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Solar Panel Help
I have a 100w 3amp? solar panel battery charger/maintainer. Its about 3yrs old and I don't think it is charging properly meaning in over a week the battery is not fully charged. The battery is a deep cycle battery. My question is there some way to test the output with a meter? First off just because I have a meter I don't know how to use it properly, so any explanations should be in KISS for dummies "where to set the dial and what should the reading be"? My next step is to bring the battery in to have a load test put on it, when I put the battery on a battery charger it charges 100%. TIA Chip
You know me, I'm always ready for a road trip. Chip Newest member of Traveling Team Overalls
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In the sun you should be getting around 14 volts out of the charger. I have 2 panels and a controller hooked up to the batteries that power the chicken coop. It shows on the display how much it is sending to the batteries and what percentage of charge they are. What brand and model do you have?
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Jack, I wanna see your solar setup on your coop so I can maybe do something similar to “Cluckingham Palace”.
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It is 2 100 watt Renogy panels, a Renogy Rover mppt 40 controller, and group 29 deep cycles. Mounted the panels on an old satellite dish mount. 16 foot strings of led lights controlled by a cheap 12volt 7 day digital timer. I will take some photos tomorrowOriginally Posted by BuckeyeCrappie
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Crappie.com 2K Star General
Unfortunately the controller is built into the frame housing with no display that was the reason for asking about using a meter.
You know me, I'm always ready for a road trip. Chip Newest member of Traveling Team Overalls
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should be able to check the leads that go to the battery with your meter. Should be around 14 volts in good sun
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Should have asked Spot ---- Man -- when you look at the scale on the Meter ,, on the left side there is a V with a sideways s --- that is the symbol for AC VOLTAGE == next to it is another V with a straight line with a dashed line below it -- that is DC Voltage // That is the scale to measure Direct current or battery Voltages--- should you ever have the Scale on DC and touch an AC Circuit you will blow up your Meter. I have a 2x4 ft solar panel that I have blowed the Diodes in several times. With the Diode Replaced I am Back in Business
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i have just put on a 10w solar panel for my TM which is basically a trickle charger and not intended to charge the battery if drained but if down a little will bring it up to snuff and keep it there. eco something is brand. my buddy bymo has put a couple on his boat and they are keeping them up well.
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As for small meters, I bought several small digital readouts off flea bay that have 6" leads. The cheapest are not waterproof, splurge the fifty cents or so more to get water proof. I went with green LED. I use them on every trickle charger, they would do well with solar as well. Tap the meter leads into the leads that come out of the charger towards the battery, and glue the readout on top of the trickle charger. Tape the leads. Done.
With the trickle charger powered off, the meter will show your battery voltage when connected to battery.
With the charger plugged in or turned on, it shows the charger output when charging the battery.
With the charger off, crank the engine and the meter shows your charging system performance. (Helpful on mowers, etc.)
Over time, the little meters give you a heads up to something going on: Charger not doing right, battery goes to full voltage too soon or does not fully charge, battery just not holding a charge like it used to, etc.
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