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electrical:solar:status [2022/02/27 13:36]
frater_secessus [morning]
electrical:solar:status [2022/08/09 12:09]
frater_secessus [in absorption]
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-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.  :-)+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 ===== ===== numbers rather than icons or lights =====
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 **with PWM controllers** **with PWM controllers**
-  * Vpanel & Vbattery == Vabs until the controller'criteria for ending absorption is met+  * Vpanel starts to creep up from Vbatt toward Voc (the more OFF switching the closer to Voc) criteria for ending absorption is met
   * 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))
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 ==== morning ==== ==== morning ====
-**Are your batteries at a reasonable [[electrical:depth_of_discharge|50% state of charge]] in the morning?**((≥50% or ~12.1v for lead batts, ≥20% for Lithium))  If so, continue to Afternoon.  +**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: If not, address this issue soon because discharging too deeply will [[electrical:batterycide|damage the batteries]].  Consider these changes:
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 ==== afternoon ==== ==== afternoon ====
-**Are your batteries starting Absorption by noon-ish** and completing Absorption by late afternoon? If so, continue to the next step.  +**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. Note:  You can tell your batteries are in Absorption because the bank will be at Vabs, the controller's absorption setpoint.
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 ==== evening ==== ==== evening ====
  
-**Are you hitting sundown with //at least// 12.6-12.7v((depending on your particular battery)) in your lead acid bank?**  If so, you can relax;  your system is working well enough. +**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.  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. 
electrical/solar/status.txt · Last modified: 2024/01/14 15:32 by frater_secessus