How does this work, do I put it between the inverter wires and the solar controller to get an indication of the charge state of my batteries?
513394
After my last response I remembered how it was wired. You will need to read voltage at the battery. On the back of the meter is a plug with a 2 wire pigtail. The pig tail wires are red and black. The black wire goes to the negative post on the battery. The red wire goes to the positive post on the battery and the battery voltage will light up and you can read it all the time. The problem wiring it this way it is always on and can drain the battery of its voltage over time. The other way is wire the meter through an off and on switch. The black still goes to the negative battery terminal but you need to bring a red wire from the positive side of the switch and then on the wire coming out of the switch take that wire and connect it to the positive battery post. When you flip the switch off and on the meter will register. If you are not sure when the switch is on or off. A multimeter can be used. Set to ohms put one lead on one switch connector and the other lead on the other switch connector. One side will be able to read ohms and the other side will not as you flip the switch back and forth. The side that reads ohms goes to the positive terminal. Hope this all helps.
63412
You Need A Charge Controller. Connect Your Battery And YourSolar Panel(S) To The Charge Controller.The Gauge(Thickness) Of The Wire Depends On The Distance From The Charge Controller To The Solar Panel And The Battery.You Should Be Able To Find Some Images online.
712397
No..... and maybe.... The point of using the controller is that with small loads less than the rated amperage, when the battery is fully charged, your load is being supplied with power from the solar (bypassing the battery). This allows the charge controller to float charge the battery and also power your device.... If you are drawing lots of power through an inverter, then yes, you will need to connect directly to the battery.... Just FYI - the unit I got had an UN-replaceable fuse.... I had to create a work around to solve the problem....
1140535
These connect to the supplied (or a replacement) charge controller which connects thru a fuse to your battery. If your generator also charges the battery then this charge controller simply will be over shadowed by the generators charger (as in at night). I have it connected this way and it works fine. (Both chargers in parallel with no issues.) I'm keeping this charge controller as a spare and have replaced it in my RV with http://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/spec_sheet_kid_frontBack.pdf. I ended up getting a total of 4 of these panels for a 400W system. The Kid essentially adds another virtual panel due to it's improved efficiency.
1856918
Controller can be set to be constanly on, I've never used it with an inverter with it but I can"t see why you can"t charge the batteries. Running your lights through the inverter connected to the batteries is an unknown. I would like to hear if you can do it. I have used this controller several times, its a great unit.
1401623
In short, no. The charge controller is always monitoring and regulating the charge between the battery and the panel. If you properly size your system, the miniscule amount of power leached by this charger should never negatively effect your bottom line battery power.
2033694
hook the inverter to the battery bank. there is no way to run those kind of amps through the battery controller.
380580
I don't recall seeing any instructions. You just need to hook it up to a solar controller if you want to charge batteries. The controller will come with instructions.
1134052
Rogerthe control box that I received with my opener at two locations for charging the battery they were identified in the control box the one I hooked my solar panel up to indicated solar hookup I hope this helps. Have a good day.
243759
I used this panel to keep the batteries charged for my gate opener. If you use this make sure you cover it to block the sun until after everything is connected. IE: Load controller and the load, batteries also if you are charging them. This panel puts out around 28V so it will fry anything that is not going through the controller. I charged to motorcycle size batteries, 24V kept them charged. Am going to use it now to keep the batteries charged on my Quads, I will reset the charge controller to use 12V instead of 24V Great little trickle charger and it will maintain your battery, Not meant to recharge the battery just maintenance. I used this panel to keep the batteries charged for my gate opener. If you use this make sure you cover it to block the sun until after everything is connected. IE: Load controller and the load, batteries also if you are charging them. This panel puts out around 28V so it will fry anything that is not going through the controller. I charged to motorcycle size batteries, 24V kept them charged. Am going to use it now to keep the batteries charged on my Quads, I will reset the charge controller to use 12V instead of 24V Great little trickle charger and it will maintain your battery, Not meant... » Read More I used this panel to keep the batteries charged for my gate opener. If you use this make sure you cover it to block the sun until after everything is connected. IE: Load controller and the load, batteries also if you are charging them. This panel puts out around 28V so it will fry anything that is not going through the controller. I charged to motorcycle size batteries, 24V kept them charged. Am going to use it now to keep the batteries charged on my Quads, I will reset the charge controller to use 12V instead of 24V Great little trickle charger and it will maintain your battery, Not meant to recharge the battery just maintenance. « Show Less
1122027
I have something like what you want to do in my shop. The way I have this controller set up has it in between the panels and a battery. No switch so it charges whenever the sun is out. I put a simple rotary switch (like on a table lamp) on the line to the LEDs and turn them on and off when needed.
215441
sir, i am confused by your statement. i would verify the battery is being charged. since it is DC current a simple multimeter will provide this information.i purchased this battery for a back up security system. the system becomes active in the event of a power loss.
836588
My setup is similar. I use an inverter on one side and my generator on the other. When my batteries die then i start my generator and wait like 20 seconds and it transfers. No doubt it'll work!
543238
You would have two wires (I use #10 copper braided wire) coming from solar panel to controller then two wires from the solar controller to battery.
2003023
No ! The charge controller should be mounted in a dry , cool place . The PV cable supplied is of no use , unless you are mounting the panels on a garden toolshed roof and installing controller , batteries and inverter inside the shed . Since my panels are 50 feet from my charge controller , I am using # 10 awg pv cable ,very little power drop ; charges my batteries fast. Hope this helps . ..Roger
567128
Without seeing the schematic for the hook up, it is hard to advise you. There should be a charge input, that would go to the solar panel. There should be a load, that should be the device you are running, and there should be a battery connection, which is of course the battery. Make sure you observe the correct polarities on all of them. They should me marked + and -. If you are not sure, use a volt-ohm-meter to check.
2191302
What four wires? I have a six battery bank connected in paralel (positive with positive, negative with negative) and in the same way to thepower inverter. do the same with the charge controller in the other extrem of the battery bank