Quote:
Originally Posted by Flux
Breezed through a bunch of that and will go back and read it thoroughly. But the few points I took away thus far were all really good ones. Oversize your wiring, most controllers might be crap, you really need to match the manufacturers charging profile as closely as possible.
Just wish he used more paragraphs.
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Agree 100% about his almost-too-much-to-handle rambling wordiness!
I got the same takeaways:
1) Make sure batteries are bulk-charging at the **battery manufacturer's** recommended voltage (seems like Trojan specs 14.8v bulk charge rate)
2) Measure/adjust this voltage *at the battery terminals, don't believe what the charge controller display claims*
3) Oversize your wiring between solar panels/charge controller, and between charge controller/battery (and make wiring runs as short as possible)
4) Scrutinize the heck out of your charge controllers' strategies for charging (way too many of them throttle back the charge way too early, or maintain a too-low bulk charge rate throughout their charge cycle)
5) Be sure to understand exactly what is going on when a charger claims to do "boost charging" -- many of them are actually undercharging a battery
6) Use a quality battery meter like the Bogart Trimetric that calculate amp-hours in/out as its primary measurement of "battery charge level," and that displays this as a percentage of remaining charge
7) Solar: make sure the panels aren't ever even slightly-partially-shaded, as many solar panels stop flowing voltage completely if even *one cell* in the array is in the shade
8) (His opinion): AGM should be considered only if access to batteries (or venting) is an issue --- otherwise for longevity of battery life he prefers lead-acid batteries that can be checked with hydrometers to verify internal condition/state of charge
9) (Again, his opinion): MPPT controllers aren't worth it for everybody (this is worth reading his specifics in his text...but he mentions a 600W threshold for which (above that rating) they are worth having)
Also some overall perspectives:
A) Solar setups, when properly spec'd/adjusted and with an appropriate battery bank, are so good that nobody should need a generator.
B) You probably need less solar panels than the solar salesperson will tell you.
C) Most charge controllers have flawed charge algorithms that lead to chronic states of undercharging and premature battery destruction.
D) If in doubt, believe the **battery manufacturer's specs/data ** before the solar charge controller manufacturer's data on ideal charge voltages.
Thirsty
Linear Mode
