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Thanks for the insight on the battery maintenance! Very helpful! In regard to charging, so far that has not been an issue. I have 4 of these batteries (12V 105Ah) set up for 24V and have them set 2S4P so I still get the 24V but have 210Ah. I have 8 100W panels and have not had issues yet...

So, I was able to finally buy the materials to build an insulated box for my battery bank. I used 7/16 plywood and insulated it with 1" foam board insulation. For the first few days, I thought it had done the trick. My batteries were at 28.7v to 29.1v during the late afternoon where they were...

I have an Eco-Worthy 1500W Off Grid Pure Sine Wave Inverter and have a question concerning low-voltage shutdown. I am going to be out of town for most of the day and won't be back until after dark. My solar will run all day and power my house but will not last through the evening (after...

Then that would explain why my SCC hasn't fried?

So, a couple weeks ago, I was finally able to purchase one more battery which now gives me a total 4 105Ah batteries, and I have hooked them up in 24V 2S4P set up. I know it's not the battery solution suggested, of buying the 6V golf cart batteries, but it's again due to budget constraints...

I believe so, but don't know exactly how much more. Estimating I'm getting more along the lines if near 65-70 Ah per day. But likeI said, the past few days were extremely cloudy and no direct sun, so it could be more than that. This coming next week and a half is forecasting mostly to full...

Ah! Ok, thanks again, guys!! Will check it this afternoon.

I'm still very new to solar so please forgive my ignorance with this. The whole in Series vs. in Parallel still confuses me at times. So, you're saying that even if I get 4 105Ah batteries hooked up to make a 24v battery bank, I'll still only have 105Ah? If this is the case, what good does it...

Reading it exactly as the display reads. Here's a couple pics. One of the owners manual and one of the controller screen (S6) I just took. The fridge is a Magic Chef FC2-370. 10.1 cup ft fridge freezer. Specs say it's energy consumption is 297 kWh/yr. Dont know how much of a difference, if...

S1 = Battery voltage S2 = Panel voltage S3 = Current S6 = Charging Ah - from Doggydog..."The 6th screen is Charging Amp-hours, which I think might be total Ah sent to the battery so far that day." I have standard sealed lead batteries from O'Reilly Auto Parts...

Here's the second pic.

Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. Things have been a bit hectic with work. Anyhow, thanks for the explanation. That helps a bunch. Update... Though I haven't built the frame for my panels yet (should be next week), I have moved and repositioned my pv array. All 8 panels are sitting at...

OK, great! Shockingly, I actually understood that, lol! That's the best explanation I have found online so far, Thanks for that! So, one more question (for now, lol!)... Once I get my 4 batteries hooked up in an 2S2P config, will that essentially double the amount of time my battery charge...

Oh, forgot to ask. I am getting some conflicting information as to the cable length I can use between my panels and combiner box. The cables that came with the kit I bought are 16.4' 12AWG cables (w/MC4 connectors). Ideally I would like to buy another set of the 16.4' cables to get my panels...

At this very moment, 3pm, just after the peak sun of the day, full sun no clouds, the charge controller is showing 28.4v coming in from the panels. Inverter displays 28v. I have the fridge, internet, and my 17" laptop drawing power. By about 4:30pm to 5pm, the inverter typically shows about...

Just went out and checked. 1:23pm 6.33 amp

Here is the spec sticker on the back of the panel.

I believe I'm connected 2S4P. Each 2 panels are connected together, pos on one to neg on the other, then the other 2 pos/neg cables of that pair going into a 4-string combiner box. So, 4 pairs of panels.

I was looking at that exact MPPT, but unfortunately, I'm stuck with my PWM for now, as my budget is far sort for what I really want and need for this set up. Ultimately, I'd love to have the MPPT, 8 330w grid-tie panels, 3500w Inverter, and 6 12v 210Ah LiFpo batteries. But, again, budget. So...

Sorry about that. It wasn't until I read that post I made this reply to about 2S4P that reminded me how I had them hooked up. So, you say that changes everything. What exactly do you mean by that?

Here's another question. I just saw a post on another forum where a guy said you could hook up 4 12v 105Ah batteries in series/parallel to make 24v 210Ah. But, he did not say how. Is this BS or is it legit? If it's legit, is that something I should consider once I figure out my battery issue?

You guys have been a huge help!! I really appreciate it!! I will move on your suggestions the best I can with what I have and what I can afford to pick up. We do eventually want a system that will supply all of our needs but I know that will come at a cost and will take some time. And we...

8 panels, wired up in pairs. each pair is connected to one of the 4 ports (pos/neg) in the 4-string combiner box. I was told this is 2S4P.

That's great information! Thank you! So, if I'm reading this correctly, with my current setup, I could extend to 33' without a detrimental loss?

I do know enough in regard to connecting and disconnecting the equipment. I disconnected the SCC as well as the panel array from the combiner. Unfortunately, I was not able to figure out how to remove the breaker from the combiner. I could not find any screws that hold it in. Only the...

