[[lifestyle:words_of_wisdom|Words of wisdom]]:  
> "Watching how many amps a charging battery is accepting at absorption voltage, is very indicative of state of charge, the less the amps the more charged." -- sternwake((https://vandwellerforum.com/showthread.php?tid=673&pid=11316#pid11316))

>If you want to see lots more amps coming out of the [charge controller], put on a [significant] load... in the middle of a sunny day. -- John61CT((http://www.cheaprvliving.com/forums/Thread-Troubleshooting-solar-issues?pid=343191#pid343191))

====== Is my solar working? ======

Note:  for simplicity's sake this article assumes [[electrical:nominal|nominal]] 12v [[electrical:solar:panels|panels]] and 12v [[electrical:12v:intro|house power]].


It is common for those with new solar configurations to worry about whether or not they are working.  The worry is understandable because:  
  - solar is $$$; and
  - solar can seem magical; and
  - both **poorly running systems** and **mostly/fully charged systems** show low levels of output for different reasons. 

The last point may be counterintuitive.  A **fully charged system** is observed to deliver very little power because the bank is already charged;  the system is loafing, waiting for a load.  It only cranks up power when you add a big load or start charging a depleted battery.  With lead chemistry batteries this also applies in [[electrical:12v:charging#absorption_stage|Absorption stage]], when the battery reduces the amount of current it will accept.



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.  Battery voltage is too low((<12.1v)) and doesn't meet needs.

Also counterintuitively, **systems with lots of panel** start generating usable power so early after sunrise that they can finish bulk charging well before solar noon.  This means the user might never see the system at full(([[electrical:solar:output|derated]])) power during normal circumstances.((assuming no loads))  This effect is particularly strong when the system is [[electrical:solar:overpaneling#vs_battery_bank|overpaneled]].


This page is to help solar beginners tell what their system is doing without special equipment.  A [[electrical:12v:battery_monitor|battery monitor]] can be extremely useful but we can tell a great deal without it.  The info here is oriented to typical 12v systems with lead-acid battery banks.  Folks running other battery chemistries or nominal voltages are assumed to already know what they're doing.  :-)

===== numbers rather than icons or lights =====
Icons and blinking lights are often misleading or oversimplied. [[electrical:solar:tracer|Tracer/Renogy controllers]] are infamous for confusing battery graphics.  Others like [[http://amzn.to/2yP01Ob|the Victron 75/15]] accurately show which charging stage is running.

Measurements, on the other hand, are useful when we learn how to read them.


===== first collect a few numbers =====
To tell at a glance what your system is doing you need to find a couple pieces of info about your system.  You will only have to look them up once;  it might be worthwhile to write them down on a sticky note near your solar gear.


{{ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kanaga-Gnana/publication/237049790/figure/fig3/AS:299465748566018@1448409606696/Characteristic-Curve-of-The-Solar-Panel.png?125}}

==== panel specs ====

The [[electrical:solar:panels#specifications|specs]] we are interested in are:

  * **Vmp**, the voltage at which the panel makes max power under laboratory conditions((likely lower in reality))
  * **Voc**, the highest voltage the panel will put out under normal cirumstances.  At Voc the panel produces no current and therefore no power (Voc x 0A = 0W)
  * when in use, **Vpanel** is the panel voltage reported by the controller.  PWM controllers might not report this value.    

On the curve pictured at the right Vmp is at the peak of the red voltage line, and Voc is on the far right where output crashes to 0W.  


==== controller ====
 

  * **Vabs** - the charge controller's Absorption [[electrical:solar:charge_controller_setpoints|setpoint]], hopefully tweaked to your battery manufacturer's [[electrical:12v:charging|charging]] recommendation.  Note:  EpEver and Renogy controllers often refer to Absorption as //Boost//.
  * **Vfloat** the charge controller's Float setpoint
  * **Veq** the charge controller's Equalization setpoint, if any

If you have an MPPT controller also look up these pieces of info:

  * **Vmp** - the voltage at which your panel makes maximum power.  This will be stated [[electrical:solar:panels#specifications|in the specs]] and on the label on the back of your panel.  For so-called [[electrical:solar:panels#panel_voltage|12v panels]] this is usually around 17-19v.
  * **Voc** - the voltage of the panel at open circuit ("unconnected").   This will be higher than Vmp, probably in the low 20s.   Found in the same place as Vmp.






