danlaurajacobson
11-09-2010, 02:09 PM
Sorry, posted this before in wrong forum...
I have the solar kit set up and I am just trying to figure out the controller. After some significant time on hold with the "technical questions" people, I gave up and figured someone here would know.
The panels charge the battery during the day, but seem to discharge the battery as the light fades. I was thinking that the controller prevented this, but yesterday the battery began the day at 11.7v and reached 12.6v during the afternoon. Then, as the sun got lower, the voltage dropped down to 12.0 and stopped there. This is well below the 13 to 14.5v that the instructions say indicates full charge.
It does appear that the controller stopped the discharge at 12v, but this is lower than I want, right? Does this mean that the controller should be switched off when the battery is at peak voltage (afternoon) so that it does not discharge every evening?
thanks!
[admin note: this duplicate thread is closed. To view the active thread go to <a href="http://www.loghomebuilders.org/harbor-freight-solar-controller">http://www.loghomebuilders.org/harbor-freight-solar-controller</a>]
I have the solar kit set up and I am just trying to figure out the controller. After some significant time on hold with the "technical questions" people, I gave up and figured someone here would know.
The panels charge the battery during the day, but seem to discharge the battery as the light fades. I was thinking that the controller prevented this, but yesterday the battery began the day at 11.7v and reached 12.6v during the afternoon. Then, as the sun got lower, the voltage dropped down to 12.0 and stopped there. This is well below the 13 to 14.5v that the instructions say indicates full charge.
It does appear that the controller stopped the discharge at 12v, but this is lower than I want, right? Does this mean that the controller should be switched off when the battery is at peak voltage (afternoon) so that it does not discharge every evening?
thanks!
[admin note: this duplicate thread is closed. To view the active thread go to <a href="http://www.loghomebuilders.org/harbor-freight-solar-controller">http://www.loghomebuilders.org/harbor-freight-solar-controller</a>]