My 400 Watt solar set up

[f4mnect]

Dropped my batteries to 80% this morning, turned on frig on DC, turned on every light in trailer. And in 3 hours while everything was running. I was back up to 100% on battery's.

 

[JackandJanet]

Dropped my batteries to 80% this morning, turned on frig on DC, turned on every light in trailer. And in 3 hours while everything was running. I was back up to 100% on battery's.

THAT's impressive! I suspect I could possibly do that too, with my 300 Watt setup, because I've seen around 13 Amps in the sun with the batteries low.

- Jack

 

[f4mnect]

300 watts was what i wanted but the deal on 400 watts was to good to pass up. just finished my 2000 watt inverter set up.

 

[f4mnect]

Made coffee fine this morning(coffee maker), while on showed 40% drain,as soon as off showed 20% used. Let's see how long to recharge battery's.... lol just got over cast here.

 

[f4mnect]

1 hour recharged and its overcast

 

[JackandJanet]

Yup! They WILL work in overcast, as long as it's not a "heavy", dark overcast. Still, I think your 1-hour recharge time is pretty impressive. I suspect though, you didn't quite discharge your batteries to 80% - maybe it was more like 85%. I THINK there's kind of a "surface" effect that is in play right after a heavy discharge, similar to the surface charge effect that is there right after charging. I think if you had not had the charging system connected and had your batteries completely disconnected from ANY load, you would have seen the charge level creep up.

- Jack

 

[f4mnect]

I agree and was thinking same thing

 

[f4mnect]

Out in Anza borrego this weekend, solar panel install worked perfect and panels are rock solid. Towed perfect. Ran all the electricity we needed,made coffee with coffee maker off inverter. Took me down to 70% and when sun came out I was back to 100% battery by 8:15 in morning. Ohh and 2 22ft hi-lo's in pic

 

[joule]

This looks like a great installation!
What are you using to monitor your battery level/usage? And is the shunt installed so it monitors the high current lift motor?
Are you using lithium or lead/acid batteries, and how many?

 

[f4mnect]

I'm using 2-agm batteries, 250amp hour total and monitoring my batteries both by the renogy charge controller and Thornwave Labs Inc.
POWERMON - BLUETOOTH BATTERY MONITOR, with shunt

 

[f4mnect]

At Christmas time, there was a really great deal on the full 400 Watt premium set up. 4- 100 Watt panels would fit, was more wattage then I thought I needed but the deal was to good to pass up.

 

[f4mnect]

Lone pine

Out in lone pine, made coffee with 120v coffee maker, then plugged in a toaster oven an made bagels. Suns up,clear sky 1 hour later battery's in good shape,nice charge.