===== then observe the controller =====

These checks are admittedly crude but will help see if your system is getting it done.  No [[electrical:12v:battery_monitor|expensive or specialized equipment]] is required.((but use them if you have them!)) MPPT controllers in particular will reveal a great deal of information by how they interact with the panels. For the purposes of this article, consider [[electrical:solar:shunt_tweaking|single-stage/shunt controllers]] to work the same way as PWM except they only have one voltage setpoint.((Absorption OR Float))

For the examples below we will assume the system is set up this way:

''Vabs 14.6v \\ 
Vfloat 13.8v \\
Vmp 17v \\
Voc 20v''

In addition, 

''Vpanel - measured voltage of panel output \\ 
Vbatt - measured voltage of battery bank''

==== in bulk ====


**During bulk charging with MPPT**
  * Vpanel == Vmp((although [[electrical:solar:output|temperature derating]] will cause Vmp to drop))
  * Vbatt climbing toward Vabs
  * charge delivered to battery holds steady((assuming sunlight holds steady))  Note:  in a lab environment with DC power supplies the current (measured in Amps) could stay steady as the battery approaches Vabs.((the charger would get more and more wattage from the wall socket))  When charging off-grid we are typically limited by charging wattage, say 300w from the alternator or panels.  At 12.1v you would see ~25A charging (300w/12.v = 24.79A) but at 14v you'd only see ~21.5A (300w/14v = 21.43A)
  * **Example:**  Panel voltage at Vmp == 17v, battery voltage 12.9v and rising, controller output steady-ish at 4A.

**During bulk charging with PWM**
  * Vpanel == Vbatt;  both climbing toward Vabs((this is because panels are run at battery voltage when using PWM controllers))
  * Controller output increasing as Vpanel & Vbatt increases((Vpanel is climbing nearer to Vmp))
  * **Example:**  Panel & battery 12.9v and rising, battery charging amps 2.5A and rising.

==== in absorption ====


**During [[electrical:12v:charging#absorption#absorption_stage|Absorption]] charging** batteries will need less and less current.

**with MPPT controllers**

  * Vpanel starts to creep up from Vmp toward Voc
  * Vbatt == Vabs until the controller's criteria for ending absorption is met
  * Controller output decreasing as current demand drops.
  * **Example:**  Panel voltage 17v and rising, battery voltage held at Vabs == 14.6v, controller output amps 2A and dropping

**with PWM controllers**
  * Vpanel starts to creep up from Vbatt toward Voc (the more OFF((open circuit)) switching the closer to Voc) criteria for ending absorption is met
  * 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))
  * **Example:**  Panel and battery voltage held at Vabs == 14.6v, controller output 2A and dropping

==== transitioning to float ====

When transitioning from Absorption to Float the voltage needs to drop about a volt.  The system will "free-fall" (make little or no power) to allow the voltage to fall.((with MPPT controllers you may see Vpanel go quite close to Voc))   The transition may take seconds or minutes, depending battery chemistry and  how/if the system is loaded.

  * Vbatt starts at Vabs
  * power harvest is cut off or greatly curtailed (Vpanel spikes toward Voc)
  * Vbatt drops to Vfloat 
  * when Vbatt reaches Vfloat the system will start making power to hold //that// setpoint.

==== setups with no float ====

Configurations with no float ("charge and stop", found on some Lithium profiles) will 

  - charge to the Absorption ("boost") setpoint((with or without some amount of Absorption duration))
  - **stop charging**
  - until voltage falls to the rebulk ("reboost", "boost return voltage") setpoint
  - repeat

The fall to reBulk looks like the transition to Vfloat [[electrical:solar:status#transitioning_to_float|described above]]. In both cases the controller makes no (or practically no) power until the lower setpoint is reached. 

