Hi
For the past year, after careful planning, we have been living off grid in our travel trailer. We have been using (2) 30VDC 250W grid tie solar panels, creating a total of 60VDC 500W. Sending this into a Tracer-2210RN MPPT controller which feeds (4) Duracell 6-volt golf cart batteries (12v system). The system seems to have been working okay for the past year. The indicator lights on the controller do what they are supposed to and blink when the batteries are supposedly fully charged.
But now I have a question. As it turns out, the controller supposedly only handles 260W of solar panel input for a 12V system. Seems to me that something would have gone wrong by now since I am throwing 500W into the controller. Also, I read where its a positive ground controller. My aluminum panels have been sitting on the ground for the past year. And the controller is actually underneath the trailer pushed against the inside of the metal frame. It has a plastic container over it with a bungee strap holding it all in place. This was meant to be temporary but ended up working well enough to leave it be. Even though this system appears to have been working, should I be concerned with two things?
1. Is the controller not making full use of the panel wattage, and is there any danger involved by potential overload. Even after a year?
2. Should I be worried about using a positive ground controller?
Lastly. The manuals talked about the "load" terminals on the controller. But I was under the impression at the time that it was just for automatic control of a security light. But am wondering if I am supposed to have something connected to the load to prevent overcharging? I could be wrong. The manuals aren't very good.
For the past year, after careful planning, we have been living off grid in our travel trailer. We have been using (2) 30VDC 250W grid tie solar panels, creating a total of 60VDC 500W. Sending this into a Tracer-2210RN MPPT controller which feeds (4) Duracell 6-volt golf cart batteries (12v system). The system seems to have been working okay for the past year. The indicator lights on the controller do what they are supposed to and blink when the batteries are supposedly fully charged.
But now I have a question. As it turns out, the controller supposedly only handles 260W of solar panel input for a 12V system. Seems to me that something would have gone wrong by now since I am throwing 500W into the controller. Also, I read where its a positive ground controller. My aluminum panels have been sitting on the ground for the past year. And the controller is actually underneath the trailer pushed against the inside of the metal frame. It has a plastic container over it with a bungee strap holding it all in place. This was meant to be temporary but ended up working well enough to leave it be. Even though this system appears to have been working, should I be concerned with two things?
1. Is the controller not making full use of the panel wattage, and is there any danger involved by potential overload. Even after a year?
2. Should I be worried about using a positive ground controller?
Lastly. The manuals talked about the "load" terminals on the controller. But I was under the impression at the time that it was just for automatic control of a security light. But am wondering if I am supposed to have something connected to the load to prevent overcharging? I could be wrong. The manuals aren't very good.
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