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Post by bupkis on Aug 31, 2018 12:00:37 GMT
I'm gonna guess 90% eff (controller & wire) and 80% eff from panel heating or 70% overall. 800w x .7 = 560 watts, full sun. 560 watts into a 13.4v battery would be 560/13.4 = 41A
If you are seeing 20A, I'd suggest one string is not working!
I'd expect Vmp of each panel to be lowered by heat, maybe as low as 16v or 65v/string of 4. It is still hot locally!
During bulk the controller should display the entire arrays Vmp, absorption or float it will read higher, as high as open circuit voltage which is reduced by heat so a 22v Voc can be 19v or less when panels are hot.
Clean panels, disconnect loads, measure output in bulk charging mode full direct sun.
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Post by tattoo on Aug 31, 2018 12:28:08 GMT
If you are not getting 40A or more into the batteries during bulk charge, direct sun, high noon then disconnect one sting and then the other and let the controller report voltage and power of each string, identical? Give the controller time to find the max power pt. AFIK the lacking info is wattage or amps into the battery. Thank you,
I will look into that today...
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Post by tattoo on Aug 31, 2018 12:49:55 GMT
That's a very good point... Yes it's been very hot here the last several days.... I don't think I looked at it like I have the last few days... I'm going to clean the panels and all the cables this morning and then see what the reading are later today.....
I'll get back later today and thanks for every ones help...
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Post by tattoo on Aug 31, 2018 15:04:43 GMT
Ok Just an update.... I went and cleaned all of my battery cables and terminals.... Checked all the voltage and they were all 6.4 and all the cells were 1275 with the hydrometer.... So it ain't the batteries just like I thought but at least I know that for sure.....
Now to wait for the Sun to get directly over head in about 2.5 hours.....
I'll post more info in a little bit...
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Post by tattoo on Aug 31, 2018 20:19:19 GMT
Ok I got them washed and the leaves out from under the panels... None were on the top of the panels.... There were a few clouds today but they were very few....
The lower 4 panels in series in full sun... These were the highest readings I seen on my 60a CC...
PV power 338.2w PV voltage 60.3v Boosting Battery voltage 13.5v Battery current 23.0a
The upper 4 panels in series in full sun... These were the highest readings I seen on my 60a CC...
PV power 341.1w PV voltage 63.7v Boosting Battery voltage 13.5 Battery current 24.2a
This is all 8 panels 4 and 4 in series and in parallel in full sun... These were the highest readings I seen on my 60a CC...
PV power 614.0w PV voltage 61.6v Boosting Battery voltage 14.1 Battery current 43.6a
Ok what do you guys think with those numbers? It's right at 90f here....
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Post by Admin on Aug 31, 2018 21:36:15 GMT
Ok I got them washed and the leaves out from under the panels... None were on the top of the panels.... There were a few clouds today but they were very few....
The lower 4 panels in series in full sun... These were the highest readings I seen on my 60a CC... PV power 338.2w PV voltage 60.3v Boosting Battery voltage 13.5v Battery current 23.0a The upper 4 panels in series in full sun... These were the highest readings I seen on my 60a CC...
PV power 341.1w PV voltage 63.7v Boosting Battery voltage 13.5 Battery current 24.2a This is all 8 panels 4 and 4 in series and in parallel in full sun... These were the highest readings I seen on my 60a CC...
PV power 614.0w PV voltage 61.6v Boosting Battery voltage 14.1 Battery current 43.6a Ok what do you guys think with those numbers? It's right at 90f here....
Wasn't your initial issue that the charge controller would not boost? Your numbers seem to be inline with what's appropriate. It might even go higher depending on your temperature, insolation, and other real world factors. -Renogy Team
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Post by tattoo on Aug 31, 2018 23:54:40 GMT
Wasn't your initial issue that the charge controller would not boost? Your numbers seem to be inline with what's appropriate. It might even go higher depending on your temperature, insolation, and other real world factors. -Renogy Team Yes basically, my initial problem was that it wouldn't get out of equalization...... It stayed there for 2 days until I killed the power..... So if it's appropriate then why didn't it go out of equalization in full sun with no load? What do you think the problem might be? Was it a glitch in the CC?
This is real world factors, it's not inside a building.....
<iframe style="position: absolute; width: 22.680000000000064px; height: 4.360000000000014px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none;left: 15px; top: -5px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_45593353" scrolling="no" width="22.680000000000064" height="4.360000000000014"></iframe> <iframe style="position: absolute; width: 22.68px; height: 4.36px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1075px; top: -5px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_26354808" scrolling="no" width="22.680000000000064" height="4.360000000000014"></iframe> <iframe style="position: absolute; width: 22.68px; height: 4.36px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 15px; top: 157px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_71091764" scrolling="no" width="22.680000000000064" height="4.360000000000014"></iframe> <iframe style="position: absolute; width: 22.68px; height: 4.36px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1075px; top: 157px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_53127509" scrolling="no" width="22.680000000000064" height="4.360000000000014"></iframe>
So my question is, Why did it just start doing this after 8 months with no problems at all?
