I am Back and this time I am Fatter and Larger

Discussions about solar power and solar energy projects.
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Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

I am Back and this time I am Fatter and Larger

Post by Solar98632 » Sat May 02, 2015 5:15 pm

I know 500 watt charge controller , 135 watt Harbor Freight kit, 2 lawn and tractor batteries doesn't seem much much but...hey wait, did intention a New Charge controller?
Did I meant Fat Wires? I mean fat as in super sized with lots of strands?

Ah heck a picture is worth 1,000 words they say.
Oh wait how about anvideo instead.

I just wish I new how to embed itHarbor Freight Solar Update: Added Super Fattys: http://youtu.be/FYixTQcuVgA

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: I am Back and this time I am Fatter and Larger

Post by Solar98632 » Sat May 02, 2015 5:30 pm

Got fatter Wires
A 500 watt controller
Fatter Wires

And tomorrow i will test my crock pot set to medium
And will see what happens
Solar panels are 135 Watts total , inverted is 400 watts.
Everything accept wires in this area is Harbor Freight.
The Charge controller has an over load safety feature.

So tell me what you think.
Next month will be switch and fuse month.
Attachments
Screenshot_2015-05-02-15-11-29-2.png
Battery amps with Crock Pot Running set to Medium
Screenshot_2015-05-02-15-11-29-2.png (102.2 KiB) Viewed 28201 times
Screenshot_2015-05-02-15-11-29-1.png
Is this Fat enough?
Screenshot_2015-05-02-15-11-29-1.png (248.96 KiB) Viewed 28201 times
Screenshot_2015-05-02-15-12-22-1-1.png
Voltage while crock pot is on Medium
Screenshot_2015-05-02-15-12-22-1-1.png (128.48 KiB) Viewed 28201 times

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: I am Back and this time I am Fatter and Larger

Post by Solar98632 » Sat May 02, 2015 5:33 pm

And here one more picture.
Attachments
Screenshot_2015-05-02-15-09-37-1.png
Amount of Amps being drawn from solar when crock is set to medium
Screenshot_2015-05-02-15-09-37-1.png (126.14 KiB) Viewed 28201 times

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: I am Back and this time I am Fatter and Larger

Post by Solar98632 » Mon May 04, 2015 3:59 pm

Update:
I had to exchange the Charge Controller as it was failing.
The controller I had previously Purcahsed had the fallowing issues:
! did not recognize soa input when connectected by its self to solar only
and its alarm failed to say that there was a battery was disconnected

The Charge controller did not pull propplery from the panels
The carge controller did not have a working alarm.

aslo on a side note, it did not have buble wrap when I opened the box.

The newer controller is working propperly.

The new wrking controller is now working.
I can now pull in 11 amps on a good day.

techman
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Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:49 am

Re: I am Back and this time I am Fatter and Larger

Post by techman » Thu May 21, 2015 10:28 am

NEVER connect a solar charge controller to the solar panels without a battery connected first.

ALWAYS connect the battery to a solar charge controller FIRST and then connect the solar panels and the load.

Actually I never use the load output of a solar charge controller because they are rated for very low current and have small wire connectors. I connect directly to the battery bank with a fuse or circuit breaker.

Otherwise, good looking setup so far.

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: I am Back and this time I am Fatter and Larger

Post by Solar98632 » Mon Jun 01, 2015 11:52 am

techman wrote:NEVER connect a solar charge controller to the solar panels without a battery connected first.

ALWAYS connect the battery to a solar charge controller FIRST and then connect the solar panels and the load.

Actually I never use the load output of a solar charge controller because they are rated for very low current and have small wire connectors. I connect directly to the battery bank with a fuse or circuit breaker.

Otherwise, good looking setup so far.
True on the battery connect and solar connect.

As for the load side, this unit is indeed rated for 500 Watts...well so it says in the manual.
It also has auto cut off Incas battery. Is to low, and it is the only way I can get a proper reading on the current I am using.

When I do hit 1,000 Watts, I will deffinintly. Tie in the batteries directly.

Right now I have nothing but a light load.

Problem is if i do direct connect to the batteries, I don't get the solar amperage used. I can try it and see what happens though.

And again i followed the instructions to the letter.

But if what you are saying is true, Then they need to eliminate the load side.

I think the newer charge controllers have changed emencly on newer models.

Harbor. Freight has changed a lot lately. But I am going to get a back up.

I am still saving for the Yeti 400.

Planning on getting agms and setting them up on a lower shelf. Or upper shelf..either way there will be leak protection in place.

Oh, I am confused on one thing,
When calculating total Watts for dc...

Do i total it as in 400 Watts dc or 400 Watts Ac? That is is it 400 watts dc drawing current or what?

Solar98632
Posts: 246
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 3:10 pm

Re: I am Back and this time I am Fatter and Larger

Post by Solar98632 » Mon Jun 01, 2015 11:55 am

Oh this thing has massive wire connectors all around..it will take a jumper cable size of wire easily.

techman
Site Admin
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Joined: Thu Dec 22, 2011 11:49 am

Re: I am Back and this time I am Fatter and Larger

Post by techman » Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:56 am

Watts will always remain the same.

Watts = amps x volts.

So take 120 volts AC and a device that uses 1 amp of power. This uses 120 watts.

The same device run on 12 volts DC would use 10 amps. 12 volts x 10 amps = 120 watts.

Again, watts are a constant.

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