Hookup solar controller without battery to test?

[Tomcor]

I have a 100w flexible panel i bought i would like to test. I am using a Samlex 30a controller. I dont have my battery yet. Can i hookup the panel to the controller without a battery hooked up?
Will the controller show the correct output of the panel , volts amps?

Thanks

 

[jimindenver]

no

The controller needs the battery to tell it what voltage to run at. some of those controllers will get fried if you hook up the panels first.

 

[29chico]

I have a 100w flexible panel i bought i would like to test. I am using a Samlex 30a controller. I dont have my battery yet. Can i hookup the panel to the controller without a battery hooked up?
Will the controller show the correct output of the panel , volts amps?

Thanks

If you have a vehicle with a 12v starting battery in it you could hook the output of your charge controller to that.

As far as what info the controller displays, you would best be served by going to the Samlex USA website  and downloading the manual for it.  If you want accuracy for the amps & volts I suggest a decent multi-meter with a DC clamp on amps feature.

 

[Gypsy Jane]

I have a 100w flexible panel i bought i would like to test. I am using a Samlex 30a controller. I dont have my battery yet. Can i hookup the panel to the controller without a battery hooked up?
Will the controller show the correct output of the panel , volts amps?

Thanks

I have a 100W Renogy suitcase kit, which comes with the controller attached, so I don't see how it would hurt it - but it wouldn't be doing anything to measure, right?

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[highdesertranger]

like Jim said it could fry your controller. but like the Gypsy said some are ok. best to look up your controller and see what it says. highdesertranger

 

[Tomcor]

I will hook to my starter battery. Great idea. I have a good multimeter and clamp on meter also.

I have only the one panel 100w and external 30w panel. Looking to purchase an AGM 100ah from amazon soon. My power loads will be low to start with. Dometic cf25 and fantastic vent.

Thankd

 

[WheelEstate USA]

I was told that it's best to face the suitcase panels away from the sun till the clamps are hooked to the battery.

When cleaning battery posts, I always cover my panels.

 

[Gypsy Jane]

I will hook to my starter battery. Great idea. I have a good multimeter and clamp on meter also.

I have only the one panel 100w and external 30w panel. Looking to purchase an AGM 100ah from amazon soon. My power loads will be low to start with. Dometic cf25 and fantastic vent.

Thankd

Someone I know said she got a 200+ Ah deep cycle from Autozone. Might be worth looking into.

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[WheelEstate USA]

"A" deep cycle (meaning one) from Auto Zone is most likely marine style, which is not a true deep cycle. Useable and ok for a beginner budget, but should be in the plan to upgrade to two 6V golf cart ste for best results.
Walmart might even have that battery a few bucks cheaper.
The 12V one is OK, especially for newbies with a single100W panel and light demands who plan to expand their system over time.
Sometimes budget calls the tune, as it did for us. Now, we are up to 300 watts of panels.

 

[jimindenver]

A single 200 Ah 12v battery is going to be huge. It's likely a 4-D or 8-D and those weigh up to 160 lbs. I know they had starting 8-D's for under $200 for a while.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Jim...I didn't think of the "huge" factor. But that's still just a starting battery.

 

[Gypsy Jane]

like Jim said it could fry your controller.  but like the Gypsy said some are ok.  best to look up your controller and see what it says.  highdesertranger

So that confused me and I wrote to Renogy's tech support.  It does vary with the controller, so best to be safe and connect battery first.
Here's what they told me, referring to the controller I have in my suitcase kit:
"The viewstar controller has protection against reverse polarity and will not be damaged if you connect the panels to the controller before you have a battery bank connected.
Some of the older controllers do not have these feature so we have these warnings and procedures across all controllers for good practice."