donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Joined: 04/21/2005
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What is your sat receiver rated at? 45 watts? or something like that? 45 watts at 120VAC is like 450 watts at 12VDC. So anything that you are powering with the inverter will basically draw 10 times the rated amps/watts at 120VAC. Also I have found that leaving the inverter on all the time draws a lot of power and my batteries will never fully recharge using solar only. But if I remember to turn things off then it is not a problem to recharge the batteries using solar only.
Donn
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Hurricaner
Hurricane Utah
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Joined: 02/17/2007
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donn0128 wrote:What is your sat receiver rated at? 45 watts? or something like that? 45 watts at 120VAC is like 450 watts at 12VDC. So anything that you are powering with the inverter will basically draw 10 times the rated amps/watts at 120VAC. Also I have found that leaving the inverter on all the time draws a lot of power and my batteries will never fully recharge using solar only. But if I remember to turn things off then it is not a problem to recharge the batteries using solar only. I understand what you are trying to say here but watts are watts since volts time amps equal watts, however the amps do go up by a factor of approx 10.
Sam
Sam & Kari
Hurricane, Utah
2004 34' Damon Challenger 315
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psyflyjohn
San Diego, CA
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Joined: 10/31/2003
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I had a setup similar to yours - four 6V batteries and two 125 watt panels w/mppt charger. Usage sounds similar also. I ended up with four 125 watt panels and six batteries. With my current setup, I draw down the batteries by 30% daily, and then recharge completely. Sounds like your system is slightly undersized for your needs.
Some thoughts:
Turn off the inverter and all sources of draw when you go to bed
Avoid using the furnace for more than a few minutes to take the chill off.
Do use a catalytic heater
Tilt your panels to the south for Fall and Winter. You will be pleasantly surprised at the increased amperage.
If you need a boost charge from the genny, do it first thing in the morning, when it will be most effective.
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bill h
el segundo
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Joined: 08/02/2001
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Sam's comments on usage are probably on target for your problem.
I would recommend that everybody get an accurate figure on their DC usage. Of course, a Trimetric or similar is great, but a simple ammeter will tell you a lot. A clamp on DC ammeter is nice, but an inexpensive auto ammeter can also do the job with fair accuracy. If you have a battery disconnect, you can put the ammeter across the disconnect. When you park, you can open the disconnect and all battery power drawn from the batts will show on the ammeter. Just be sure to close the disconnect for starting the genset. If you want to be sure, put a high enough fuse or CB in the ammeter line to protect it. You will still have the ability to totally disconnect the battery by opening the disconnect and removing the fuse or opening the CB.
The ammeter will give you a reading for each appliance if you run them one at a time, or will read whatever is on at the moment. With this information and some usage duration figures, you can convert to amp hours or watt hours of usage and balance that against what the solar provides.
I believe my Trimetric has paid for itself by helping me nanny my batteries for increased life. Not only does this help the batteries last longer, but I avoid the inconvenience and expense of buying replacement batteries of a brand I do not like from a place I do not like at a time I do not like in a location I do not like and at a price I do not like.
Bill and Susan
84 Barth 30 tag powered by ht502/Thorley, Gear Vendors OD
Siamese Calvin and Airedale Hobbes
4WD Toyota toad
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jauguston
Bellingham, WA
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Joined: 07/03/2005
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bill,
Unless there has been a change from Solar Boost 2000e I have it has a slide switch that will select input amperage to controller, output amperage to batteries and output voltage.
I keep mine on output amperage as that is the only thing that really matters to me.
The input amperage is usually 15-20% less than output amperage showing that MPPT does work. I have measured input voltage and it will run 17v plus from three Kyocera 130w panels.
Jim
Jim, Sharon and Buddy the Yorkie
1999 Gulfstream Sun Voyager 31' ISB Cummins 210 uprated to 275
Trippe-Lite 1800w inverter 4-6v GC batteries
3- Kyocera 130w solar panels
1987 Suzuki Samurai tintop Toad w/VW 1.6 turbo diesel power
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beemerchef
On the road...
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Joined: 01/28/2007
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You are funny Billh!!!
OK... this is real good info and for the way I have been usning it I agree.. I am a bit undersized. BUT... no money now to go bigger, I would have to put the panels on the ground anyhow if I did and the 23' really does not even have that much more room for two more batteries. (I do have air bags!!!... Yes... I learned that the hard way...).
I do have a catalytic heater... fridge runs on propane...
I have to cut back my usage and combine with the little Honda 2KW which I don't mind.
By having the Dish and modem off I think I will save a lot as I do a lot of photgraphy. I can do my e mail off line and write my Blog off line also...
The solar boost is now reading 13.48. As someone wrote it takes time for those last crumbs!
Yes, as I mentionned I thought wrongly that thise size system would suffice. Spoiled I guess by real power... but it will be fine, will make it fine...
I will post more as it goes...
Thank you... always.
Be well...
Ara & Spirit
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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beemerchef wrote:When I hook up my Honda 2KW (hate to use the 4KW Onan!) it does charge up to 13.7V... have only tried it once.
Depending on the converter you may not be getting all you can out of the Honda. The converter needs to push the voltage to 14.2/14.5 to get some real amps into the battery.
If you have an old fixed voltage (13.8?) the amps will taper quickly when powered by the Honda.
I would recommend the Xantrex XADC80 for your set up.
XADC80 @ Bestconverter.com
2001 F150 SuperCrew 5.4 Lariat Offroad 4x4 Tow Package 4.10 Truetrac
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
12K SuperGlide, KGE3000Ti 2.3kw rated 2.6kw max
Frank's voltage booster, Prosine 1800 powered by 4 GC2 batteries
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beemerchef
On the road...
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Joined: 01/28/2007
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I understand so much now! I kind of do things backwards it seems like, the sytem is good... but I use too much juice and working on that!
One strange fact however. If I am running the gen set or this afternoon the panels charging, the voltage showed 13.7... the sun went down, dark, the LED went out of course and the voltage dropped to 12.9. I just find it odd...
If anyone knows why?
I will look into a new converter most likely as I am using the one that came with the RV...
Thanks. Be well... Ara & Spirit
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smkettner
Southern California
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Joined: 03/21/2005
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Post the make and model of your current converter.
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beemerchef
On the road...
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smkettner wrote:Post the make and model of your current converter.
Ah! that is a good thought...
It is a Inteli Power 9100 Model PD9145A.
I found it also in the Google search but it does not tell me if it is good or not...
What do you think? If I need a new converter there is a Co. 75 miles from here that instals Solar for Homes, BIG systems, I am sure they could help me with a new one if needed. And then again the present one might be fine...
Power is better now that I stay off line and just have laptop on...
Thanks! be well...
Ara & Spirit
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