Critique my solar charger/battery monitor setup?

[Buddha.]

Most/all modern solar panels have bypass diodes, so if you have shading or a cell go bad just that string or panel drop out, not the whole series of panels. The whole series/parallel discussion is a complicated one, there is no general rule that one is better than the other so I would go with which ever is less work/$.

The little covers on the back of the panels has two diodes under them. Is that what you’re talking about? Is there something I could/should add to separate each of the pair of panels where they join and go join to the charge controller?

 

[john61ct]

Most/all modern solar panels have bypass diodes, so if you have shading or a cell go bad just that string or panel drop out, not the whole series of panels. The whole series/parallel discussion is a complicated one, there is no general rule that one is better than the other so I would go with which ever is less work/$.

Or with Victron, you have the flexibility to easily switch between different layouts and A/B test to see which gives higher Ah per hour into the bank

given consistent enough conditions

 

[Rando]

The little covers on the back of the panels has two diodes under them. Is that what you’re talking about? Is there something I could/should add to separate each of the pair of panels where they join and go join to the charge controller?

Yes those are the bypass diodes. Each panel is actually two strings of cells in parallel, so if you were to shade half a panel the current would bypass that string and flow through the diode. No you don't need to add anything to separate the panels.

 

[rayra]

You opened the covers ?
How did you get the nitrogen put back ?

You really have got funnier since the nationwide imprisonment.

/besides, he only dropped it from 100% to 78.2%, it will be fine.

 

[Buddha.]

like so many others our summer plans were severely affected. I hadn’t paid much attention to the solar output lately. I for some reason assumed that with the trailer being plugged in that the factory converter was doing most of the battery charging. Guess I was wrong.

The loads on the batteries have been a roof fan on nonstop, as well as a light and the radio/tv sometimes.

 

[Buddha.]

Also if anyone has any idea what the “Gen” breaker could be for, I can’t figure it out.

 

[Buddha.]

The obvious, Does this camper have a built in generator or ’prewiring’ for generator ? That circuit could be the input from a transferswitch.
The only way to really know is open things up and track where its wiring goes. Which cant be hard, appears only 5 circuits.
4 appear clearly identified thus easy to verify.

No, no generator. No room for a generator anywhere.

 

[Alloy]

Also if anyone has any idea what the “Gen” breaker could be for, I can’t figure it out.View attachment 596866

Missing breakers are factory options for a generator and a 110V water heater.


I'd chase down the MISC. Might have the fridge (if there is one) and the PD on the same circuit. Sometime is nice to charge the batteries and not have anything else on

The charge voltage for the solar is probably set higher than the PD.

Better to use the PD for power than cycle FLA batteries is you have them.

 

[Alloy]

Which seems silly considering six circuitbreakers and five descriptions scribbled on the Schedule.
Further, the descriptors fit what would be typical to the circuitbreaker rating.
But only way to know, is take off the cover to see.

On a production line it is better to have a useless label than have no label. Wouldn't be surprised if a few panels are labeled at a time.

 

[Buddha.]

Which seems silly considering six circuitbreakers and five descriptions scribbled on the Schedule.
Further, the descriptors fit what would be typical to the circuitbreaker rating.
But only way to know, is take off the cover to see.

The top breaker (30amp)is the main, there is no description for it.

 

[Buddha.]

I’m not sure I have the capacity entered into my Victron 712 correctly.

From my googling:
“The BMV will always interpret the capacity that you have entered as a 20h discharge capacity -“

I have 2 6v golf cart batteries, each one says 20hr discharge capacity is 215ah. My total ah’s are 215.

Do I enter 215 as my battery capacity or do I divide that number in half because I don’t want to discharge my lead acid batteries lower than 50%?

 

[Buddha.]

I disagree. First position on its schedule card has printed ”main” and hand written ”AC”.
Strangely enough, there is 30A circuitbreaker installed in first position.

I see what you’re saying. I think the labels don’t correspond correctly because they are the little double breakers rather than the bigger singles the label is designed for.

 

[john61ct]

I’m not sure I have the capacity entered into my Victron 712 correctly.

From my googling:
“The BMV will always interpret the capacity that you have entered as a 20h discharge capacity -“

I have 2 6v golf cart batteries, each one says 20hr discharge capacity is 215ah. My total ah’s are 215.

Do I enter 215 as my battery capacity or do I divide that number in half because I don’t want to discharge my lead acid batteries lower than 50%?

Put in the 100% number.

Ideally measure what it is now, depending on age likely closer to 180-190 than to 200.

Update that every 6mo to stay accurate

 

[Buddha.]

I’m about to light this truck and trailer on fire.
It’s not been the summer we expected so this dc-dc charger hasn’t been used really except for a test at home, where I let the half depleted trailer batteries charge at 40 amps for a while, enough for the charge rate to come down to 10 amps or so which was like 30min.

Well on this trip we don’t have hook ups and my 400w solar is making like 2 watts In the shade.
After the first day my 2 golf cart batteries are at 70%(no surprise) so I hook up my dc to dc charger. I’d previously ran 2awg from my truck battery to the trailer batteries. 40’ round trip or so with a Renogy 40 amp dc-dc. The batteries in the trailer were drawing about 40 amps for about a minute and then the 2awg on the trailer side (an old pair of jumper cables) melted through in spectacular fashion.
Well that sucks, maybe the old jumper cables were low quality?

So then I turn the truck around and hook up my new set of jumper cables right from truck battery to trailer batteries. I’m only getting like 5 amps through a set of 2awg cables.

 

[luthj]

Are they pure copper, or copper clad aluminum? I have seen some pretty sketchy "2awg" no name jumper cables.