A constant cycling 14.4v->13.2v->14.4v might seem extreme but in practice there is little actual cycling occurring.  A fully-charged 4S LFP with no loads will rest somewhere around **13.6v**. So for actual SoC changes we are talking about the difference between 13.6v and 13.2v.  With significant loads applied 13.2v observed could mean SoC as high as 90% and with trivial loads as low as 70%.((with trivial loads there might be only 1 cycle a day since voltage would not fall to reBoost))  In normal use the real cycling might be 100%->85%-100% and the solar is helping carry the loads during charging periods.  


=== Renogy confusion ===

By default Renogy Li profiles work this way, and cause much concern for Renogy users who have not read their manuals and/or who are not familiar with how solar charge controllers / chargers work. [The required information is present [[https://www.renogy.com/support/downloads|in the manuals]] but Renogy really should spell it out for first-timers. -- secessus]

  * **Rover series** - the table on page 37 of [[https://www.renogy.com/content/RNG-CTRL-RVR40/RVR203040-Manual.pdf|the manual]] shows there is no boost duration and no float in the Li profile.  The "boost return voltage" field shows **13.2v**. 
  * **DC-DC/MPPT combo charger** - the table on page 2 of [[https://www.renogy.com/content/RBC3050D1S-G1/RBC3050D1S-Manual.pdf|the manual]] shows there is no boost duration and no float in the Li profile.  The "boost return voltage" field shows **13.2v**. 
  * **DC-DC charger** (20A/40A/60A) 
    * page 18 says "lithium batteries will only have an absorption charge and no float charge"
    * there is no setting for Float charge, as shown in the table on page 17 of [[https://www.renogy.com/content/RNG-DCC1212-60-BC/DCC1212-204060-Manual.pdf|the manual]] and it says "for lithium... there will not be a float voltage"
    * page 18 says that Float is for lead only
    * the manual does not state the 13.2v boost return setpoint [an egregious error - secessus]

Users uncomfortable with this behavior can set up the USER profile to meet their needs, including defining [[electrical:12v:drop-in_lifepo4#mythyou_shouldn_t_float_lithium|a quasi-Float setpoint]].((low temp charging cutoff, when available, may only be available in canned Li profiles))


==== in float ====

**During Float with MPPT**
  * Vpanel closer to Voc
  * Vbattery == Vfloat
  * controller output minimal((assuming no loads))
  * **Example:**  Panel voltage held steady at 19.8v (near Voc), battery voltage holding at Vfloat == 13.8v, controller output < 1A

**During Float with PWM** 
  * Vpanel closer to Voc (PWM switching panel OFF((open circuit)) most of the time) 
  * controller output minimal((assuming no loads))
  * **Example:**  Panel and battery voltage holding at Vfloat == 13.8v, controller output < 1A.

==== when adding loads ====
Adding a load can help reveal how much untapped power your system can access, and also prove that your system is working.  

When **adding loads to MPPT during absorption (or float)**
  * Vpanel drops down closer to Vmp again to increase power to meet the load
  * Vbatt held at Vabs (or Vfloat) setpoint if possible
  * If max power is required Vpanel will be Vmp.((can vary due to local conditions))
  * If demand outstrips supply Vbatt will drop while Vpanel stays pinned at Vmp.
  * **Example**:  Upon adding load, the controller starts hunting (tracking) a panel voltage that will meet the load; this will be closer to Vmp.  Current output spikes to meet load demand.((this is reflected in either battery charging amps or load amps depending on how the loads are wired))  Output is limited by what the panel can provide under present conditions. 


