Post by Admin on Sept 24, 2018 13:15:19 GMT
Jun 14, 2018 6:07:52 GMT @steven said:
Ok. I have a rather small system.
100 watt Renogy solar panel.
20A Renogy Rover charge controller
100Ah 12V AGM Battery
two load cameras. Both 12V. They are turned on 24 hr. day time draw 0.45A and 0.90A at night.
Located in Phoenix AZ. Lots of sun!!
Just starting but I have the cameras attached to the load on the Rover Charger. The solar panels and battery are also connected.
I fully charged the battery with a separate plug in charger and then let the cameras run all night. At 10 am went out to check the system. Controller stated battery at 100% still charging with 17+V and about 3A. So I figured since the sun came up at 5:30 am it had recharged by 10 am. Went to work and checked on the cameras at 1:00 pm. They were not working. The controller was now stating that the batteries were Overdischarged and the solar panels were still showing 20V but the Amps were 0 as if they were not charging. Also the lights were all off except the battery light was flashing and the Error light was ON but the error code was 0. Also the load was off even though the cameras are set to continuously run. The controller at this time stated the battery at 94%. At about 5 pm. The cameras came on again for about 20 minutes and then off again. Then when the sun went down the controller seemed to go back to normal and the cameras turned back on and have been on approx. 3 hours without interruption. Funny but the battery indicator now states 83%? Not sure what is going on but the camera seems fine at night and then in the day time it acts up?
The temperature outside during the day was 105 degrees F all wiring and cameras were out of direct sun light. Battery stated its temperature 45 degrees C in the afternoon and now is at 33 degrees C?
Brand new system. Brand new battery. Does it have to cycle thru something and that is why it stopped charging the battery during the afternoon? Not sure what happened? Will this straighten out as this is left along over time?
17v seams excessive to me for the battery... It might have shut down??? I've never owned a Rover so I can't say for sure.... If it does that again call Renogy and ask them..
Jun 14, 2018 15:44:30 GMT @steven said:
O.k. Cameras worked all night. Solar system is now charging the battery. The battery was down to 74% this morning before the sun was up. Now it says it is at 100% but it is charging. Solar panel is 15.4v @ 4.5a. Cameras are still working. All seems to be fine right now. I will let you know what happens this afternoon.
Jun 14, 2018 17:40:12 GMT @rabird said:
on the back of the panel = sticker with Vmp of 17-18v. This is what an mppt controller tries to find and operate at max power point.
As the panels heat this value goes down. I would think the 15.4v is real.
I would monitor battery voltage, as the battery charges up to 14.4v or so (based on battery type set), panel voltage should be Vmp (reduced by panel temp). Once the battery gets to set pt of 14.4v or whatever the controller begins its on/off process, this is very fast as in high frequency, to limit battery voltage to 14.4v for some set time limit like 2 hrs. During this time the OFF time gets longer and longer as the battery is fully charged at constant voltage. The PV voltage during this time will rise cuz it is an average of Vmp and Voc of ~20v. The longer the OFF the closed the average will get to 20v.
I monitor early morning batt voltage before charging starts each morning (well my controller can display 1yrs worth of lowest daily voltage). This gives me an idea of the batt health before the sun shines. I also look at batt max voltage daily and for me I want to see 14.4v (higher is cold, lower in heat). This tells me my controller got to max charge voltage, it does not tell it made it to float voltage 2 hrs after getting to set pt!
The 'weird' load behavior/charging is not normal unless it may be based on temp and I have no idea why it acted that way.
It sounds like it's worked itself out I hope..
Just to let you know forget about the % of the battery on the CC it means nothing.... The only really thing that matters is Voltage in the battery.. You don't want it to drop below 12.1v....
Jun 14, 2018 23:14:03 GMT @steven said:
Nope. It turned off again this afternoon at 12:00 noon. I think the MPPT controller is getting too hot. I do have it under a table but it is outside and the temperature is very hot? I'm going to see if I can get it completely out of the suns rays for tomorrow. I am pretty sure it will come on again tonight. I don't think the table is completely shielding the MPPT from direct sun light as the sun moves across the sky? The box that I have the MPPT seems to be very very hot yesterday when I was out after work looking it over?
Jun 14, 2018 23:32:52 GMT @steven said:
I will concentrate on the battery voltage now. I will take the measurements during the evening and into tomorrow. I am going to try and move the mppt devise to be completely out of direct sun light also.
Yes sir that is your problem... Like I thought it was shutting down... You really need to get it inside on an open wall if you can... Even your battery will benefit from being cooler...
Jun 14, 2018 23:51:24 GMT @steven said:
Ultimately this will be used in an outdoor setting where there is no way to put it indoors. I was thinking of getting a small fan to blow air on it and make sure it is completely out of the sun. So it does work in the early am until it gets too hot outside and then it again works in the late afternoon as the sun is setting and then all evening so the intense sun here in Phoenix is really a problem. Let see what I can get done tonight to cool it off.
Jun 15, 2018 4:51:43 GMT @steven said:
Well I moved the MPPT controller so the sun will not get directly on the device. To start fresh I decided to give it a charge so I disconnected the solar panel and then battery then charged the battery with a plug in charger. Got it to 13V then the controller started working again. I also bought a small hand fan to place next to the mppt controller tomorrow to see if that will help with keeping it cool. I will check in the morning what the battery voltage is at? I really have my doubts that this will work???
I would only run the fan during the day. No need it running all night.... Who knows it might work but your CC, or battery for that matter doesn't like to be hot...
Good luck...
Jun 15, 2018 17:20:28 GMT @steven said:
So last night before I went to bed at mid-night the Voltage was 12.9v. This morning when I checked it at 9:00 am it was at 13.5v. So it is charging now. The day looks like it will be more overcast so the sun will not be quite as intense. Also I did move the MPPT controller and got a personal fan to keep it coolers. My wife will check the readings on the Voltage during the day and will see if it stops working during the day.
Yes. I too think it is just too hot out for the MPPT controller. I will let you all know what happens today?
Jun 15, 2018 17:50:04 GMT @steven said:
Well. It is two hours later and the voltage is still 13.5. Seems like that should have climbed by now?
13.5 is just fine, That is floating. I wouldn't worry about that now lets see if it shuts off again....