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Seeking better understanding of my Victron Controller


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#1 Stokeme

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Posted 30 June 2020 - 04:51 PM

I am looking to find the actual current being produced by my roof panels in real time. I see the V, I believe, in real time. I see the controller A being “allowed” (IMO) but not the actual A being produced.
The Renogy Voyager, a “waterproof” controller used to produce a DIY power box for my canoe, displays total A being produced. I used this controller along with a multimeter to check W yesterday, during optimum conditions on different panels, old & new. What am I seeing in my Victron history readout? V readings I think I understand. But not as sure about the W production by my panels? P max vs yield?
In addition, I remember Rando discussing “at home” settings for LFP4 when batteries are at rest, any recommends? Below are a few, past & present grab pics ... Any help really appreciated. Tap thumbnails for clarity.
The Renogy lists incoming A but not V, the Victron lists incoming V but not A, may have to compare results.
... Ok, later found this on the Victron forum ... The App will only report a value of the max charge the controller needs to maintain your battery, and not the max the panel was capable of putting out ... So, how do you determine if your panels are performing adequately? Deplete the Battery enough to enable full production?

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Edited by Stokeme, 01 July 2020 - 06:40 PM.

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#2 Vic Harder

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Posted 01 July 2020 - 03:42 AM

Good questions. And seeking knowledge & wisdom is laudable in these times!   :P

 

Leftmost picture your solar panels are putting out 22.02V at 0.1A.  Why this low power output?  Look at the battery voltage... 13.49, and the last line "State" = Float.  Your batteries are charged and the MPPT is just keeping them at float to prevent discharge.

 

next over to the right picture, the "Yield" line is the total watthours produced that day.  And P Max is the maximum power produced that day, so this gives you a clue as to the max power your panels can produce.... max so far is 94W.

 

Watts is an instantaneous output number.  Watt hours is literally the number of watts times the number of hours.  That first day you got 40WH and the max power was 94W... so, about 30 minutes of power production and you were recharged. 

 

3rd pic... ok, now we are talking power production.  440WH total and 115W max instantaneous power from your panels... or about 4 hours at max power to recharge your battery.

 

Last screen.  You are using the preset defined by Victron.  Absorb at 13.7 and float is 13.5.  What battery do you have again?  The manufacturer will have specifics for these voltages, and rando did have some suggestions to keep the battery from cycling to FULL charge, since FULL isn't where a Lithium battery lives the longest (kind of like us humans).  

 

My Battleborn batteries are set with Absorb at 14.4 and Float at 13.4.  Here is why, from the BB www page:

 

The 12 V Battle Born batteries sit comfortably right in the middle of these ranges. We recommend a bulk and absorption voltage of 14.4 V. A float is unnecessary, since li-ion batteries do not leak charge, but a floating voltage under 13.6 V is fine.


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#3 Vic Harder

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Posted 01 July 2020 - 03:48 AM

The max charge allowed by your controller is limited to 30A - so somewhere around 360W.  To see the max power out of your panels, the batteries would need to be somewhat discharged and the sun shining optimally on your panels.

 

The Amps and Watts produced are based on what your batteries need, not what the panel is capable of.  So, when the MPPT is in bulk mode, it is taking all the power made and stuffing it in... the batteries will take everything they can get (unlike AGM batteries which slow down their intake as they get full).


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