When **adding loads to PWM during absorption (or float)**
  * Vpanel & Vbatt held at Vabs (or Vfloat) if possible((by reducing the OFF timeslices in the PWM circuit, perhaps until the panel and battery are 100% connected at full output))
  * If enough power is available no change will be observed but the controller may run cooler((as PWM switching reduces in frequency.))
  * If demand outstrips supply the Vbattery & Vpanel will drop((causing a bit of a "death spiral", as PWM produces less power as panel voltage drops))
  * **Example**:  Upon adding load, the controller releases power it had been constricting (modulating the pulse width). Current output spikes to meet load demand.((this is reflected in either battery charging amps or load amps depending on how the loads are wired))  Output is limited to whatever power the panel puts out at Vabs & Vfloat.((almost certainly less than what the panel could put out at Vmp))






===== or use some traditional rules of thumb =====

These are general targets to ensure the system is working at the bare minimum to meet your needs. They give a big picture but no information about what is happening at a particular moment. 













==== morning ====
**Are your batteries at a reasonable [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|state of charge]] in the morning?**((≥50% or ~12.1v for lead batts, ≥20% for Lithium))  If so, continue to Afternoon.  

If not, address this issue soon because discharging too deeply will [[electrical:batterycide|damage the batteries]].  Consider these changes:
  * [[electrical:solar:frugal#increasing_supply|increase your solar harvest]]
  * [[electrical:solar:frugal#reducing_load|decrease your power use]]
  * increase your Vfloat and Vabs setpoints.  Increasing Vabs to the manufacturer's max will help get the battery fully charged.  If running PWM this will also allow the system to generate more power.  
  * run your loads through a [[electrical:12v:lvd|low voltage disconnect]] so they turn off before hurting your bank
  * [[electrical:solar:rationing|conserve power!]]
  * consider reducing your nighttime loads;  charge devices like phones and tablets [[electrical:solar:nonessential|when the system has excess power]].
  * [And stop running things off an inverter! -- secessus]

==== afternoon ====
**Are your batteries starting Absorption by noon-ish** and completing Absorption by late afternoon?((depending on charging voltage and current Lithium may require no absorption at all to reach 100% SoC)) If so, continue to the next step.  

Note:  You can tell your batteries are in Absorption because the bank will be at Vabs, the controller's absorption setpoint.

If not, [[electrical:solar:nonessential|delay running heavier loads]] until Absorption is underway.
==== evening ====

**Are you hitting sundown with //at least// 12.6-12.7v((depending on your particular battery)) in your lead acid bank?**((~13.2v for LiFePO4))  If so, you can relax;  your system is working well enough. 

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. 


===== sudden voltage spikes =====

If you are seeing sudden voltage spikes and have lithium batteries, you may be seeing [[opinion:frater_secessus:lifepo4_charging_voltage|the BMS disconnect the charging circuit]].  When this happens the controller suddenly finds itself making too much power (the charging demand suddenly disappeared);  voltage on the rest of the circuit will spike while the controller reacts to the new demand level. 

The fix, described in the link above, is to **charge at a lower voltage** that does not antagonize the cells and trip the BMS. 


===== MPPT tracking sweeps =====

{{ https://img.mousetrap.net/2023/Screenshot_20230208-095220.jpg?150}}
An **MPPT** controller must sweep the **P**ower **P**oints along the array voltage curve in order to **T**rack the **M**aximum (and non-maxiumum) power points.  Basically the controller is asking "How much power does it make //here// on the curve?  And //here//?  And over //here//?"  It tracks (remembers) these power points and can return to them as needed.  But solar conditions are always changing so the power point data can get stale quickly and the controller has look again from time to time. 

Depending on the algorithm the sweep may a small one near presentVpanel, it may be a full sweep from 0v-[[electrical:solar:panels#specifications|Voc]], or anything in between.  It may happen often or seldom.  Victron famously makes a sweep every 10 minutes, resulting in visible dips in the app's graphs (see orange line on image at right). 

The sweep will interfere with power production so the mfg attempts to find a balance between

  * constant production, and
  * learning whether or not one is operating at the optimal power point for present conditions