User Tools

Site Tools


electrical:solar:status

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision
Previous revision
Next revision Both sides next revision
electrical:solar:status [2019/07/13 20:49]
frater_secessus [Is my solar working?]
electrical:solar:status [2019/09/24 14:39]
frater_secessus [Is my solar working?]
Line 5: Line 5:
  
 ====== Is my solar working? ====== ====== 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:   It is common for those with new solar configurations to worry about whether or not they are working.  The worry is understandable because:  
Line 20: Line 23:
  
  
-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.  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 ===== ===== numbers rather than icons or lights =====
Line 64: Line 67:
  
 **During bulk charging with MPPT** **During bulk charging with MPPT**
-  * Vpanel == Vmp+  * Vpanel == Vmp((although [[electrical:solar:output|temperature derating]] will cause Vmp to drop))
   * Vbatt climbing toward Vabs   * Vbatt climbing toward Vabs
-  * Current delivered to battery holds steady+  * Current delivered to battery holds steady((assuming sunlight holds steady))
   * **Example:**  Panel voltage at Vmp == 17v, battery voltage 12.9v and rising, controller output steady at 4A.   * **Example:**  Panel voltage at Vmp == 17v, battery voltage 12.9v and rising, controller output steady at 4A.
  
Line 115: Line 118:
 When **adding loads to PWM during absorption (or float)** 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))   * 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+  * 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))   * 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 dissipating in the PWM circuit.  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))   * **Example**:  Upon adding load, the controller releases power it had been dissipating in the PWM circuit.  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))
electrical/solar/status.txt ยท Last modified: 2024/01/14 15:32 by frater_secessus