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Post by Admin on Sept 1, 2018 0:27:00 GMT
Wasn't your initial issue that the charge controller would not boost? Your numbers seem to be inline with what's appropriate. It might even go higher depending on your temperature, insolation, and other real world factors. -Renogy Team Yes basically, my initial problem was that it wouldn't get out of equalization...... It stayed there for 2 days until I killed the power..... So if it's appropriate then why didn't it go out of equalization in full sun with no load? What do you think the problem might be? Was it a glitch in the CC? This is real world factors, it's not inside a building.....
<iframe style="position: absolute; width: 22.680000000000064px; height: 4.360000000000014px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none;left: 15px; top: -5px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_45593353" scrolling="no" width="22.680000000000064" height="4.360000000000014"></iframe> <iframe style="position: absolute; width: 22.68px; height: 4.36px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1075px; top: -5px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_26354808" scrolling="no" width="22.680000000000064" height="4.360000000000014"></iframe> <iframe style="position: absolute; width: 22.68px; height: 4.36px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 15px; top: 157px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_71091764" scrolling="no" width="22.680000000000064" height="4.360000000000014"></iframe> <iframe style="position: absolute; width: 22.68px; height: 4.36px; z-index: -9999; border-style: none; left: 1075px; top: 157px;" id="MoatPxIOPT0_53127509" scrolling="no" width="22.680000000000064" height="4.360000000000014"></iframe> So my question is, Why did it just start doing this after 8 months with no problems at all?
What kind of batteries do you have? SLA, AGM, FLD, GEL? -Renogy Team
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Post by tattoo on Sept 1, 2018 1:01:44 GMT
6 Flooded deep cycle 6v 215ah.. The batteries are only a little over a year old...
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Post by tattoo on Sept 1, 2018 1:07:41 GMT
I've never done what I did today before and it was a pain in the a-- but I feel I know my system much better than I did before today..... Once I figure out my problem if there is one? I think I will do this twice a year and keep records to see the performance of my system...
I will do it in the winter and in the summer...
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Post by bupkis on Sept 1, 2018 13:52:24 GMT
I'll suggest your controller lost its mind! With a max voltage of 13.8v I believe it was stuck in Float. (13.4v temp compensated as temp climbed). This is indicated by the high PV voltage, @ or near Voc with assumed little battery current (that value was never given).
If truly in equalize with low batt v, all available power would go to the battery (40A) to raise its voltage and PV voltage would be near 60v in the heat.
During regulation (power reduced to maintain a constant voltage charging) the PV voltage raises as current is limited because 'it' spends more time @ Voc (OFF) than Vmp (ON) and the meter averages those 2 voltages, meter can not measure the very fast fluctuation between Vmp and Voc.
It seems to be preforming normally based on your recent data.
I am somewhat amazed at your Vmp of 60v or 15v/panel, heat has reduced Vmp that much!! from 17v+ (data not given) @ standard conditons. IIRC, I measured 145 degrees F (back of panel with IR gun), full sun, 85? F ambient. Panels get hot!
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Post by tattoo on Sept 1, 2018 14:40:48 GMT
I'll suggest your controller lost its mind! With a max voltage of 13.8v I believe it was stuck in Float. (13.4v temp compensated as temp climbed). This is indicated by the high PV voltage, @ or near Voc with assumed little battery current (that value was never given). If truly in equalize with low batt v, all available power would go to the battery (40A) to raise its voltage and PV voltage would be near 60v in the heat. During regulation (power reduced to maintain a constant voltage charging) the PV voltage raises as current is limited because 'it' spends more time @ Voc (OFF) than Vmp (ON) and the meter averages those 2 voltages, meter can not measure the very fast fluctuation between Vmp and Voc. It seems to be preforming normally based on your recent data. I am somewhat amazed at your Vmp of 60v or 15v/panel, heat has reduced Vmp that much!! from 17v+ (data not given) @ standard conditons. IIRC, I measured 145 degrees F (back of panel with IR gun), full sun, 85? F ambient. Panels get hot! Thank you, That makes a lot of sense..... I thought it was the CC to start with when it wouldn't come out of equalize mode on it's own, that's why I went through the entire system meticulously to make sure something else wasn't the problem first..... There is no other problem....
Now lets see what the guy at Renogy has to say....
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Post by tattoo on Sept 1, 2018 14:46:38 GMT
This why I like posting on here rather than calling Renogy tech.... Plus the answers will be here just in case someone else has the same problem in the future...
Now what do you think Administrator? Is it the CC?
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v10
Solar Advocate
Posts: 81
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Post by v10 on Sept 1, 2018 14:55:34 GMT
Tattoo, some of us appreciate that,. Its a shame the original forum isn't archived somewhere on this one.
You guys have a treasure of usable information out there but it seems to have vanished.
I hope you find what was causing your glitch
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Post by tattoo on Sept 1, 2018 15:13:17 GMT
After thinking about it the first thing I checked was the Voc.... I did that first because I thought I might have a panel going out...
The upper bank of panels were 75.6 and the lower bank was 75.4 in full sun....
Thanks for asking that question...
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