E8-1.jpg

And thats out of 520watts,

IMG_3800 2.jpg


In the shade under about 1/4 inch of ice though,

Martin
 
Jan 22, 2017
500
1,942
Bristol
Funster No
47,006
MH
DAF LF Conversion
Exp
Since 2013
You are doing well to get 1.6A in January. I have 100w and it's not enough to keep the batteries alive, I need to plug in. JUst been out to check mine and it's in full sunshine, the sun is so low in the sky the panel is not making anything at all, 0.0A.
Is your van currently plugged in to the mains?
 
Feb 9, 2008
4,093
5,910
SW Scotland
Funster No
1,453
MH
LP Coachbuilt
Exp
Since 2008 after caravanning for 20 years
Yes, mid November onwards.

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Feb 9, 2008
4,093
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SW Scotland
Funster No
1,453
MH
LP Coachbuilt
Exp
Since 2008 after caravanning for 20 years
No, I said I checked, shut down the charger and looked at the output an hour later, 0.0A. The charger only charges the chassis battery except once a week when I change over, the panel is set for 10% charge to the chassis at all times. The output voltage when I checked was only 9.1v, way too low to produce any charge.
 
Feb 20, 2017
852
2,453
Kent
Funster No
47,422
MH
Bailey 75-2
Exp
Tugger now Motorhome
If your batteries are already charged, then to see how much current your panels are capable of providing in the sunny weather you need to disconnect EHU and load up the 12volt side of the van with lighting, tv, water pump etc. That gauge will then tell you what is being produced by your panels in the current weather conditions.

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Jan 11, 2018
1,161
1,346
Malvern Link, Malvern, UK
Funster No
51,943
MH
Chausson Welcome 85
Exp
Since 2018
I store my van 10 miles away but my tracker shows the engine battery voltage.
Normally 13.8v or so float charge, I havw 200W of panel.

However, there must be snow on it, still, because the voltage has been dropping steadily since the snow and ice came a week or so ago.I'm on about 12.55V now (80% charge, roughly)
I'm hoping the slight thaw this week might get me back there.

Note, there will be hardly any current required , just enough to allow the regulator to get back on float.
 
Jan 11, 2010
2,746
9,546
Chester
Funster No
9,901
MH
Auto-trail
Exp
Well that`s our 13th year & still loving it.
I'm fascinated by the fact that it's only those who have water, gas, battery etc. monitors who seem to have issues. Is it a case of too much information generating anxiety rather than providing peace of mind?
All too true, I remember when as an Apprentice I fitted an oil gauge to my Hillman Minx, bloody hell that pressure is low said my dad, spent the weekend taking the engine out fitted new piston rings and big ends.
I was happy in my ignorance and a blank plate in the dashboard.

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