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So my Scabbed Together System.
4, 100 Watt Coleman (Sun Force) 12v Panels. Roof Mount, West Facing, 4.5 hours/day area
4, 105Ah Deep Cycle LA 12v Batteries,
1, 40a PWM 12v Charge Controller.
1, 1000 watt Pure Sine Wave Invertor.
1, 30A Multi Stage Charger tied to Generator (run 1-3 hours per evening). With a Manual Equalization Mode.
Question #1
Why does the Charger show "Float" on going to bed, and Array starts to Charge at first light? With everything turned off. Is it just a different "Cut Off" between the Controller and Charger? Controller's "Cut Off" is at 14.2Vs, while the Charger's "Cut Off" is lower Volts? Or is the Charge Controller, draining the System enough Overnight to cause a Charge Required? A concern in Winter when my Panels can be Snow Covered for months without access,. (not in use)
Question #2
This system does most of what I need. Usually Weekends, Stereo, TV, DVD, and such. It is on 2/3 weeks off time, when a 5.0 cu/ft Freezer (1.2A/ 218 kwH-year) is added, that Mornings show 11.5-12.5V Yellow Warning after a nights Use. Would 2 more Batteries (total 630ah) be too much for 400 Watts 17-20A Max (on a clear Day for 2 hours) plus 1-3 hours @ 30A Night Charge?
4, 100 Watt Coleman (Sun Force) 12v Panels. Roof Mount, West Facing, 4.5 hours/day area
4, 105Ah Deep Cycle LA 12v Batteries,
1, 40a PWM 12v Charge Controller.
1, 1000 watt Pure Sine Wave Invertor.
1, 30A Multi Stage Charger tied to Generator (run 1-3 hours per evening). With a Manual Equalization Mode.
Question #1
Why does the Charger show "Float" on going to bed, and Array starts to Charge at first light? With everything turned off. Is it just a different "Cut Off" between the Controller and Charger? Controller's "Cut Off" is at 14.2Vs, while the Charger's "Cut Off" is lower Volts? Or is the Charge Controller, draining the System enough Overnight to cause a Charge Required? A concern in Winter when my Panels can be Snow Covered for months without access,. (not in use)
Question #2
This system does most of what I need. Usually Weekends, Stereo, TV, DVD, and such. It is on 2/3 weeks off time, when a 5.0 cu/ft Freezer (1.2A/ 218 kwH-year) is added, that Mornings show 11.5-12.5V Yellow Warning after a nights Use. Would 2 more Batteries (total 630ah) be too much for 400 Watts 17-20A Max (on a clear Day for 2 hours) plus 1-3 hours @ 30A Night Charge?