raydas
Solar Devotee
Posts: 166
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Post by raydas on Aug 15, 2019 15:29:37 GMT
*****A disclaimer, this thread contains material and discussions that is "...dangerous and not productive...". I guess that warning should satisfy everybody.
*****
Since I am new here, I thought I would just describe my setup first.
Basically, I have six panels, four 100W and two 50W, connected in parallel to my Rover MPPT controller. I also have two batteries, flooded car and 100AH deep cycle SLA, in parallel. The load connecter from the Rover goes to a distribution strip where I have at least five electronic devices that are being powered. According to the 'Solar Station Monitor', the amps that are being used by these devices is .80Amps, 24 hours a day, continuously.
The solar panels are outside, at ground level, propped up against an exterior wall, facing maybe 80 degrees in the direction of the sun. I know, perpendicular to the sun is what is needed, but that is in the best of conditions. Two 100W are facing east, two of the 50W are facing SE, moveable to face SW, as the sun moves during the seasons. The last two 100W are facing due south. Here in Michigan, we have snow to deal with, so these panel positions do not get covered with snow.
I can describe this setup as experimental, since I am trying to collect data, to get an idea of how the solar panels work, for my different requirements. So far, for the summer months, with a mix of lots of daylight hours, and some cloudy, rainy days, it seems like the batteries and power produced can handle the power load that I have right now. I am thinking about adding an inverter to the system to power my Dell server box and my Western Digital MyCloud NAS, which have four 10TB drives, to the system. Not sure if my setup will be able to handle those two units.
The other thing that I was thinking about is that I might have to add a battery charger, that would kick in when the batteries get to low. This would occur, in the winter months when you only get maybe four hours of good sunlight, and you have a week or more of snow/cloudy days. It would be nice if Renogy had a controller that had a battery charger component. That means that you would be able to plug wire into the wall socket, and the controller could figure out if and when to use the 110V power to drive the built in charger, to charge up the batteries.
I did have an experimental setup where I had a Deltron Batterry Tender Plus connected to the battery and one of my electronic boards setup to turn on/off the charger when the batteries went below 12V. That experiment disclosed that the battery charger was always taking over when the Rover should of been providing the power. Could not find a suitable solution for that problem.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
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raydas
Solar Devotee
Posts: 166
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Post by raydas on Aug 15, 2019 18:59:04 GMT
Yesterday there was a larger update to the Windows 10 computer, now it looks like my 'Solar Station Monitor' program is acting funny. A couple of times that I looked at it, it kept showing that the program was not responding. Not sure if this has something to do with the latest Windows update or what.
Since the 'Solar Station Monitor' program is no longer supported by Renogy, I guess an alternative program, that can be kept up to date, is in order. I guess I will ask it here, is the command set available for communicating with the Rover via RS232/USB, available somewhere.
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raydas
Solar Devotee
Posts: 166
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Post by raydas on Aug 15, 2019 21:17:30 GMT
Another thought, since Renogy is no longer supporting the 'Solar Station Monitor' program, has Renogy considered open sourcing the program code. Not sure what language the program is written and compiled in, but their could be some useful information that could be used by everybody.
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Post by mediadogg on Aug 17, 2019 0:24:35 GMT
OMG, where to start (it probably doesn't make sense to try and discuss all of my points here. I suggest to find the other threads where they are already discussed, and also do some Google research before asking me "why ..." or to justify in detail. The ground has already been covered.):
(1) Having mismatched panels in parallel limits the higher capacity panels to a maximum output voltage of the smaller panels. Given your geography and installation, my recommendation would be to put the 4 x 100 panels in series on your existing controller, and buy a small additional controller with the 2 x 50 watt panels in series on it. The two controllers can feed your battery bank simultaneously, in parallel.
(2) Don't try to use the load output of the charge controller for anything other than light, non-inductive loads. Not worth the aggravation and risk of damage to your controller. Connect your loads, appropriately fused, directly to the battery.
(3) Yes, Renogy and many other companies make what are called "inverter / chargers", that can work in cooperation with a solar CC. Just connect the battery to both, in parallel. The inverter/charger automatically switches to battery when it is charged, or to the AC mains when the battery is low and being charged. During the day, a parallel connected solar CC helps keep the battery charged. (some companies also make an all-in-one that include a solar CC along with a built-in AC charger, but as you already have your CC, you don't need that.)
Follow these suggestions, and you will be on the road to creating an even more effective and usable system. You will get other ideas from others and add your own good ideas as you learn, but I think I have given you a couple of good places to start exploring.
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Post by tattoo on Aug 17, 2019 1:19:17 GMT
(2) Don't try to use the load output of the charge controller for anything other than light, non-inductive loads. Not worth the aggravation and risk of damage to your controller. Connect your loads, appropriately fused, directly to the battery. Now your talking...... If the load side was intended for running more than just lights people wouldn't have so many problem with it..... |
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raydas
Solar Devotee
Posts: 166
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Post by raydas on Aug 17, 2019 12:21:28 GMT
As a reminder, my setup is basically a test rig. I set it up with the knowledge that I had about solar stuff at the time. As I get more facts then I will be changing things around, for example, the use of the Load.
I am now considering how to switch from the Load to the battery array, directly. Should I consider finding a large DC-DC voltage regulator to put between the battery array and the power strip. The electronic things that are now being powered, have there own DC-DC voltage regulator. Some devices need 5V and some devices need 9V, and so on.
As for the comment about "mismatched panels in parallel", I am still thinking about that one. I am trying to figure out, how, in an efficient way, I can capture the functional data of each individual panel. I can already capture the data for the total array. The data meaning strictly the voltage, I was looking into some device to capture the actual working amps and possibly watts. The stuff available was to complicated for me to install, in a workable manner, in my test rig.
