Hi all just registered and looking for an answer to an issue with my installation.
I will give you the spec first.
Two X BP solar panels each one:
Nom peak power 75.00
Peak power voltage 17.00
Peak power current 4.45
Short circuit current 4.75
Open circuit voltage 21.40
Victron energy 75/15 MPPT controller
I have made a power distribution board and been using it in the car for a couple of years now with the above panels and batteries with no issues. Something I wanted to do was monitor the amps coming in from the panels and the amps coming out form the controller to the batteries. What I see is the amps coming in mimic those going from the controller, so if it is bulk charging using just the one panel the current from the panel shows around three or four amps depending on battery SOC which is identical to the output from the SC. Now I get it makes sense but when I connect the second SP the input amps do not go up. I wanted to measure the input from the second panel as it is a 'roaming' panel and wanted to watch amps coming in to ensure I had good panel/sun correlation. Can I assume that this will not be possible due to the SP simply matching input versus demand from the SC? Presently the two panels are connected to the single ammeter but I can switch each one independently and the result is the same but by switching it does allow me to see that each panel is contributing to demand. Either way the input from the panels always mimics the output.
I hope that all makes sense, I have a reasonable grasp on vehicle electrics as I have been a mechanic for more years than I can remember.
TIA,
regards
Dave
I will give you the spec first.
Two X BP solar panels each one:
Nom peak power 75.00
Peak power voltage 17.00
Peak power current 4.45
Short circuit current 4.75
Open circuit voltage 21.40
Victron energy 75/15 MPPT controller
I have made a power distribution board and been using it in the car for a couple of years now with the above panels and batteries with no issues. Something I wanted to do was monitor the amps coming in from the panels and the amps coming out form the controller to the batteries. What I see is the amps coming in mimic those going from the controller, so if it is bulk charging using just the one panel the current from the panel shows around three or four amps depending on battery SOC which is identical to the output from the SC. Now I get it makes sense but when I connect the second SP the input amps do not go up. I wanted to measure the input from the second panel as it is a 'roaming' panel and wanted to watch amps coming in to ensure I had good panel/sun correlation. Can I assume that this will not be possible due to the SP simply matching input versus demand from the SC? Presently the two panels are connected to the single ammeter but I can switch each one independently and the result is the same but by switching it does allow me to see that each panel is contributing to demand. Either way the input from the panels always mimics the output.
I hope that all makes sense, I have a reasonable grasp on vehicle electrics as I have been a mechanic for more years than I can remember.
TIA,
regards
Dave