Battery discharge

[IanC]

I plugged the solar panels (200 W) in for the first time yesterday.  The batteries were at about 65% and charged to 90% when I plugged in the Whynter.  After that they continued to drain without the charge replacing the use.  This morning they were down to 17%. The conditions during the day were mostly sunny for about 6 hours and seem to be doing the job of charging fairly fast. Last night it was 35 degrees, so I don't imagine the fridge kicked on much.  Even if there was no charging going on, is that normal for the fridge to drain the batteries to that degree?  Could it be an indication of a poor connection someplace?

Also, when I hooked up the inverter I attached it to the posts on the fuse block (partially because of the reach of the cables I had).  Would it have been better to run it directly from the batteries , or doesn't it matter?

Otherwise, I'm pretty pleased. To finally be able to see everything working as planned - lights, fans, pump and 110 wall outlet - even the trailer lights wiring that I had pulled apart during the build are all working as they should.

Thanks folks

 

[GotSmart]

60%?  17%?   :s

What batteries do you have, and how old?

That could either be the batteries, or a short in the wires somewhere.

 

[IanC]

60%?  17%?   :s

What batteries do you have, and how old?

That could either be the batteries, or a short in the wires somewhere.

The batteries are new. One (very amateur - I'm sure) question.  Is the fact that the bars on the charging indicator are sequencing an indication that the system was correctly hooked up (polarity not reversed - and what would be the result if it was?).   I buried the wiring in the walls when I was building and the tape I marked them with came off at some point, so I hope to heck I didn't reverse them when I connected the controller. I unplugged the fridge and it is charging again even though the sun hasn't fully risen.  My mind tends to go completely blank when reading electrical terminology so the manual kind of makes my head spin.

 

[MikeRuth]

I plugged the solar panels (200 W) in for the first time yesterday.  The batteries were at about 65% and charged to 90% when I plugged in the Whynter.  After that they continued to drain without the charge replacing the use.  This morning they were down to 17%. The conditions during the day were mostly sunny for about 6 hours and seem to be doing the job of charging fairly fast. Last night it was 35 degrees, so I don't imagine the fridge kicked on much.  Even if there was no charging going on, is that normal for the fridge to drain the batteries to that degree?  Could it be an indication of a poor connection someplace?

Also, when I hooked up the inverter I attached it to the posts on the fuse block (partially because of the reach of the cables I had).  Would it have been better to run it directly from the batteries , or doesn't it matter?

Otherwise, I'm pretty pleased. To finally be able to see everything working as planned - lights, fans, pump and 110 wall outlet - even the trailer lights wiring that I had pulled apart during the build are all working as they should.

Thanks folks

I'm just going to comment on the inverter for the moment, Best practice is connected direct to the battery using sufficiently large wire based on maximum possible amp draw. 
you didn't mention the size of the inverter or the size of wire you are using now for it. 

do you have an ammeter? 

Mike R

 

[IanC]

I'm just going to comment on the inverter for the moment, Best practice is connected direct to the battery using sufficiently large wire based on maximum possible amp draw. 
you didn't mention the size of the inverter or the size of wire you are using now for it. 

do you have an ammeter? 

Mike R

I used the components and wiring that came with the Renology kit and 12gauge for the trailer wiring. The inverter is a 500w. I'll change the connection to the battery rather than the fuse block.

I just looked up the definition of State of Charge on Wikipedia - dang my head almost burst.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

A 500 watt inverter is probably drawing 40 amps at full power.  No way is 12 gauge wire adequate for that.  You should be running 6 gauge wire at a minimum to the inverter, and there should be a suitable fuse on or close to the battery that you hook the hot wire to.  The manual that came with the inverter should provide info on the fuse.

 

[IanC]

A 500 watt inverter is probably drawing 40 amps at full power.  No way is 12 gauge wire adequate for that.  You should be running 6 gauge wire at a minimum to the inverter, and there should be a suitable fuse on or close to the battery that you hook the hot wire to.  The manual that came with the inverter should provide info on the fuse.

No, I used the wires that came with the inverter to connect it and the 12 gauge was the wiring for the lights, fridge, etc,