the 3 day solar test

                                    the solar setup

how im setup the solar panel is flat down on the roof  

the solar panel wires out and to the controller are the same size for

 10ft to the Tristar 45 controller ( with fuse 40a and on-off switch )

now from the controller the plus and minus cables to the battery,s, it,s #2 welding cable( also with an on-off switch)

8 ft long

dip switch setting are  1off  2off  3off  4off  5off  6on  7on  8on   ( see test *****)

this test was run to see if the controller would go from bulk to float and about what time

and also to test the dip switch settings

the 5er has 11 =12v and 4 LED,s    1141 bulbs inside   and 3 of the same outside. im switching over to all  LED,s soon

the load was 4 = 12v lights on at night ,at about 4 hr,s the 300w inverter was running all day(turned on)

but no TV or VCR were in use 

at the days end the 2  6v  batteries seem to set a12.6v and hold  that all night   even with the test load 

this is i know not a fair test but a small test nontheless  

the true test is the time the float kicks in 

even so im useing a high output solar panel 225w / ocv 36v / mpc 7.6amp  and a tristar 45 (PWM)

so far we ain.t fried anything yet

now after reading the tristar remote meter i think i need a rocket scientist ( or a 15 year old kid) to tell me how to read and use it 

                            

batterys are golf cart new  (cost 109$ each)

  2 = 6v 

  208 amp hour rated  for 20 hr 

  107min, =75%

  392 min,=25%

             the test run,s like this

on this test the dip switch was set at 14,8*****

day     sunny all day

                                    4/8/13

 7ooa    12.6v              night to bulk

 830a    12.9v    1.6a    21w

 930a    13.4v    3.1a     41w

1030a   13.4v    5.1a    68w

1050a   13.5v    6.2a    81w

145p     14'5      3.1a    49w

 330p    14.5v    3.5a    50w

 345p    14.6v    2.4a    27w

 500p    14.6      3.5a    40w

 630p    14.2v    1.4a    20w

 800p    12.6v               night

on this test the dip switch was set at 14.15v*****

day     sunny 95%  all day

                                    4/9/13

 800a    12.6v              night to bulk

 830a    12.7      1.4a    18w

 900a    13.2v    2.9a    37w

 945a    13.3v    4.4a    60w

 1030a  13.5v    5.0a    66w

 1201p  14.0v    3.0a    30w

 100p    14.0v    2.1a    22w

 215p    14.0v    2.0a    23w

 400p    13.3v    1.3a    float  ***

 430p    14.0v    1.4a    18w

 800p    12.6v                night

on this test the dip switch was set at 14.15v*****

day     sunny 78%  all day

                                  4/10/13

 800a    12.6v                       night  to bulk

1145a   13.4v   7.6a   104w

1230p   13.6v   8.4a   112w

100p     14.0v   8.8a   102w

                           9,4a   116w

    jumps            9.4a   129w

                           9.9a   135w

130p     13.9v   5.0a     60w

                           7.7a   101w  

                           9.9a   135w 

    junps             9.4a   129w

215p    13.4v    3.4a     47w

300p    14.0v    1.8a     22w

400p    14,0v    1.4a     21w

                                              end never did get to float( that i could see)
4/11/13
sunny 60%
all the amps/ volts were down but we hit it
OK we hit the FLOAT today at 345Pm but only for 1/2 hr  that,s still a  relief to know at some point
we can hit it