solar (1 Viewer)

[tjay]

Hi all, were away at the weekend ,had some fantastic sunshine but batteries (new) did not seem to take a charge ! controller was flashing, indicating it was charging but it battery reading never changed !
Can anyone recommend a solar specialist near me too check my system out ?? TIA.

 

[pappajohn]

What was the battery voltage during sunshine ?

 

[Lenny HB]

What size panels have you got?

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[WillH]

Remember that the sun is very low in the sky just now and your panel is flat. It's likely only getting a third of the power it would in the summer.

 

[andy63]

Can't help with recommendations but I'm sure Google would produce something for you...
If you added a little more detail like the voltages and battery type and a picture of your controller I'm sure someone could help on here.
Andy.

 

[DanielFord]

Too many unknowns here. I am assuming you are referring to the volt reading from you control panel. That isn't going to help, you need something more accurate, like a battery monitor to know exactly what is happening with your batteries.
Today at the highest point of sun, our 150w panel was supplying 2.5 amps to the batteries. During the sun in Portugal we got 9.9 amps!

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[rosalan]

I am afraid that at this time of year, if you are in the UK, even in the south, you may not get enough energy from the sun unless you have a panel that follows the sun, to fully replenish your batteries.

 

[138go]

Depends on size of panel. I have a 100w pointing at the sun on the side of the shed and its only giving 2A so don't expect a lot especially if you have a flat panel.

 

[Minxy]

Hi all, were away at the weekend ,had some fantastic sunshine but batteries (new) did not seem to take a charge ! controller was flashing, indicating it was charging but it battery reading never changed !
Can anyone recommend a solar specialist near me too check my system out ?? TIA.

You've probably used more than it can put back in, one way to check is to not use any electrical stuff, or drive it, and see if the batteries slowly get charged back up.

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[MitchandJenny]

One of the reasons I bought a Free-standing 100watt folding panel from Eco Worthy.
I have modified the legs so that it can be angled to the sun for Maximum charge.
All done, including plug into 2 had batts for under £150.
Mitch.

 

[andy63]

id not seem to take a charge ! controller was flashing, indicating it was charging

Ment to mention that in my first post. ..
On one of my controllers if the battery light flashes it' indicating an overvoltage... ie the batteries won' accept any more meaningful charge... they are full..
Might be worth checking the instructions..
Andy.

 

[Lenny HB]

You may just be expecting too much.
We have 200 watts of solar 234a/h of batteries we were away last week Monday to Friday, the batteries received 30a/h via the alternator while driving and otherwise only charged by solar at the moment they are only 85% charged. Our average usage was approx 30a/h a day total of 120a/h.

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[tjay]

Hi and thanks for all the replies ! I have a 120 watt solar panel, two 110 amp batteries ,sorry cannot see make of charge regulator.
When on hook up batteries at 13.8v, when on solar usually read (to start after a drive ) at 13.5v and this drops too 12.5 within a few hours even in sunshine,this drops with use to 11.8v.
All lights are L.E.D we use tv sparingly and batteries only go back up to 13v+ on drive home or on leccy !!

 

[DBK]

Your batteries may need replacing by the sound of it I'm afraid.

 

[The Flute]

Your batteries may need replacing by the sound of it I'm afraid.

Hi all, were away at the weekend ,had some fantastic sunshine but batteries (new) did not seem to take a charge ! controller was flashing, indicating it was charging but it battery reading never changed !
Can anyone recommend a solar specialist near me too check my system out ?? TIA.

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[DBK]

Well spotted. Sounds like there is some extra drain on the batteries then. Dropping to 11.8 volts after a few hours of light use isn't right.
Or the new batteries are goosed.

 

[funflair]

But are the batteries "new" because the van is "new" In which case they could have been left flat at the dealer and be b-----ed anyway.

Martin

 

[rosalan]

One of the reasons I bought a Free-standing 100watt folding panel from Eco Worthy.
I have modified the legs so that it can be angled to the sun for Maximum charge.
All done, including plug into 2 had batts for under £150.
Mitch.

Please advise me when you will next be using your 'Free-standing... solar panel' I have just bought some bolt cutters.
Andrew T Leaf

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[MitchandJenny]

Barsteward.
Mitch.

 

[pappajohn]

Hi and thanks for all the replies ! I have a 120 watt solar panel, two 110 amp batteries ,sorry cannot see make of charge regulator.
When on hook up batteries at 13.8v, when on solar usually read (to start after a drive ) at 13.5v and this drops too 12.5 within a few hours even in sunshine,this drops with use to 11.8v.
All lights are L.E.D we use tv sparingly and batteries only go back up to 13v+ on drive home or on leccy !!

You don't say how you came to these figures but my guess is an on board volt meter.
If so ignore it and use a proper multimeter.
If the voltage still drops to 11.8v using a few LED lights then new or not, you batteries are buggered and need replacing.
When driving or hook up you are only seeing the source voltage...around 13.6v on hook up or 14v+ from the alternator when driving.
You will still see these voltages even with the battery removed.

12.2v is flat as far as our use is concerned (50% discharged)
Less than 11.8v is dead flat and if left, may not recover.
10v is a plastic box with water in it.

 

[PeteH]

My 2 solars have barely shown any charging at all to-day, even though we have had "wall to wall" sun!. Its just too low in the sky to reach the proper charging rate. The `van is parked broadside on south facing, back on Shore Power now!.

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