Message Forums

Quote: Originally posted by fleck2 on 13/5/2016

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Quote: Originally posted by Softguy on 12/5/2016

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Quote: Originally posted by Fox Molder on 12/5/2016

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Quote: Originally posted by fleck2 on 10/5/2016

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Quote: Originally posted by Fox Molder on 10/5/2016

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Please guy's unless the solar panel is supplying 14.4volts it is NOT charging it is topping up (bulk). In the UK you will/may get some days were there is enough sun to push the voltage to 14.4volts, but 99% of the time it is around 13.5volts/13.7volts so yes you may get 2.5amps from that, but after 4 or 5 days your batteries will not hold the amps as they are not being charged. So many people believe the solar panel is charging (absorption) and they are not. The on board charger will take 2/3 days to fully charge a discharged battery (12.2volts) (50%) never run below this.
Unless you have 300watts or better on the roof your batteries will suffer.

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Are you OK? Have a lie down in a dark room for a while and try again.. no offence.

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Not sure what the problem is, but if after 27 years of working with batteries and solar for 15 years I KNOW many people DO NOT understand how it works., but I think in future I will just read the posts on here and NOT offer advice or comments.............
I'm full time in MH and have 180watts of solar and have had the same batteries for 4+ years and do not use EHU.

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Please, please continue your comments and advice, they are Welcome and very useful from myself atleast.

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This is what I find depressing about forums, people come to them for advice and to learn a bit about something they have in mind.. and you ALLWAYS seem to get one poster that hasn't got a clue giving out advice. I'm not being funny or wanting to cause offence or anything Fox but your paragraph above is so full of holes I don't know where to start.

OK Start with this:
http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/charging_the_lead_acid_battery

This will tell you what the difference is between 'bulk' and 'topping up' charge and much more.

Voltage and current are 2 different things so for instance 13.7v doesn't equal 2.5a although it may well do at one moment in time in one particular set up.

If you put a clamp meter on a cable and it says 2.5amps then the battery IS charging at 2.5amps fact. If the battery can't hold it's charge then that's another matter altogether.
Your solar panel and/or regulator is faulty if 99 percent of the time it cannot reach 14.4v. My 40w panel has an open circuit voltage of something like 20v and on a sunny day at home in winter still charges at over 2amps (pointing directly at the sun)
It soon drops to float charge as the microprocessor sees the battery is fully charged.

Lastly, according to your own advice your batteries must be "suffering" as your solar system is 120w undersized?

This isn't an argument, I hate arguments. Just stop posting rubbish please :-)

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