<span class="highlight">Solar</span> Regulator

What's the output voltage of the solar panels, Kenny? It should be around 18-20 volts at say, midday in full sun.

If you have the panels wired in parallel, you or at least the reg. should be pumping close to 24 amps into the batteries. While there's power at solar input terminals, if the panels are wired correctly, and have diodes fitted then you shouldn't be losing power that way.

Have you charged the batteries with an external source prior to fitting them? One would assume if they are all new then there should be no fault with storage. Perhaps re-check all the wiring in case there is a phantom load.

We've only got about 280w of solar(at moment) and 240 amphr of batteries, and running 40L fridge, 30L freezer and LED lights our batteries are still about 12.4v at daylight. And this was with reduced solar input each day.

Bob

From the GSL installation instructions.

• Optional Diode A suitably heatsinked schottky diode rated at or above 80A 60V (its anode
connected to the + panel and cathode to the MPPT + input white wire) may be used, see wiring
diagram. This diode will protect against panel short and block any voltage on the panel but will
slightly decrease the battery charge current.

The panels have to have a diode to not leak back energy at night.
the wiring diagram shows to put it in the + cable between the panels and MPPT.
Regards Philip A

n. I have just fitted my new GSL mppt 60-1 Solar regulator and a Victron Shunt to 3 x 120ah new AGM batteries
[1]. I have 2 x 200w panels. My power draw would be below 80ah/day.
The batteries are not charging beyond 12.9v by the end of a sunny day. By early evening the reading is down to 12.1 and in the morning is down to 11.8v?
[2] I checked readings with a multi-meter. I then checked the terminals where the + & - wires from the solar panels enter the regulator.
This was reading 11.6 - 11.9v....at night!
My little brain doesn't think power should be flowing out to the panels at night? If this is the case would it explain why my batteries are draining so fast?

any help appreciated
Hi
[1] 400W of panel should easilyy cope with that on most days

[2]No use reading the input to the Solar reg at night You need to read it when the panels are in BRIGHT sun
[The reading you get at night is the battery voltage minus a small drop in the regulator]
Midday in bright sun you should get a much higher reading at the Solar cables to the regulator than the Battery voltage[ around 16<V]
Have you:
CHecked the instructions
set the regulator correctly , wired it in the correct order, & sequence[ sequence can be important ]
I would suggest disconnect the lot
Then check;[a] EACH solar panels output voltage in bright sun with nothing connected depending on panels around 20<22V[ Check the panel specs]
If you have a current range on your meter check the short circuit current of EACH panel
It should be bit over 12A again check the panel specs
If your meter only has a 10A max you will need to that test quickly before the internal fuse blows
A reading of 10A will be near enough for the purpose
Finally do you have a means of reading the actual charging current going into the battery [ between the reg & the battery]


PeterQ

PeterQ