315 replies to this topic

[CougarCouple]

Morning Hoyden
Well I can only imagine your a little frustrated. Take a breath, you have obviously covered a lot just haven’t necessarily touched your little problem. If I remember correctly you said this was from the get go. Have you looked at all the connectors? Are they crimped properly, maybe you have something that at first glance looks ok but maybe not.

Don’t let this get you down. Think out side the box.

Russ

[pvstoy]

Hoyden besides looking at the % scale start looking at how many AMPs have been taken out of the system. And during the day what AMPS are going back into the battery.  This would be your gas gauge so to speak.  Flip through the various screens and understand what each is showing you.  The % screen is a user programmed and could be off based because of battery life condition and a couple input value settings associated with solar input. ( the instructions explain this).

 

Remember I also have a Dometic 130 liter refeg and for me it is not uncommon to run the setting around 5.5.  I can be 100% at solar day end and be anywhere between 80 to 90 percent in the morning before the start of solar charging.

 

I also understand that when I bought this camper this year that the Dometic is a energy hog and took planning to help myself with energy needs to be taken care of.  I have three 160 Watt flex panels (480 watt total) from Overland Solar on the roof and so far it has been keeping up fine with the system usage. I have not had to connect the truck alternator to assist in the charging needs.

 

I am looking forward to getting out this winter and see how it works with lower light angle, shorter solar light time and cloudy conditions.  In May we were in Yellowstone and had rain and clouds and noticed it was still producing some charging value.

 

I guess what I'm getting at is look at your system and maybe consider more solar.  But I might ask have you installed the new controller you have purchased yet?  Do that first then see how things change or improve.  And I'm down in the 80 percents in the morning also with my system.

[hoyden]

Everything is solid. Checked and double checked. I think maybe my fridge just sucks. A lot. A lot of energy.

Cayuse (fellow WtW and friend) has 200w panel (I have 160) and does fine. Maybe I need that extra 40w.

[hoyden]

I havent had an opportunity to install the new controller.

Anyone have knowledge or Harbor Freight solar panels quality? I've got a coupon ;-)

I wish they'd told me that the 160 and this fridge wouldn't be enough. I'd have bought another panel when i bought my camper. Ugh

[Wallowa]

I havent had an opportunity to install the new controller.

Anyone have knowledge or Harbor Freight solar panels quality? I've got a coupon ;-)

I wish they'd told me that the 160 and this fridge wouldn't be enough. I'd have bought another panel when i bought my camper. Ugh

 

 

Ok...Ok..deep breaths...cuddle up the pups...more deep breaths...sky is still blue...more lovin' up the pups...

 

Now think:  "Hell, 83% ain't bad at all!"

 

It is all good...... don't let your knickers get in a twist !  

 

Phil

[Happyjax]

Harbor Freight solar panels are very heavy and you can do better if you shop well. Renogy, AM Solar, and several others make great panels.

 

https://www.amazon.c...634628107&psc=1

[Vic Harder]

I'm with the others... breathe deep, cuddle the pups, and 83% ain't bad!  The question is, what was the battery at the evening before?  If at close to 100%, then you just happen to use 15% of  your battery overnight.  As long as it recharges daily, be happy, because you could go 3 days like that.  

[hoyden]

It was 85% the previous morning, I probably shoulda mentioned that. Seems it was getting lower each day.

I'm plugged into shore power tonight at a friends house....

[hoyden]

Harbor Freight solar panels are very heavy and you can do better if you shop well. Renogy, AM Solar, and several others make great panels.

 

https://www.amazon.c...634628107&psc=1

 

I just gotta figure out where to have one sent.... 

[Vic Harder]

you did say it was at 85 the morning before, but what was it at in the evening ? the key question is, are you getting a full recharge ever day or every other day? what it reads in the morning doesn’t matter as long as it’s somewhere over 50%