|
|
Post by Arlo Townsley on Nov 19, 2018 15:37:58 GMT
Hello all,
We have a set up with 4, 100-watt panels with a Vmp of 17.84V, wired in parallel into a 30A Renogy Charge Controller with 6, 12-volt batteries and a 500-watt inverter. Currently, we just have a string of LEDs plugged into the inverter to monitor it. For the past month, everything has been working perfectly, all the lights on the controller indicate everything is in order and occasionally it will indicate that the battery is fully charged. Recently the battery light on the controller, turned red occasionally it will turn green but it has been red pretty steadily. Everything else is working the LED lights are still on and I can charge my computer from the inverter. The manual says that the red battery light means "Load cut-off". What does this mean? I should note it has been getting colder in the past couple weeks.
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Nov 19, 2018 16:03:21 GMT
Hello all,
We have a set up with 4, 100-watt panels with a Vmp of 17.84V, wired in parallel into a 30A Renogy Charge Controller with 6, 12-volt batteries and a 500-watt inverter. Currently, we just have a string of LEDs plugged into the inverter to monitor it. For the past month, everything has been working perfectly, all the lights on the controller indicate everything is in order and occasionally it will indicate that the battery is fully charged. Recently the battery light on the controller, turned red occasionally it will turn green but it has been red pretty steadily. Everything else is working the LED lights are still on and I can charge my computer from the inverter. The manual says that the red battery light means "Load cut-off". What does this mean? I should note it has been getting colder in the past couple weeks.
By any chance, what voltage readings are you getting from the battery? Although you mentioned load-cutoff it might be an of an undercharged battery. -Renogy Team |
|
|
|
Post by Arlo on Nov 19, 2018 17:18:28 GMT
I am getting between 12 and 13 volts from the battery points on the charge controller
|
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Nov 19, 2018 17:26:17 GMT
I am getting between 12 and 13 volts from the battery points on the charge controller What is the voltage of the batteries in the morning with no load on them? Checked with a multi meter? You know 12.6 etc... |
|
|
|
Post by bupkis on Nov 19, 2018 19:00:54 GMT
Hi Arlo, load cut-off usually means the battery voltage is below the load control voltage limit, this is the extra terminals for timed lights, you may or may not be using them. I hope your inverter is not connected to them!
Your manual may show what low voltage causes the load control to turn off based on voltage and what voltage is required to turn it back on.
Sounds like you are over discharging and not FULLY recharging your battery.
|
|
|
|
Post by Arlo on Dec 4, 2018 15:23:49 GMT
I am getting between 12 and 13 volts from the battery points on the charge controller What is the voltage of the batteries in the morning with no load on them? Checked with a multi meter? You know 12.6 etc... The voltage in the morning with no load is reading 11.46V from the battery terminals on the charge controller. |
|
|
|
Post by Arlo on Dec 4, 2018 15:32:05 GMT
Thank's everyone for the help so far.
I have found that the batteries can be fully charged even with the 500W inverter and a string of led lights plugged in however if I leave a computer charging off of the inverter, or some other higher load plugged the red light will pop on in a matter of hours and the controller will cut off power to the load. I find this surprising since I have a string of 6 batteries which I would think shouldn't discharge that rapidly.
|
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Dec 4, 2018 15:41:08 GMT
The voltage in the morning with no load is reading 11.46V from the battery terminals on the charge controller. If it's that low your killing your batteries slowly but surely...... You need to cut back on your load for one thing or get more battery and charging capability..... |
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Dec 4, 2018 15:49:31 GMT
I find this surprising since I have a string of 6 batteries which I would think shouldn't discharge that rapidly.
I don't find it surprising at all.... It takes a while to charge 6 batteries..... That's how many I have.... Since your all but killing them everynight it takes a long time for them to recover.... I doubt that they ever get fully charged, EVER...... My batteries never get below 12.1 in the AM....
You really need to rethink your use and the entire system.... Something isn't running right or it's way to small for your use everyday.....
But it's your money, Batteries aren't cheap to replace when you kill those....
Best of luck...
|
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Dec 4, 2018 15:52:40 GMT
Hello all,
We have a set up with 4, 100-watt panels with a Vmp of 17.84V, wired in parallel into a 30A Renogy Charge Controller with 6, 12-volt batteries and a 500-watt inverter.
I see some of your problem..... That's not enough panels for 6 batteries.... Plus this time of year your not charging as well as you are in the summer....
|
|
