|
Post by Graham on Nov 1, 2016 14:41:18 GMT
Additionally I understand that the Solar cells while charging the batteries will lead the Smartgauge to give inaccurate reading. It can cause it to be up to 10% out when charging as already described, but as soon as the batteries are back to discharge it will re-synch and it then becomes a non-issue. The issue Ricco is having is not over using his batteries but undercharging them Also for the majority of the year during the day there are 375W of solar pushing charge at various rates into the system. I feel that this may not be one for the smartgauge 1 Because the main concern it correct charging 2 The solar panels are going to make the smartgauge inaccurate through a good part of the year. I think it is one for a Amp reading device
|
|
|
Post by tonyqj on Nov 1, 2016 14:46:17 GMT
It can cause it to be up to 10% out when charging as already described, but as soon as the batteries are back to discharge it will re-synch and it then becomes a non-issue. I think it is one for a Amp reading device Yes, agreed, as both Nick and I said several posts back.
|
|
|
Post by Graham on Nov 1, 2016 14:48:03 GMT
I think it is one for a Amp reading device Yes, agreed, as both Nick and I said several posts back. So not smartgauge I scanned through and only saw info about wire
|
|
|
Post by Telemachus on Nov 1, 2016 14:48:50 GMT
No. Tony and I have both advised an ammeter to be sure about charging properly. The Smartgauge will give a reasonable indication of this but an ammeter is better. In winter it is dark more often than not and all the time it is dark the SG will be reading correctly. In particular the SG will allow Kris to have a good idea about the health of his battery. If the morning SG reading starts to deteriorate with the same usage pattern, he will know that something is going wrong. An AH gauge gives no useful information except the current, which an ammeter can equally do.
|
|
|
Post by Graham on Nov 1, 2016 14:54:06 GMT
No. Tony and I have both advised an ammeter to be sure about charging properly. The Smartgauge will give a reasonable indication of this but an ammeter is better. In winter it is dark more often than not and all the time it is dark the SG will be reading correctly. In particular the SG will allow Kris to have a good idea about the health of his battery. If the morning SG reading starts to deteriorate with the same usage pattern, he will know that something is going wrong. An AH gauge gives no useful information except the current, which an ammeter can equally do. I doubt the one for the windmills will be large enough, how big is it? current reading wise and will it read plus and minus?
|
|
|
Post by Graham on Nov 1, 2016 14:58:50 GMT
I thought this was Ricco's thread not Kris'
Point of interest I think you will find the average daylight per day over the year is just about 50/50 thus with the world tilt what you say may be OK up to march, but through the summer the panels wil be catching up and will skew the smartgauge
|
|
|
Post by Telemachus on Nov 1, 2016 15:12:02 GMT
I thought this was Ricco's thread not Kris' Point of interest I think you will find the average daylight per day over the year is just about 50/50 thus with the world tilt what you say may be OK up to march, but through the summer the panels wil be catching up and will skew the smartgauge But loads and loads of people have solar and SG and never have a problem. My point about winter was that it was the critical time for solarists to keep their batteries well charged and the "mythical interference" from solar on SG will be at a minimum - if it exists at all.
|
|
|
Post by tonyqj on Nov 1, 2016 15:12:34 GMT
It says the cable must be rated for 70C and oil resistant, or in a conduit or sleeving. I don't think that is the same as saying tri-rated is it? But perhaps trirated cable meets those requirements? AFAIK Tri-rated, being fire-retardant, meets the spec without having to search out anything esoteric.
|
|
|
Post by Telemachus on Nov 1, 2016 15:15:20 GMT
It says the cable must be rated for 70C and oil resistant, or in a conduit or sleeving. I don't think that is the same as saying tri-rated is it? But perhaps trirated cable meets those requirements? AFAIK Tri-rated, being fire-retardant, meets the spec without having to search out anything esoteric. Ok but it doesn't say it has to be fire retardant. Is trirated cable necessarily oil resistant?
