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electrical:solar:status [2023/08/09 13:54]
frater_secessus [transitioning to float]
electrical:solar:status [2024/01/14 10:46]
frater_secessus [setups with no float] link to float to make things easier
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 ===== first collect a few numbers ===== ===== 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. 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//.   * **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//.
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 ==== setups with no float ==== ==== setups with no float ====
  
-Configurations with no float ("charge and stop", found on some Lithium profiles) will stop charging then fall all the way to the reBulk/reBoost setpoint.  At that point they begin charging again.  +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 
 + 
 +=== 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)) 
  
-The fall to reBulk looks like the transition to Vfloat described above. In both cases the controller makes no (or practically no) power until the lower setpoint is reached.  
 ==== in float ==== ==== in float ====
  
electrical/solar/status.txt · Last modified: 2024/01/14 15:32 by frater_secessus