Need help with small system

[Global Village]

Hallo Solar Enegy Entusiasts, I am in this Forum to get more knowledge on how Solar Panels work.

In my attempt to realise an off rid system, I have connected 2 Solar Panel ( Open Circuit 91 V. from first Solar) to a 30 amp Charge Controller .
When I had only 1 Panel, I realised 12 Volts of charging on a 42 V ( trial) Car Battery. Now I have added a Second Panel ( to cover the evening Sunlight), and upgraded my Battery to A 12 V- 100 ah SOLAR BATTERY.
Now, I am only able to realise 11. 3 V at most. What am I not doing correctly.

Additionally, when I measure my current output from my Panels, I read 45 to 90 Volts. But when I connect it to my charge controller, it produces only 13 V. Max. Why is this so. How can I tap current direct from the Charge Controller during Sunlight- without discharging my Battery?

[bcroe]

It sounds like you are using one or two 72 cell panels to drive PWM charge controller. In this the second
panel in series will not help at all, because the PWM only works on available current. If the panels are
connected in parallel (same voltage panels), you will double the current, or extend the hours if using
different orientation. An MPPT controller would deliver the most energy for parallel. Bruce Roe

[Sunking]

Additionally, when I measure my current output from my Panels, I read 45 to 90 Volts.

What does current have to do with voltage? You measured open circuit voltage, not current.

But when I connect it to my charge controller, it produces only 13 V. Max. Why is this so. How can I tap current direct from the Charge Controller during Sunlight- without discharging my Battery?

Because you are using a PWM controller and will not work with those panels.

[Global Village]

Thanks SUNKING. I am relatively new and may mix up Terms. But I really want to learn. Now I have a STECA 1010 MPPT Regulator. I am only able to read 11.6 V. Battery Charge. How can I realise 12.2 and above. My Panel is 62.5 W rated.

[Global Village]

Hallo bcroe, Dear members, my Panels are rated 62.5 W. Should I add more panels on Parallel. Will this help the Charging process?

Is it possible to connect the Loading during the day- without runnng down the Battery Charge level.

[Global Village]

Wonderful, I just attached a new STECA 1010 MPPT CONROLLER and my Battery Charge readings have improved today from 11.6 to 12.4 presently.

I want now to upgrade my Wattage. Should I add more batteries.

Can I use 2 Controllers on one Panel.
1 PWM to charge my 5V devices., the other to concentrate on Battery charging for lighting 1.2 amp and Inverter power supply.

Will 120 Ah support a 400 Watts cooker for how long? 400/ 120 ?

[Global Village]

Happy Today

[SunEagle]

Wonderful, I just attached a new STECA 1010 MPPT CONROLLER and my Battery Charge readings have improved today from 11.6 to 12.4 presently.

I want now to upgrade my Wattage. Should I add more batteries.

Can I use 2 Controllers on one Panel.
1 PWM to charge my 5V devices., the other to concentrate on Battery charging for lighting 1.2 amp and Inverter power supply.

Will 120 Ah support a 400 Watts cooker for how long? 400/ 120 ?

A quick math example would be 120Ah x 12v = 1440 total watt hours. So if you only discharged the battery by 50% (which would quickly kill it) you could get 720 watt hours or maybe 90 minutes to run that 400 watt cooker a few times.

IMO 400 watts is way too much for a 120Ah battery.

[Global Village]

Dear Friends of ths SUN,

Uptil now, i have 12 V / 100 MaH Battery, 250Wp Panel, 10 Amp Mppt charge controller, 12V- 3000W Inverter.
I seek to upgrade my power. I got a 40 Amp mppt charger today. I also have another 12v 100Mah Battery- which i can add. So whats my next best Step. Do I have to dispose of my Inverter? Must i use a battery balancer? - as i noticed that my second BATTERY discharges faster than the one i am using now.

Thanks in advance.

_Global Village
NB: This enquiry is also posted under Battery Capacity discussions. I hope i have not violated any participation regulations.

[ButchDeal]

Dear Friends of ths SUN,

Uptil now, i have 12 V / 100 MaH Battery, 250Wp Panel, 10 Amp Mppt charge controller, 12V- 3000W Inverter.
I seek to upgrade my power. I got a 40 Amp mppt charger today. I also have another 12v 100Mah Battery- which i can add. So whats my next best Step. Do I have to dispose of my Inverter? Must i use a battery balancer? - as i noticed that my second BATTERY discharges faster than the one i am using now.

Thanks in advance.

_Global Village
NB: This enquiry is also posted under Battery Capacity discussions. I hope i have not violated any participation regulations.

I can only assume you mean 12V 100aH (not Mah which would be 0.1aH)
In any case 3000w inverter on a 100Ah 12V bank is not going to do well.

basically 100aH at 12V would come to about 1.2kWh, but that would be a pretty dead battery.

[Global Village]

Yea. its 100aH. Battery.

[Global Village]

How can i optimise my situation?

[Mike90250]

How can i optimize my situation?

You first must define your loads. When loads are known, then you can accurately select the proper gear to support them. Otherwise you spend too much and build too big, or you build too small and the system shuts down from being undersized.

hint : If your loads are more than 400wh daily, using larger panels in the 250 -300w range, and a MPPT controller, generally avoid using small, expensive 100w toy panels.

Loads: Watts x hours = watt hours. 45w x 5 hours = 225wh laptop @ 80w x 6 hrs=480wh
watts = Volts x Amps 12V light x .7A = 8.4w