Solar Power
- Thread starter GWguy
- Start date
GWguy
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Oh.... are you a fudge packer??
Must have hit a nerve....
GWguy
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The fridge has now been running 24 hours on battery alone holding 31-32 degrees. For a lead acid battery, anything 12.6 VDC and above is considered a full 100% charge. A regular lead acid battery should not drop below 50% charge to avoid damage, that's just over 12.0 VDC. An AGM deep cycle battery (which is what I am now using) can drop to 30% (11.7 VDC) without damage, although doing that often can shorten it's cycle life.
I started out at 12.7 VDC yesterday after peaking it on the solar charger. Right now it's at 12.1 VDC under load and 12.4 VDC no load. 12.4 VDC is about 80% remaining charge, 12.1 VDC is about 55% remaining.
Since the run-time load is only a few minutes at low wattage (less than 100 watts), I'm going to let it go down to a no load voltage of 12.0 VDC (about 40%) before calling it quits.
I started out at 12.7 VDC yesterday after peaking it on the solar charger. Right now it's at 12.1 VDC under load and 12.4 VDC no load. 12.4 VDC is about 80% remaining charge, 12.1 VDC is about 55% remaining.
Since the run-time load is only a few minutes at low wattage (less than 100 watts), I'm going to let it go down to a no load voltage of 12.0 VDC (about 40%) before calling it quits.
GWguy
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And for those that will question why I received it at 12.9 VDC, charged it, and started the test at 12.7 VDC...
When under charge, it was actually at about 14.4 VDC. After coming off charge and going into float, it was sitting at a little over 13VDC. Once it "settled" and turned on the inverter and pulled a couple of watts load, it showed 12.7 VDC. Perfectly normal for a lead acid battery.
When under charge, it was actually at about 14.4 VDC. After coming off charge and going into float, it was sitting at a little over 13VDC. Once it "settled" and turned on the inverter and pulled a couple of watts load, it showed 12.7 VDC. Perfectly normal for a lead acid battery.
GWguy
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Thanx. I'm really pleased with the results. It's portable, powerful and actually works!
Can I borrow it? ;-p
GWguy
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For what porpoise, might I ask?
To go sit on the pier and drink beer all day.For what porpoise, might I ask?
GWguy
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Admirable cause, Admiral.
black dog
Free America
I thought you had a Hill Monkey as a personal slave for errands like that? You must have let him in the house to much.
GWguy
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36 hours. 11.9 VDC under load/12.2 VDC no load. It's still in the "safe" range for this battery, but the charger is giving me a frowny face. It will probably drop below my target sometime overnight, so I just pulled the plug. I think I've proven the point. It didn't make 2x the duration of the smaller battery like I expected, but it's really kind of moot. Once I hook up the solar panel again, it will run indefinitely.
Tomorrow I'll see how well it can charge in overcast/rainy weather.
Tomorrow I'll see how well it can charge in overcast/rainy weather.
Buy a good grow lamp, hook it up to the battery, and shine it on the solar panel. That will speed up charging.
GWguy
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That's a great idea!!
....wait....
That reminds me of a bunch of YouTube vids I've seen lately, where they claim to be able to power motors and lights with "free power".