Thanks for the explanation! With my current setup, is there a way for me to get more charge into my batteries?

Ok, so this is not quite midday readings, but these are the readings at 11am, just before switching over from my generator to solar. The inverter was turned off and there was no load (RV not yet plugged into solar). S1 = 28.5v S2 = 43.7v S3 = 2.02A S6 = 2.186k Ah Also, if it was not clear...

If we are not at the homestead, and it's not too warm outside, we only have a fridge being powered, We unplug everything else like fans, satellite internet, computers, etc., to make sure our energy consumption is at a minimum. I assumed the inverter's warning tone and small 3 digit display...

Correct. However, the 120V outlets are dead without shore power. The only things that run on the 12V are the LED lights, range hood fan and light, the furnace, and the bath fans. Micro and fridge are strictly 120V (shore power). I looked it up and not all RV's are configured with a control...

There's none at all from10:30am until dark. I just don't have the cable length to get them out of the shade before 10:30. They do get partial sun from about 9:30 to 10:30, just not full sun.

Just answered a couple of these questions in my latest post to DDW. We live pretty rural. There's trash service but in the month and a half we have been out here, I haven't seen anyone put anything out on the "curb" (there's not actually a curb, just dirt roads, lol!) except basic refuse in...

Solar has been working normally for nearly a year now and all of a sudden yesterday the breaker in my combiner box has started tripping. Nothing has changed (at least that's obvious). Wire connections are all good. No frayed wires. No (obvious) damage to panels. I reset the breaker after it...

I was just told by a guy running a solar booth at a Self-sustainability Expo this past weekend that I should not have hooked up my 8 100w panels in series because I have a PWM charge controller. As I mentioned in another thread, I have a 60amp PWM charge controller from Eco-worthy. The...

Starlink is the best internet of any sort we have ever had. Speeds, range, performance, and reliability have been great. Customer support/service...basically non existent. But hopefully you won't need it. My solar battery bank is not hooked up to my generator. Totally separate systems, so...

Panels are mounted on a moveable frame at a 30 deg angle. Not sure on the production number. Is that a reading I should be able to get from my SCC?

It "appears" to be working. No funky readout on the display and no error codes popping. Temp has stayed constant from day 1 (obvious variations based on outside temps). I am asking this because I had described to him that all of a sudden, once the outside temps started dropping below freezing...

It's a 4-string combiner box.

yes, the blue breaker. Eco-Worthy 12v 100w panels configured 2S4P. (Set up for 24v system) panel specs... 2 panels per string Charge Controller is also Eco-Worthy 60a PWM Running 4ea. 105Ahr lead acid batteries also config 2S4P.

I am using Super Start 31 DCMJ Standard Lead-Acid batteries for my solar setup and I have them setup under cover of the nose of my 5th wheel RV. Yes, they are somewhat exposed to the weather but only in terms of the outside temps, they do not get wet. And I am well aware this is not optimal...

Will definitely check that. Thanks!

(y) Point has been well taken. Working on getting a meter. Just don't know when I'll be able to get to town again. Hopefully sooner than later. Generator has an 8 gallon tank. On nights when my wife doesn't have to work the next day, we burn about 3/4 of a tank (run time about 10-11 hours)...

I believe that's correct. Of the 8, each set of 2 are connected together and to one port in the combiner. Currently they are angled and only semi-moveable. I will be building a rack to mount them all on together in a couple weeks and then I will be able to shift the rack manually to track the...

Maybe if I tell you guys what a day looks like for us, power consumption-wise, you could help me figure out what I need to do to my system to get it handle it all? Of course I'll need to build up to it due to limited finances and we'll need to make adjustments to our way of living and...

We do our best to not kick the generator on until as late as possible. It varies depending on our power needs for the day and when the solar kicks off. On average, we probably start the generator between 7pm and 8:30pm. Which means a lot of times, we go without solar and generator for a...

I just posted some readings that Doggydog asked for. Those are more accurate than my guessing from memory earlier. I really hope these batteries aren't dying already! That would be a huge blow to our situation out here! I'll see if I can arrange to just let my batteries charge for a full day...

I really appreciate the help! I'm not super knowledgeable when it comes to electrical and solar. I'm still learning so this may sound like a very dumb question, but should I disconnect the charge controller from the combiner box before I remove the breaker?

I hear you. My planning was lacking but as I told my wife (who is more than just a little upset with me over this), I truly believed I was doing the research I needed. There were just so many questions I DIDN'T know to ask. I watched a bunch of videos and also believed the solar "kits"...

Got it. Thanks again!

Wasn't able to get full readings for midday this weekend, but did see S1 showed 28.9v at midday on Saturday. I'll get the full midday readings today. How did you get the ~150w number from the 4:30 reading I posted? Very well could be the panel angel vs. suns position in the sky. I can't...

Thanks! Updated my post above as best I could.