Solar panels What to do?

[Ruleryn]

I am hoping some of you might be able to help.
I have been watching videos at nauseum for the last year trying to plan the setup, I wish I would have found this forum earlier.
I got the idea of turning my popup camper to solar when I first saw Will's videos from his camper a couple of years ago. I got serious about researching it about a year and half ago, watched tons of videos and searched the internet my plan was to be able to go 1 - 2 weeks without having to plug in.
I have finally received everything and have started installing it. I have several problems but I want to tackle them 1 at a time.

1st. The solar panels I bought 4 150w panels and installed them on the roof of the popup they are wired in series. I am getting 19 volts but only 0 to 1.8 amps the Hybrid controller/converter/inverter it shows a panel in the window but won't read ant charge coming in. I hooked it up to a Renogy controller and got 19v but 0 or 1.8 amps, then put a power analyzer in between the panels and the main controller and got pretty much the same thing. It is a cloudless full sunny day.

So have I messed up the set up or did I end up with crappy panels. 2 warped after 3 weeks under the camper cover, they have offered to replace those but I have not gotten back to them until I had a chance to hook it all up and test them.

Thank you in advance for any help and yes I am an extreme newbie and know I picked a big job for my first outing in solar.

 

[Rednecktek]

The solar panels I bought 4 150w panels and installed them on the roof of the popup they are wired in series. I am getting 19 volts but only 0 to 1.8

It sure looks like those are wired in parallel, which would never get enough voltage except under absolutely perfect conditions at the equator to reach the charging voltage the SCC needs to start working. With only an 80v PVInput those will need to be 2s2p to get enough voltage to do anything. Double check the VoC on those panels to make sure they're less than 38v thougfh before you swap wires around. Looking at the power meter I'm guessing they're VoC is about 22v and 7.5a on the Imp.

It also looks like there is plastic wrap on those panels. Is there some sort of protective film still on them? Those tend to block UV really well.

 

[Rocketman]

I assume that big battery is 24v - correct? (Picture #6).

I agree the panels look like they are wired in parallel-

In parallel the amps add and you use lowest volts. All the panels positives are together and all the negatives are together.

In series the volts add and you use the lowest amps. Panel one positive goes to panel 2’s negative, panel 2’s positive goes to panel 3’s negative… etc.

I really like 2s2p - which are two panels in series connected in parallel to two more panels (that are in series. But that may or may not be best for your system.

What are all the specs of the panels and what other equipment do you already have. Also post your wiring and equipment diagram.

 

[Ruleryn]

Yes you are right I mistyped they are all positives 4 into 1 and all negatives 4 into 1, then positive and Negative wires run straight to controller.
Yes I removed the protective film that was taken right after I installed them.

So what I understand you saying is 2 panels wired parallel and 2 panels wired series? all 4 in series would over load the controler?

 

[Rednecktek]

Yes you are right I mistyped they are all positives 4 into 1 and all negatives 4 into 1, then positive and Negative wires run straight to controller.
Yes I removed the protective film that was taken right after I installed them.

Yup, that's not going to generate enough voltage, even in perfect light, to charge a battery that's going to want upwards of 29v out of a panel probably only capable of 19v.

So what I understand you saying is 2 panels wired parallel and 2 panels wired series? all 4 in series would over load the controler?

Correct. Those panels are probably around 22-25v each and when you put them in series you'll have added the voltages together. 2 panels would be in the 44-50v range but 4 panels would be in the 100v range which would likely fry your controller as it's limited to 80v.

If you go in 2s2p you should see somewhere in the neighborhood of 38v and start getting amps into the system.

 

[Ruleryn]

Yes it had to be a 24v battery as the controller is 24v.

Ok I am going to try 2 each in series then 2 and 2 to parallel. I will report back tomorrow with the results.
Thank you

 

[Ruleryn]

Well, I still seem to have a problem =(

I wired them 2 left in series 2 right in series and then those in 2 parallel
We got 39.5 volts and 39.4Vm?
0V but 15.4Vp?
0W but 608Wp?

Solar is not registering on the converter in the picture I arrowed it over to PV

Today was a very bright cloudless day
I put the question marks because I don't know what Vp Vm Wp mean as far as peak with 0's in the V and W?

Biggest question if there is an answer yet is it the panels or the converter? (if we have enough information to know)

Thanks again for all of your help

 

[Rednecktek]

Hmmm... your voltage is right where I'd expect it to be, but your AIO there says the batteries are full. Is the AIO set for Lithium battery or does it think there are lead acids on there? If it thinks the battery is full and it's lead acid then it's not going to charge because it doesn't need to (or so it thinks).

If this is the correct manual, according to Setting 5 you only have the options of AGM or flooded (hopefully there's a USR setting you can go to) which are much lower voltages than what LFP talks to. You can try changing "Setting 27" to 28v and "Setting 26" to 29.2v and see if that helps wake everything up.

What does your multimeter say the battery is at? How does it compare to the charge chart? You can see there's a pretty steep drop off between 26.6v and 26.4f because LFP has such a flat curve.

