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electrical:solar:status [2018/05/19 08:20] frater_secessus [Is my solar working?] |
electrical:solar:status [2019/09/07 19:38] frater_secessus [in bulk] |
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A **poorly running system** is observed to deliver very little power because it isn't set up right (or is shaded, etc) and can't do any better. | A **poorly running system** is observed to deliver very little power because it isn't set up right (or is shaded, etc) and can't do any better. | ||
- | Also counterintuitively, | + | Also counterintuitively, |
- | This page is to help solar beginners tell what their system is doing without special equipment. | + | This page is to help solar beginners tell what their system is doing without special equipment. |
===== numbers rather than icons or lights ===== | ===== numbers rather than icons or lights ===== | ||
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If you have an MPPT controller also look up these pieces of info: | If you have an MPPT controller also look up these pieces of info: | ||
- | * **Vmp** - the voltage at which your panel makes maximum power. | + | * **Vmp** - the voltage at which your panel makes maximum power. |
* **Voc** - the voltage of the panel at open circuit (" | * **Voc** - the voltage of the panel at open circuit (" | ||
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===== then observe the controller ===== | ===== then observe the controller ===== | ||
- | These checks are admittedly crude but will help see if your system is getting it done. No expensive or specialized equipment is required. MPPT controllers in particular will reveal a great deal of information by how they interact with the panels. | + | These checks are admittedly crude but will help see if your system is getting it done. No [[electrical: |
For the examples below we will assume the system is set up this way: | For the examples below we will assume the system is set up this way: | ||
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**During bulk charging with MPPT** | **During bulk charging with MPPT** | ||
- | * Vpanel == Vmp | + | * Vpanel == Vmp, although [[electrical: |
* Vbatt climbing toward Vabs | * Vbatt climbing toward Vabs | ||
* Current delivered to battery holds steady | * Current delivered to battery holds steady | ||
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* Vbatt == Vabs until the controller' | * Vbatt == Vabs until the controller' | ||
* Controller output decreasing as current demand drops. | * Controller output decreasing as current demand drops. | ||
- | * **Example: | + | * **Example: |
**During Absorption charging with PWM** | **During Absorption charging with PWM** | ||
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* Controller output decreasing as current demand drops. | * Controller output decreasing as current demand drops. | ||
* the controller may get warmer as current demand drops((percentage of time the PWM circuit is turned OFF increases)) | * the controller may get warmer as current demand drops((percentage of time the PWM circuit is turned OFF increases)) | ||
- | * **Example: | + | * **Example: |
==== in float ==== | ==== in float ==== | ||
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* increase your Vfloat and Vabs setpoints. | * increase your Vfloat and Vabs setpoints. | ||
* run your loads through a [[electrical: | * run your loads through a [[electrical: | ||
- | * [[electrical: | + | * [[electrical: |
* consider reducing your nighttime loads; | * consider reducing your nighttime loads; | ||
* [And stop running things off an inverter! -- secessus] | * [And stop running things off an inverter! -- secessus] | ||
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Note: You can tell your batteries are in Absorption because the bank will be at Vabs, the controller' | Note: You can tell your batteries are in Absorption because the bank will be at Vabs, the controller' | ||
+ | If not, [[electrical: | ||
==== evening ==== | ==== evening ==== | ||
- | **Are you hitting sundown with //at least// 12.7v in your bank? | + | **Are you hitting sundown with //at least// |
+ | |||
+ | If not, either we are not harvesting enough power or we are using too much. Stop running heavier loads when the controller can no longer hold Vfloat. | ||