Off-grid Shed questions

[sjones0812]

I'm about 1 week into my solar project to setup my shed off-grid. The idea is to have lights, power an access point and maybe a wireless security cam.
Shed is too far away to pull power from house, never mind messing up the sprinkler lines.

Equipment:
1- 100 Watt 12V Mono Panel
Tracer1210A MPPT 10A Controller
2- Powersafe SBS30 26 ah batteries (wired in parallel)... Got these free from a coworker.
Tycon TP-DCDC-1248 POE adapter.
Unifi Outdoor+ wifi access point - connected with wireless uplink to my house...powered by the POE adapter
Raspberry Pi for my dashboard. Powered by a 12v to 5v adapter. Here is a link if you want to see the live data http://sjones0812.ddns.net/epsolar/

I seem to be using around .5a and around 8 watts on my load, this will be 24/7. Once I add the cam it looks like I will be around 1a and 12-15 watts on the load.

It seems like I am making power but not enough and top the batteries off.

My questions are.

1. I think I am going to add another 100 watt panel. If I do, I can wire them in series and be okay with the 10 a controller, if I wire in parallel I will need to upgrade the MPPT. What is better?
2. Is the batteries I have OK

I'm sure I have other questions that I have not even thought of yet...LOL

Any help would be great.

[NEOH]

It appears :
a) Your battery voltage of 11.86 Volts is way too low.
b) Your PV voltage of 12.98 Volts is too low.
Under full sun your Charge Controller should be pushing like 7 - 8 Amps into the battery.
What is the Voc, Vmp & Isc of the Solar Panel?
You may need to add another PV Panel in series.

Are the batteries good or dead?

[sjones0812]

Sun is now hitting the panel and battery is up to 12.43 and charging.
PV is now 16.12

Panel specs are VOP 17.3v, LOP 5.78a, VOC 21.6v, LSC 6.13a

Batteries are old, but they where tested. Company I do IT work so has a $8k battery tester and they said they both where at around 18-20ah. Since they dropped some they replaced them.

[NEOH]

OK, your PV Panels should be able to recharge these batteries.
But your battery voltage is way too low.

Typical resting voltage
=================
12.7 = 100% SOC
12.5 = 90%
12.4 = 80%
12.3 = 70%
12.2 = 60%
12.1 = 50%

You need to get that battery voltage much higher than 12.43 volts.
Are these Sealed AGM type batteries?
Did you select AGM TYPE on your charger?
I found this ... Float Charge at Constant Voltage = 13.78 Volts at 70F
I cannot find any Bulk or Absorb charging parameters.
AGM type batteries can usually be charged to 14.4 volts.

Also,
"...
Do not over-discharge the battery.
This can be avoided by including a Low Voltage Disconnect switch in the circuit or
by disconnecting the battery from the load when the end discharge voltage is reached.
The float voltage must be applied to the battery as soon as possible, and not later than 7 days after any discharge.
..."

[sjones0812]

We have had like 3-4 days of cloudy and rainy weather, that is how the batteries got so low.

These are sealed lead acid (from google), I did not change the setting from standard on the controller.

My thought was maybe bigger batteries to handle the load for those cloudy/ bad weather days. Maybe 2- 6 v golf cart stye batteries.

Would the second panel in series help charge better on cloudy days?

Also, I assume 2 100w panels in series would be VOP 34v, LOP 5.78a, VOC 42v, LSC 6.13a.... would that be correct. Would it be OK on my 10a controller?

[NEOH]

11.6 Volts should be an absolute low cut-off.
The deeper the discharge, the fewer the total cycles.

Calculation for Size of Battery Bank required to survive 4 days with no sun is ...

With existing 0.5 amp load
====================
96 AH Battery Bank = 4 Days x 24 Hours x 0.5 Amp / 50% DOD

With future 1.5 amp load
===================
288 AH Battery Bank = 4 Days x 24 Hours x 1.5 Amp / 50% DOD

And you have an older 52 AH battery bank.


See page 9 of your Tracer User Manual,
what does it say regarding two PV Panels in series?


Have you done the calculations for Watt-Hours Consumed vs Watt-Hours Produced?

[sjones0812]

11.6 Volts should be an absolute low cut-off.
The deeper the discharge, the fewer the total cycles.

Calculation for Size of Battery Bank required to survive 4 days with no sun is ...

With existing 0.5 amp load
====================
96 AH Battery Bank = 4 Days x 24 Hours x 0.5 Amp / 50% DOD

With future 1.5 amp load
===================
288 AH Battery Bank = 4 Days x 24 Hours x 1.5 Amp / 50% DOD

And you have an older 52 AH battery bank.


See page 9 of your Tracer User Manual,
what does it say regarding two PV Panels in series?


Have you done the calculations for Watt-Hours Consumed vs Watt-Hours Produced?

Wow, guess I didn't realize the battery needs....guess I am getting bigger batteries

I saw some 6v 215 ah for around $100 each. 2 of them in series will get me close @ 12v 215ah. Any other suggestions?

I looked at page 9 and it looks like I can do the 2 PV's in series.

No, how do I figure that out?