 

[Ruleryn]

That is the correct manual.
I looked at the manual but figured that it would auto adjust. (guess I was wrong)
I stopped the a/c and bench power supply charging at around 3.26 per cell or 26.03 to leave room for solar charging. I will look at setting tomorrow and hope to holy hell I didn't get a controller for acid batteries? Nothing on the ad were I bought it from said acid only =(.
Hopefully the setting 26 and 27 will help if that is the case, and I will contact seller if needed.
It seems to be all stupid little stuff. Thank you

 

[Ruleryn]

Yep only options are FLd, AGn, or USE tried all 3 nothing works. Not sure what USE is?
Adjusted 26 and 27 Nope Nothing. So I will be contacting the Manufacturer I guess. I did pay for everything not bought on amazon through Paypal so there is a chance there.
Right now I think my first thing is to make sure the Solar panels are good and what they say they are 4- 150w panels before I accept there offer to replace the 2 that warped. So I am thinking of running the batteries down to 23v to see if converter comes on? I need to start eliminating problems and verifying what works I think?

Well I guess all the planning and videos didn't teach me enough lol.

 

[Rednecktek]

USR is User Settings for batteries that weren't AGM or FLA, if you had LFP or lith-ion or sodium or hamster wheel or whatever. You can definitely try running the battery down more, your panel voltage is spot on and it should be charging, it only needs 30v and you've got that.

Contact Vevor and see if you can get a replacement, your voltage photos should go a long way towards getting a warranty exchange.

Also check Setting 9 to make sure it's 60Hz.

 

[Ruleryn]

Ok after testing, it seems the controller is the problem. I did get it to start to accept and show a charge from the solar panels then the internal breaker popped and wont reset, now it just beeps and flashes on and off. I have asked for a refund and contacted paypal and my bank.
I rearranged the cells and top balanced the batteries again and this time they discharged and recharged pretty evenly.
The solar panel company replaced the 2 warped panels. The 2 warped ones still work so I think I will make room and hook up all 6.
The BMS is still hard for me to get a handle on all the setting but it is working.

I am already way over my budget on this so I am trying to find a reasonably priced controller.

This is the new panel I want to order it looks like it will do what I need if not more. https://www.aliexpress.us/item/2255...K&mp=1&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa#nav-specification

SRNE SR-HF2430U60 with wifi

Any thoughts or help would be appreciated

 

[Rednecktek]

The product you linked is going to be about $300 with shipping and it's not letting me select the 110v unit, 220v only, which isn't going to do you any good.

I realize you're over budget as it is, but if you can swing selling off a kidney or a first born child (it doesn't say they have to be YOUR kidney or first born so that helps) I really recommend getting the Growatt 3Kw 24v AIO rather than that 220v version. In a super low budget, if you can reconfigure the 6 panels into a 2p3s setup (because 80v input) there's the Vevor 24v 2400w/3Kw 120v for about the same as that Srne but shipped faster. The Growatt is worth the extra $100 but I know that sometimes a budget is super firm.

 

[Ruleryn]

Thanks for checking it out.
Here is the selection for 100 to120v
The Vevor looks like the one I am returning and does not look like it takes Lithium
The Growatt looks interesting I will have to see what shipping brings the total to. $550

Do you know what the WIFI module does (connect directly to app on my phone or does it have to connect to wifi to connect to my phone)
With the selections below do you think this will be ok or do you still recommend the Growatt? $175 difference with shipping.

Thanks for your help @Rednecktek

 

[Rednecktek]

Huh, it wouldn't let me select the 110v version. $380 shipped isn't too bad if you have the time to wait.

 

[Ruleryn]

Great,
Delivery dates are only 5 day different
I will let you know how it turns out.

Again thanks for your input
Have a Great Day!

 

[Ruleryn]

Ok got the new panel installed last night. I got the one I posted above.
We have solar charge (YEAH), Not as much as I would like but I will worry about that later. (225w out of a possible 6-150w panels 900w I added 2 panels)
First problem comes in when I plug in power from the house after about 20 seconds it beeps with a fault 6 (BatOverVolt: Charging overvoltage protection), stops charging and restarts a minute later.
I am in the middle of setting up the parameters on the panel and my first question is on battery type (I have 8 cells configured for a 24v battery)
in under the lithium iron phosphate part it allows selection for 7strings, 8strings, 9 strings this where I am stumped (I have searched the internet and can't find a reference to strings) I am only on #8 lol
I have included a picture of the selection page below.
Any help would be appreciated

 

[Rednecktek]

Your LFP is 8s so use the 8s setting.
Set your float voltage Setting 11) down to 27.2 and see if that makes it happy.
Set the boost voltage to 28.4 (setting 9)

You can always step those up a little until it whines, so start a little low and work your way up to it.

 

[Ruleryn]

Thanks for your help @Rednecktek
The Solar panels had already charged the batteries to full by the time I got home yesterday so after the changes I couldn't test it out.
Headed out today for Camping in the mountains for a week without shore power or generator so I will post next week to let you know how it all worked out (Crosses Fingers)