Lurker speaks up to say hello

[PNjunction]

I've lurked long enough and gotten so much good information here that I had to join and say thanks to everyone.

My needs are modest, and mostly power my radio monitoring hobby with backyard solar. I have a few small panels, controllers, and AGM batteries that are mixed and matched according to the day's needs. I find the whole process fascinating from photons striking the panel and then through everything else to get to storage - even if I'm only using my smallest 5ah battery. I still wanted to do it right, and this forum put me on the right track.

I'm probably the only one who looks forward to a discharge so I can track the charging process starting the next morning with my Fluke meter - friends think I'm nuts with a hobby that doesn't move or make any noise.

[RussN9ZP]

.I'm probably the only one who looks forward to a discharge so I can track the charging process starting the next morning with my Fluke meter - friends think I'm nuts with a hobby that doesn't move or make any noise.

No, your not the only one.i check my battery voltage every morning before i go to work. Welcome to the forum. Im fairly new here also.

[inetdog]

I'm probably the only one who looks forward to a discharge so I can track the charging process starting the next morning with my Fluke meter - friends think I'm nuts with a hobby that doesn't move or make any noise.

As long as you don't talk baby-talk to your batteries.... (Mine are perfectly capable of an adult conversation and are offended by baby-talk.)

[PNjunction]

I'm just glad the neighbors can't see me taking voltage and current measurements in 30 minute intervals when I get a new battery.

Started out in a classic deficit-charge scenario with a single harbor freight panel attached to too much battery with a shunt controller.

Quickly upgraded the CC to a few different Morningstar sunguards and sunsavers, and sized the new panels so that my goal of reaching absorb with a C/4 ratio for AGM will be reached - although it might take two days with my insolation hours. Running the morningstars un-jumpered in the FLA voltage mode - this threw me off a little bit at first, so I just chose the jumpering position for the best voltage for the agm's, and ignored the "sealed" description. I'll leave "sealed" for any gells I come across.

Anyway, I'm having a blast learning and glad to be here!

[Mike90250]

....so I just chose the jumpering position for the best voltage for the agm's, and ignored the "sealed" description. I'll leave "sealed" for any gells I come across....

You may need the "sealed" setting to prevent the 30 day EQ cycle, which will make AGM's scream in pain!

[PNjunction]

You may need the "sealed" setting to prevent the 30 day EQ cycle, which will make AGM's scream in pain!

I'm glad you said that! My Sunsavers (non-mppt type, just plain pwm model SS-6 and SS-10) are "Gen 2" models. They have come out with "Gen3" models, that when the flooded voltage jumper is left in place, it will do the EQ monthly, which is something I don't want to do with my AGM's. And, there appears to be no way to disable it in these newer models, other than using the lower 14.1v sealed setting.

I want to run at 14.4v, but without EQ, so looks like a gen-3 model is not for me. Something to doublecheck before purchase to see which gen you will actually get if this is important to you.

I have heard a battery scream - I got complacent when throwing my kit out into the backyard as usual, and attached a 120w panel to a 5ah battery, without controller. Thought the neighbors started cooking steak and eggs. It was me. Learned a hard lesson about slowing down even with small setups - next time the scream I hear could be coming from me.