118 volts at the panels, fluctuating 5 - 80 volts at the charge controller.

softdown
softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,013 ✭✭✭✭
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
But mostly rapidly fluctuating between 15 - 25 volts. Had a hard time passing the 10awg solar wires through ~12” of walls that includes steel siding, Plus the voltmeter features the - sign in front of rapidly fluctuating voltage readings.

Suspecting an abrasion has shorted out my power feed. Likely? 

Don’t know what else it could be. 


First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,013 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    50/50 chance I bungled an MC4 connection on the long wires to the charge controller. I’ll check manana. Or so. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,163 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Possibly need toChange the batteries in your Meter

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,013 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Anything is possible when I “customise" solar. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,163 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #5
    You seem to have a real knack for customizing lol

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,013 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    My first system has been flawless since ~ 2014/15. My record after that? Bit sketchy. Last solar array went perfectly though. 

    Messing with my hand made MC4 connections is what it took to deliver, now, 117V to the charge controller.

    But this EASUN charge controller doesn’t respond to hardly any of the electronic key commands. It is supposed to be highly customisable. Yet the only thing I can select is the type of battery in use. 

    It used to just tell me the battery bank voltage. Now all it does is tell me the solar array voltage. 

    I have pressed a couple hundred buttons now - both short and long presses. 

    Guess I could have received a bad keypad. Unsure what to do right now as there is a slim possibility it will wake up tomorrow and respond appropriately. Very slim I would think. 

    Many consumers have praised it for ease of set up. Somehow I got a brick. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,013 ✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Thought I’d go for a “reboot” of sorts. Disconnected the negative battery charging and reconnected it shortly thereafter. Couple things happened:

    1) Panel voltage dropped from ~108V to a fluctuating level around 90. I am quite hopeful this means it is charging the batteries. 
    2) Warning exclamation icon next to battery charge level icon disappeared. This warning icon indicates a serious issue per installation manual. 

    So hopefully tomorrow the keypad buttons will respond appropriately. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,163 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Best of luck to you If that doesn't do it you might want to shut down everything, connect the battery first and then connect the solar and see if that helps

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,013 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
    All that drama simply due to a faulty MC4 connection between the panels and the charge controller wires. And a bad lead on the Harbor Freight voltmeter - it fell off a bit later. 

    It is working like a champ now. Facing west at ~ 12 degrees and putting out .2amps at 7:40am. Can’t wait to see how it performs after the south facing panels have shut down production this afternoon.

    The eastern series is only 800 watts, the west series is only 600 watts. Needed due to several freezers and fridges. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,013 ✭✭✭✭
    #10
    Charging 6.5 amps at 57.4 volts at ~ 12:30pm. FWIW

    The important question remains: How many more hours of significant charging does this east/west array deliver over a southern array. Eastern charge controller tells nothing other than bulk vs float. So I may never know for sure. 

    Southern arrays deliver more power for sure. East/west arrays might spread it out for several more hours. Thus lowering battery wear and tear. 

    Another factor comes into play. Users may not have room for more southern panels yet still have room for east/west panels. That was my scenario. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,163 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #11
    If you're Battery Reaches 100% before the afternoon at least it extends the amount of time that your loads are covered by the solar and not your batteries with the Western facing panels

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,013 ✭✭✭✭
    #12
    I look at it this way:
    Array 1 delivers significant charge from 9 - 3.
    Array 2 delivers less significant charge from ~ 8:00 - 5:00

    Array 1 delivers 10 kWh of power/day.
    Array 2 delivers 8 kWh of power/day. More in the summer, less in the winter.

    I’m thinking Array 2 usually allows for less battery wear and tear. Thats my theory and it is dependant upon a sufficiently sized array. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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