220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

easytim
easytim Solar Expert Posts: 57 ✭✭✭✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
I have two 12vdc 130 watt solar panels and I'm using Morningstar SL-20-12volt controller, will I be able to maintain a charge using two of these 6vdc batteries in series. Do I have things match well enough to make it work well?

I will be using at night 60 watts for 8 hours each night, I live in Missouri



Energizer-Golf-Cart-Batt-60.jpg

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Energizer-Golf-Cart.jpg

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  • mshen11
    mshen11 Solar Expert Posts: 185 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

    wow what store is this? hopefully its national chain
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

    "Nominal calculations":
    (2) 225 Amp/hr 6V batteries in series = 225 Amp/hrs @12V.
    225 Amp/hrs @ 5% minimum charge rate = 11.25 Amps.
    (2) 130 Watt 12V panels = 260 Watts @12V = 21 Amps max (roughly).
    Usage of 480 Watt/hrs per night @ 12V = 40 Amp/rs (less than 25% of battery capacity).
    Even allowing for efficiency losses it should still work.

    If I've slipped a digit or decimal somewhere someone's bound to let us know soon. :D
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  • easytim
    easytim Solar Expert Posts: 57 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

    Thank you for the help Cariboocoot.

    The battery can be bought at Sam's


    .
    Cariboocoot wrote: »
    "Nominal calculations":
    (2) 225 Amp/hr 6V batteries in series = 225 Amp/hrs @12V.
    225 Amp/hrs @ 5% minimum charge rate = 11.25 Amps.
    (2) 130 Watt 12V panels = 260 Watts @12V = 21 Amps max (roughly).
    Usage of 480 Watt/hrs per night @ 12V = 40 Amp/rs (less than 25% of battery capacity).
    Even allowing for efficiency losses it should still work.

    If I've slipped a digit or decimal somewhere someone's bound to let us know soon. :D
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  • easytim
    easytim Solar Expert Posts: 57 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

    I have about 40 feet of wire to run from solar panel to the morningstar controller. I'm going to use 10ga stranded.

    Thanks for the replys, I removed the chart because it was wrong
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

    Here's the link to the Voltage Drop Calculator spreadsheet
    http://www.uwgb.edu/nevermab/voltage_drop_calculator_.xls
    ( or Wire Gauge Calculator )

    Some fields are user changeable, some locked.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • Windsun
    Windsun Solar Expert Posts: 1,164 ✭✭
    #7
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each
    easytim wrote: »
    I have about 40 feet of wire to run from solar panel to the morningstar controller. I'm going to use 10ga stranded.

    Looking at this chart 10 ga stranded is good for up to 100 amps, I guess this will work then.

    It does not work that way. I don't know where you got that chart, but 100 amps in #10 wire would roast it:

    Results:
    1 conductor(s) per phase utilizing a 10 AWG Copper conductor will limit the voltage drop to 10.49% or less when supplying 15 amps for 40 feet on a 12 volt system.

    For Engineering Information:
    • 30 Amps Rated ampacity (NEC) of selected conductor
    • 1.1417 Ohms Resistance (Ohms per 1000 feet)
    • 0.05 Ohms Reactance (Ohms per 1000 feet)
    • 1.44 volts maximum allowable voltage drop at 12%
    • 1.26 Actual voltage drop loss at 10.49% for the circuit
    http://www.windsun.com/Hardware/Voltage_Calc.htm
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

    easytim,
    where did you get that chart from? lower voltage does not allow more current through a wire as it does not go by wattage. those are nec specs for house wiring being transcribed falsely by wattage for 12v. for solar work we tend to look at the actual voltage drop % and charts are usable if accurate and true. that one isn't accurate or true for 12v.

    windsun,
    i tried using that calculator you linked to and nothing happened.
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  • easytim
    easytim Solar Expert Posts: 57 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

    Thanks for the wire size program, it worked well

    My main 40 ft run will be 4 awg and 10 awg from panels to a Power Distribution Block to switch from 10 awg wire to 4 awg wire

    I'm glad I came here for advice, thanks everyone for the help.

    I tried to give back to the forum by posting the good deal on the Golf Cart batteries


    Energizer-Golf-Cart-Batt-60.jpg
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  • mshen11
    mshen11 Solar Expert Posts: 185 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #10
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

    how much was core charge?
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  • easytim
    easytim Solar Expert Posts: 57 ✭✭✭✭
    #11
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

    I don't have that answer
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,637 admin
    #12
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

    I think his question was how many dollars is charged for each battery and refunded with an exchange (i.e., $5 per battery core returned).

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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  • mshen11
    mshen11 Solar Expert Posts: 185 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #13
    Re: 220 amp hour 6 volt - only $71.28 each

    right... core charge at costco for their batteries are $9: they charge you $9 if you buy a battery w/out returning one. if you return one while you purchase, you dont get charged.
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