What is happening

meanlady
meanlady Registered Users Posts: 1 ✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
I have 2 100 watt Photovoltaic Solar Panels...a Vertamax 1500 watt power inverter...a windy nation Trak Max 40 MPPT charge controller.  system ran wonderful for 3 years with 2 rv batteries.  Then we thought batteries would not hold a charge, so we tested them and they appeared to hold charge, but we added 2 new rv batteries.  When we started with fully charged batteries, system only would run for about 4 hours.  We then purchased new batteries.  Windy Nation 12V  100Amp-hour (240 minute reserve capacity)AGM SLA Deep Cucle VRLA Battery.  Charged them completely full,  attached to system, with all new cables.  This is an off grid cabin, we have at the most at one time 5 60 watt LED lights and a radio running.  The new batteries will run down in 3 to 4 hours.
This system worked perfectly for 3 years, now we can not figure out what is going on. 
I am thinking maybe charge controller has gone caput.  We have tested panels, inverter and they all seem to be working.
Thanks for any help  This is a 12 v system
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Comments

  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Please post the values you have set for the charge phases as well as the time for ABSORB phase...
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #3
    A couple of thoughts:
    1.  You said you attached the new batteries to the system.  Does the "system" include any of the old batteries, or are they all removed so just the new ones hooked up?
    2.  Can you check voltage of the batteries before using at night but after solar charging/floating has stopped?  Also check the voltage at battery posts and at inverter.DC terminals if easily accessible, and at the charge controller DC output terminals.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
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