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Post by tattoo on Aug 17, 2019 13:01:54 GMT
Some devices need 5V and some devices need 9V, and so on. Where are you finding this stuff?? 5v really? |
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Post by tattoo on Aug 17, 2019 13:16:04 GMT
I can capture the functional data of each individual panel. The stuff available was to complicated for me to install, in a workable manner, in my test rig. Why do you need to know what each panel is producing?
I think your making it more complicated than it really is....... |
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Post by mediadogg on Aug 17, 2019 13:21:20 GMT
I can capture the functional data of each individual panel. The stuff available was to complicated for me to install, in a workable manner, in my test rig. Why do you need to know what each panel is producing?
I think your making it more complicated than it really is....... Oh I so totally agree!!!! |
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Post by mediadogg on Aug 17, 2019 13:31:17 GMT
As a reminder, my setup is basically a test rig. I set it up with the knowledge that I had about solar stuff at the time. As I get more facts then I will be changing things around, for example, the use of the Load. I am now considering how to switch from the Load to the battery array, directly. Should I consider finding a large DC-DC voltage regulator to put between the battery array and the power strip. The electronic things that are now being powered, have there own DC-DC voltage regulator. Some devices need 5V and some devices need 9V, and so on. As for the comment about "mismatched panels in parallel", I am still thinking about that one. I am trying to figure out, how, in an efficient way, I can capture the functional data of each individual panel. I can already capture the data for the total array. The data meaning strictly the voltage, I was looking into some device to capture the actual working amps and possibly watts. The stuff available was to complicated for me to install, in a workable manner, in my test rig. Maybe you should tell us what your application is. What is this "power strip?" And what do you have plugged into it. I have to be honest and say that it sounds as if you have some misguided and poorly researched plans. But I might be wrong, and I will admit it, if I discover that from looking at your application - what you are trying to do, and why - the equipment being powered, etc. The panel specifications are published, often right on a sticker on the back. You don't have to measure anything to set them up. But you would benefit from a little reading about how things work, and how to use basic electronics to configure your system. There is a lot of good basic information, right on this web site, But could you just back up and tell us, in detail, what you are trying to do? |
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Post by tattoo on Aug 17, 2019 13:38:19 GMT
Oh I so totally agree!!!! Man I don't understand why people want to over think solar.... It's not complicated...... My system is as simple as any it gets....... And it runs flawlessly................
I look at my digital volt display in the AM just to make sure the batteries are ok and I don't look at it intentionally until the next morning....... Why bother it's working?? Do people also keep up with how much AC power is coming into there house?? No, so why worry about solar??
Now with that said, Yes if your having problems sure look at it...... But if you know something your doing is a known problem change it....... It doesn't matter how much you swap things around your going to have the same outcome..... Unless you do something totally different......
I just don't understand.......
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raydas
Solar Devotee
Posts: 166
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Post by raydas on Aug 17, 2019 13:46:12 GMT
Since I have my panels in three different areas, it would be nice to know what the panels are producing in terms of Volts. If and when I get a chance I might try to get some data as to what the panels are doing when you have it in its optimal position, perpendicular to the sun, and how the efficiency deters as the panel is moved away from the perpendicular. I have not seen that data for the Renogy panels.
So, in other words, short of having the panels in perpendicular position, for the location, what would be the next best orientation that I could come up with. I think that kind of data is very important, unless I find out that the panels are a hundred percent efficient at any orientation.
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Post by mediadogg on Aug 17, 2019 14:07:31 GMT
Since I have my panels in three different areas, it would be nice to know what the panels are producing in terms of Volts. If and when I get a chance I might try to get some data as to what the panels are doing when you have it in its optimal position, perpendicular to the sun, and how the efficiency deters as the panel is moved away from the perpendicular. I have not seen that data for the Renogy panels. So, in other words, short of having the panels in perpendicular position, for the location, what would be the next best orientation that I could come up with. I think that kind of data is very important, unless I find out that the panels are a hundred percent efficient at any orientation. Well you have a done a good job of memorizing some solar buzzwords and jargon. But you are throwing them around in a meaningless way that reflects your basic lack of understanding of how things work. Once again I suggest that do a few hours of study "How does a solar system work" "what is a solar panel and how does it work" "what is a charge controller and what does it do", etc. Also, until you show some kind of diagram, or give some kind of explanation of what you are trying to do, I will not spend much more time in this thread. I would like to help you, but you are not listening and not ready. |
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Post by tattoo on Aug 17, 2019 15:10:20 GMT
Since I have my panels in three different areas, it would be nice to know what the panels are producing in terms of Volts. If and when I get a chance I might try to get some data as to what the panels are doing when you have it in its optimal position, perpendicular to the sun, and how the efficiency deters as the panel is moved away from the perpendicular. I have not seen that data for the Renogy panels. And you won't get it from anyone as that kind of data is useless,,,,, Because it changes EVERYDAY every hour of the day depending on where you live...... Unless your planning on building or buying one of those setups that move across the sky with the sun, that data is no help what so ever....... Other than making it even more complicated.... And if you did or could get it, what will it help you with your load hooked to the load side of your CC and getting error codes? As long as it's hooked up that way your going to have problems..... |
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Post by tattoo on Aug 17, 2019 15:17:58 GMT
Also, until you show some kind of diagram, or give some kind of explanation of what you are trying to do, I will not spend much more time in this thread. I would like to help you, but you are not listening and not ready. Yep I'm very close to that point also.......
The way I look at it, if your not willing to listen to the answer to your question why ask it in the first place..... If you know the answer already, DO it don't talk about it.....
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