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Mann
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jul 2013 10:46
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Should this not work?
1 Grape solar panel 190 watt
Model GS-S-190-Fab3
Mornigstar Sunsaver MPPT 15 amp Charge controller
Cobra 2500 watt inverter
2 Duracell GC2AGM 6 volt batteries in series.
It seems as though it is not charging my batteries.
I do have good sun from about 10:00Am-4:00Pm
Located in Central Indiana
The load I have is rated at 1.5 amps and 120 watt refrigerator.
The highest start up draw I have seen was 600watts.
I have checked the voltage at the charge controller at 34V
I am having to charge the batteries about every 3 days with the generator and a charger which is not a huge deal but I thought this setup would work.
Am I expecting too much?
What am I missing?
Thanks
Jim
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Dillio187
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jul 2013 11:26
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not enough panel to recharge your batteries, especially with a 2500 watt inverter. That inverter most likely has a fairly large idle draw, which if left on 24/7 probably isn't even being made up for by that single 190 watt panel.
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Mann
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jul 2013 11:40
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Thanks
What can I expect if I add another panel the same size?
Is there any way to determine the idle draw of the inverter.
I went with the larger inverter for future expansion plans.
I do have a 750 watt inverter, I can try.
Thanks again.
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Dillio187
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jul 2013 12:20 - Edited by: Dillio187
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your 15amp charge controller likely won't support another panel fully. You'll have to do some research to see if it simply bleeds off the extra current, or if it will blow the controller. Most these days bleed the extra current but you need to double check.
That being said, 15amps is pretty borderline to reliably charge a 200ah, 12V golf cart battery bank like you have. Ideally you want to be around a 10-12% charge rate (or 20 amps for a 200ah bank).
Yes you can check the idle draw of the inverter using a clamp on DC ammeter like this: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-digital-clamp-on-ammeter/p-03482369000P?prdNo=1&blockN o=1&blockType=G1
I know it's easy to buy a big inverter for future plans, but if you run that inverter at full load it will flatten those batteries in no time. Adding batteries at a later time is not recommended either. It's almost always best to just buy what you anticipate needing at the time as batteries age and do not mix-match well.
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cman47c
Member
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# Posted: 10 Jul 2013 13:00
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In addition, your refrigerator rating looks like its the 120 VAC rating that the inverter sees. The battery on the DC side of the inverter sees 10 times that current. So 1.5 Amp at 120 VAC is 15 Amp to the battery. This is a large load, especially if in runs continuously.
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 11 Jul 2013 01:16
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Jim,
Where in Central IN are you? My place is located in Owen County.
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Mann
Member
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# Posted: 11 Jul 2013 09:12
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Jackson County, I go through Owen on my way to Terre Haute
How far from Spencer?
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ICC
Member
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# Posted: 11 Jul 2013 18:39 - Edited by: ICC
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Quoting: Mann Cobra 2500 watt inverter
depending on the exact model, 0.6 amps is a typical idle amp draw for a Cobra inverter. Not huge but it does add up over a day when most of the time no power is being actually used for any real purpose
No load current draw . . . < 0.6A (12.6V)
2500 WATT POWER INVERTER CPI 2575
It should be listed in your user manual specs
Ordinary refrigerators are big power users. A Kill A Watt meter is handy for measuring actual loafs and will measure total use over any given period of time.
It appears you can parallel connect two of those grape panels and not exceed the controller specs. I see 5.25 amps listed for the amps...If that is the Imp rating you can parallel two with ease.
Quoting: Mann have good sun from about 10:00Am-4:00Pm
6 hours... I might get that in the SW...I think that is an overestimate. More like a best of 5 hours, a low of 2.5 and an average of 4 hours
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2013 18:07
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Jim,
About 5-10 minutes north of Spencer, fairly close to Cagles Mill.
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Kharkov43
Member
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# Posted: 12 Jul 2013 20:52 - Edited by: Kharkov43
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Hey Boys, I grew up in Owen county just out side of Quincy. Use to fish the spill way at the dam. Great times!
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Mann
Member
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# Posted: 13 Jul 2013 10:54 - Edited by: Mann
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I am going to parallel another panel and see what I get.
That is the Inverter I have and I did find the .6 amp draw rating
in the manual.
When I say good sun, I guess I should have said No shade.
Thanks for the help!
Jim
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 18 Jul 2013 01:39
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Kharkov43
What can you pull out of the spillway? Bass, bluegill, crappie....any walleye?
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 18 Jul 2013 07:54
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more batteries more panels
your battery pack is 225 amp/hr at 12v. or roughly 3000 watts. you can draw 1000 watts and not kill your batteries in a year.
at .6 amps your idle losses (inverter) are around 300w / day.
what kind of fridge is it. it's probably 1 kw a day min.
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Kharkov43
Member
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# Posted: 18 Jul 2013 18:23
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We always fished for catfish, right at the bottom of the dam probably about 50 yards from the spillway.
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Mann
Member
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# Posted: 5 Aug 2013 07:15
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I added the other panel 2 weeks ago.
Also changed out the inverter to a 750 watt that I had.
The battery bank now stays fully charged all the time!
Thanks for the help!
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