That sounds reasonable for new batteries. Are you logging the battery voltage? Is that what you mean by telemetry?
Voltage is difficult to use as means of charging. Amps would be more useful, and AH are what ultimate truth teller. Solar charge controllers should have Amps. Little DC/AC clamp on Amp meter is very useful in troubleshooting. The other day I couldn’t believe that at 11AM, on a sunny day I was getting very low Amperage out of the solar panels. only 6A out of 2x 130W Kyoceras (should be 15A -20A). But the shadow of the mast and windgen pole was covering sections of both panels. Panel output drops off drastically even with slightest shadow. Angle to the sun also drastically influences the output. Few minutes later I was at 15A. My batteries are so old that I could tell when the sun hits the panels cleanly by the RPMs of the cabin fans. Fans are also old and starting to get noisy. When I say old batteries, I mean their surface voltage responds quickly to charging and discharging. So sun hits the panels, charge amperage goes up and so does the battery voltage, and the fan noise. Then a cloud comes and the fan RPM goes down. Petar Horvatic Sundowner 76 C&C 38MkII Newport RI From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2016 11:21 AM To: 'cnc-list@cnc-list.com' Cc: Della Barba, Joe Subject: Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal? I just looked at my telemetry and when the boat is sitting with the 50 watt solar panel and no load other than the telemetry system, it tends to go up to 13.6-13.8 volts as the sun goes up and drop to 12.9 as the sun goes too low to provide much power. Overnight it will drop to 12.6-12.5 or so and then repeat the next day. Joe Coquina From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Edd Schillay via CnC-List Sent: Monday, August 29, 2016 16:50 To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Cc: Edd Schillay Subject: Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal? Josh, Thanks. There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the batteries, but I haven’t monitored the system all that much. Usually I get on board, head out into the Sound, unfurl the jib and accelerate to Warp 7.2 on a reach. I think I was just used to the old 5-7W panels that trickle charged. This 40W panel is a major difference and I just wanted to be sure all is good (and it appears so — Thank you Listers!) Why did I wait so long to do this? All the best, Edd Edd M. Schillay Starship Enterprise C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B City Island, NY Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log <http://enterpriseb.blogspot.com/> On Aug 29, 2016, at 4:40 PM, Josh Muckley via CnC-List <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Seems normal but what I didn't hear you describe was the battery reaching full charge. The genasun controller will go solid green when it is full. You should also look for volts to reach 14.2v and after 2 hours it should go solid green. If it doesn't reach full charge it may just be that there isn't enough sun but if it simply can't then there may be trouble with your batteries. Josh Muckley S/V Sea Hawk 1989 C&C 37+ Solomons, MD On Aug 29, 2016 3:22 PM, "Edd Schillay via CnC-List" <cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote: Listers, I installed a new 40W panel on the Enterprise last week connected through a Gensun charge controller (as recommended by the list.) When I got on board this weekend on a very sunny day, I found the batteries at 13.3 volts. Towards the end of the day, with the sun still out, they dropped to 12.8. I don’t know if it was due to less sun or the controller kicking in. Since I don’t have Fred’s knowledge (also known as Street-Smarts), does this all sound to be normal? Will I see charging days of over 13 volts? Concerned about the battery status, I checked the batteries and the water level in all of them were just fine. Do I have any reason to worry or is this what solar power was meant to be and I’ve just been missing out for all this time? I have to say — if it’s normal, I’m loving it. All the best, Edd Edd M. Schillay Starship Enterprise C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B City Island, NY Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log <http://enterpriseb.blogspot.com/> _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated! _______________________________________________ This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are greatly appreciated!
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