|
|
|
Post by tonyqj on Nov 1, 2016 15:19:05 GMT
AFAIK Tri-rated, being fire-retardant, meets the spec without having to search out anything esoteric. Ok but it doesn't say it has to be fire retardant. Is trirated cable necessarily oil resistant? Maybe not. I could be wrong, you know
|
|
|
Post by Graham on Nov 1, 2016 15:19:34 GMT
I thought this was Ricco's thread not Kris' Point of interest I think you will find the average daylight per day over the year is just about 50/50 thus with the world tilt what you say may be OK up to march, but through the summer the panels wil be catching up and will skew the smartgauge But loads and loads of people have solar and SG and never have a problem. My point about winter was that it was the critical time for solarists to keep their batteries well charged and the "mythical interference" from solar on SG will be at a minimum - if it exists at all. Interesting Nick, the solar panels are a charger when the battery is gaining charge the smartgauge become inaccurate, already admitted. So why is it suddenly that one source of charging should suddenly become "mythical interference" particularly one capable of delivering 30+Amps You make no sense Sir
|
|
|
Post by Telemachus on Nov 1, 2016 15:25:22 GMT
But loads and loads of people have solar and SG and never have a problem. My point about winter was that it was the critical time for solarists to keep their batteries well charged and the "mythical interference" from solar on SG will be at a minimum - if it exists at all. Interesting Nick, the solar panels are a charger when the battery is gaining charge the smartgauge become inaccurate, already admitted. So why is it suddenly that one source of charging should suddenly become "mythical interference" particularly one capable of delivering 30+Amps You make no sense Sir I think there is no doubt that the SG copes fine when the solar is producing 30A. Or even 20A. Or even 10A. Same as when a charger is connected. It does not necessarily become inaccurate, it may do over time, until the next discharge cycle. where there has been some doubt expressed is when the solar is producing just a trickle such that the SG is not quite sure whether it's in charging mode or discharging mode. However as I said, lots of people with solar + SG say this never gives them a problem. I can't comment from 1st hand experience since I don't have solar. The issue has never been quantified so I strongly suspect it is imagination.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 1, 2016 15:30:09 GMT
Interesting Nick, the solar panels are a charger when the battery is gaining charge the smartgauge become inaccurate, already admitted. So why is it suddenly that one source of charging should suddenly become "mythical interference" particularly one capable of delivering 30+Amps You make no sense Sir I think there is no doubt that the SG copes fine when the solar is producing 30A. Or even 20A. Or even 10A. Same as when a charger is connected. It does not necessarily become inaccurate, it may do over time, until the next discharge cycle. where there has been some doubt expressed is when the solar is producing just a trickle such that the SG is not quite sure whether it's in charging mode or discharging mode. However as I said, lots of people with solar + SG say this never gives them a problem. I can't comment from 1st hand experience since I don't have solar. The issue has never been quantified so I strongly suspect it is imagination. I have solar and a SG (and recently a battery monitor).I have never noticed a problem, but not sure I would recognise if the batteries were fully charged or not with just the SG. Now I have the battery monitor as well, perhaps I will see a different picture!
|
|
|
Post by tonyqj on Nov 1, 2016 15:34:27 GMT
Interesting Nick, the solar panels are a charger when the battery is gaining charge the smartgauge become inaccurate, already admitted. I don't know why you have this perverse insistence on ignoring the facts as they are repeatedly pointed out to you. The above is NOT already admitted. What is admitted, and it is written in the SmartGauge manual so it's no huge secret, is that SG can become up to 10% out during charging and will instantly re-synch when the batteries are being used. Hence the advice to use an ammeter to monitor charge current. By your own admittance you don't have one, have never used one, and the only experience you have of one is a faulty one up in Liverpool. By contrast, many thousands of them are in use daily all over the world, supplying their users with exactly what they're supposed to.
|
|
|
Post by tonyqj on Nov 1, 2016 15:36:01 GMT
I think there is no doubt that the SG copes fine when the solar is producing 30A. Or even 20A. Or even 10A. Same as when a charger is connected. It does not necessarily become inaccurate, it may do over time, until the next discharge cycle. where there has been some doubt expressed is when the solar is producing just a trickle such that the SG is not quite sure whether it's in charging mode or discharging mode. However as I said, lots of people with solar + SG say this never gives them a problem. I can't comment from 1st hand experience since I don't have solar. The issue has never been quantified so I strongly suspect it is imagination. I have solar and a SG (and recently a battery monitor).I have never noticed a problem, but not sure I would recognise if the batteries were fully charged or not with just the SG. Now I have the battery monitor as well, perhaps I will see a different picture! Exactly this. It is advised to use an ammeter in conjunction with the Smartgauge for precisely this reason.
|
|