I have 2 identical systems each system consists of: 5 panels watt = 1075 (@24V) BlueSun Solar Mono panels wired in parallel; fused to 1 x (EP Solar) ET3415N controller; 1 x disconnect switch; 4 x 430 L-16 US Battery 6 volt wired in series for 24 volts. Batteries in parallel, 2 sets.
I live in a northern climate (central Ontario, Canada) off the grid where the months of Oct-Nov especially are brutal for solar. We do not run an extensive array of electrical appliances, heat with wood, cook with gas, but everything else is run off a 2kw inverter, and our power consumption does not amount to a lot.
I maintain my batteries during this time through use of a home-made charger (old snowmobile engine with a 24 volt 45 amp alternator and cooling fan.
Here is my problem. I do run the charger daily when there is no sun and that helps, but it does not produce enough power to really boost up the batteries and is a bit noisy.
I believe part of the solution may be with the controllers. On a good solar day they will put out 30 amps each per hour, but the controller reads voltage in the batteries and once the voltage reaches a given limit the controller scales back on the charge assuming that the batteries are at full charge. My hydrometer may read between 1175-1225 at that time.
So, are there any changes that I can make in the parameters in the controller to make it continue charging at a higher rate, like increasing the charge rate. Or, does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations. All suggestions are welcome.
I live in a northern climate (central Ontario, Canada) off the grid where the months of Oct-Nov especially are brutal for solar. We do not run an extensive array of electrical appliances, heat with wood, cook with gas, but everything else is run off a 2kw inverter, and our power consumption does not amount to a lot.
I maintain my batteries during this time through use of a home-made charger (old snowmobile engine with a 24 volt 45 amp alternator and cooling fan.
Here is my problem. I do run the charger daily when there is no sun and that helps, but it does not produce enough power to really boost up the batteries and is a bit noisy.
I believe part of the solution may be with the controllers. On a good solar day they will put out 30 amps each per hour, but the controller reads voltage in the batteries and once the voltage reaches a given limit the controller scales back on the charge assuming that the batteries are at full charge. My hydrometer may read between 1175-1225 at that time.
So, are there any changes that I can make in the parameters in the controller to make it continue charging at a higher rate, like increasing the charge rate. Or, does anyone have any suggestions or recommendations. All suggestions are welcome.
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