Solar Panel Wattage Question.

[Iqinsanity]

I think we are wasting our time trying to help until the person disconnects every panel and tests them individually.

Also it isn’t clear that they understand that series and parallel mean. They said 2p3s and 3p2s was the same thing, it’s definitely not as already mentioned. One is 24v the other is 36v but the OP says he only gets 12v.

Something is seriously wrong and we need to confirm he even has good panels then move up from there.

 

[yippie-SKO]

Wow! Thank you guys so much for the feedback. I apologize I've been out of town for a few days. I have my solar panels wired in series and parallel. I've got (4) 6 volt 260 ah batteries wired in series to give me (2) 12 volt 520 ah batteries. I've got fuses throughout the system, yes. I will continue troubleshooting right now. Thank you everyone! I'll report back with more information if I can't figure it out.

Thanks,

Elias

 

[Iqinsanity]

When you’re running series you add the voltage but not the amperage so you have two 260 amp battery banks for a total of 520 amp hours.

 

[o1marc]

When you’re running series you add the voltage but not the amperage so you have two 260 amp battery banks for a total of 520 amp hours.

But adding the 2 banks together gets you 12v, no?

 

[Polarweasel]

But adding the 2 banks together gets you 12v, no?

Yes, but each 6 volt pair is a 12 volt, 260Ah “battery”, so the system has a total capacity of 520 Ah at 12 volts.

 

[o1marc]

Yes, but each 6 volt pair is a 12 volt, 260Ah “battery”, so the system has a total capacity of 520 Ah at 12 volts.

Which is what the OP said they had.

 

[Polarweasel]

Well... I read “to give me (2) 12 volt 520 ah batteries” as saying they had twice what we’re saying they have.

It’d be a big disappointment to think you had 1040 Ah at your disposal and discover that you, uh, didn’t. (And yes they’re lead acid, so really they have less than half of the 520 available if you want them to last for very long, but that’s practical usage math, not the theoretical math we’re doing here...)

 

[yippie-SKO]

Sorry to everyone who has responded. I've been troubleshooting all day, on the phone with HandyBob and finally figured it out. I will be reading and responding to the comments and those who have helped! I tried posting a quick reply earlier today but it looks like it didn't go through, damn phone.

 

[yippie-SKO]

12.9 times 2.8 is close enough to 37 but you are right that the voltage and current for the 110 Watt reading is way off. Something is goofy there.

Do you have a multimeter that can measure higher currents or a clamp-on Amp probe?

Those first numbers I provided were read at two different times which is why they don't add up. The charge controller is perfectly fine and quite amazing in fact. My voltage drop was happening in my 40 amp faulty in line fuse.

 

[yippie-SKO]

I’m more concerned that 2 12v banks wired in series is giving 12v

Unhook everything and start over, starting with testing each panel individually. Something is seriously wrong...

It's (4) 6 volt batteries wired in series AND parallel leaving me with a 12 volt battery setup.

 

[yippie-SKO]

Oops, I did not pay attention to who was answering my question and assumed it was the OP. Now, the ambiguous answer -how the panels could be wired instead of how they are wired- makes more sense.

So we still do not know how the OP wired the panels in what he called "series/parallel" and we do not know what wiring he needs depending on his battery voltage.

3S2P ~36 Volt but 2S3P ~24 Volt with 6 panels rated at 12 Volt each.

BTW: Did you get my PM yesterday?

The (6) solar panels were wired in series AND parallel. Sorry, I guess I should've made it more obvious. The problem lied in my faulty 40 amp inline fuse between my panels and controller.

 

[yippie-SKO]

Two 12v banks in series will yield 24 volts.

Series batteries the voltage is additive and the a/h rating stays the same. Two 12v 150a/h batteries in series you will have a 24v 150a/h bank.

Parallel batteries the a/h rating is additive and voltage remains the same. Two 12v 150a/h batteries in parallel you will have a 12v 300a/h bank.

It's simply (4) 6 volt batteries wired in series AND parallel. This leaves me with a 12 volt battery system.

 

[yippie-SKO]

I think we are wasting our time trying to help until the person disconnects every panel and tests them individually.

Also it isn’t clear that they understand that series and parallel mean. They said 2p3s and 3p2s was the same thing, it’s definitely not as already mentioned. One is 24v the other is 36v but the OP says he only gets 12v.

Something is seriously wrong and we need to confirm he even has good panels then move up from there.

I'm really non-plussed why everyone misunderstood me so terribly. I have (4) 6 volt batteries wired in series AND parallel. My (6) 100 watt solar panels were also wired in series AND parallel. Yes, that's a thing. HandyBob and I figured out that the problem lied in my faulty 40 amp inline fuse. That's why I wasn't getting the power I should've to my charge controller.

 

[yippie-SKO]

I’m more concerned that 2 12v banks wired in series is giving 12v

Unhook everything and start over, starting with testing each panel individually. Something is seriously wrong...

Where did you ever read anything about me talking about my battery bank? I appreciate you trying to help, but you giving erroneous info so quickly is why I find this forum so dangerous. Once again, I seriously thank you for taking time to respond to my inquiry.

 

[yippie-SKO]

Yes, but each 6 volt pair is a 12 volt, 260Ah “battery”, so the system has a total capacity of 520 Ah at 12 volts.

Yes, thank you. Thank you everyone, my problem has been resolved.

 

[lqdchkn]