Ok ok,, I admit it,, I NEED to know,,,

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I thought I'd beaten it.

after a camper with twin batts, then a caravan with one solar panel and one battery.

I thought just one more panel and two more batteries and NO MORE voltage guages. ever. done. just use everything with no counting amps,,.

:(

I realise now I count amps like I count how many XXXX's are left.

I thought my problem was fixed with a kind donation from a friend, but it appears the item counts things,,, not volts:BigCry:

I even bought a new morningstar controller (because they are really good) that DIDNT show volts,,

confidence huh,,


so,, faithful reader,,
I understand there are lots on the net,, and thats where I will probably buy it from,,
can anyone recommend a LED volt gauge supplier,,

Merry Christmas One And All:D

[Mick_Marsh]

Jaycar. That's where I bought mine from.
It seems to count the volts in my solar panel charged battery very well. I have it on a switch so it only displays when I push the button. You may have it wired to display all the time but, if you wire it to a button, you can use the other thing to count how many times you have checked the voltage.

[Blknight.aus]

my local battery world has a nice little pair of dohickies that will be right up your ally

2x amp gauges in a single bezel and 2x volts gauges in a single bezel.

[inside]

I use a Projecta volt meter, $105 of eBay. Very happy with it.http://www.projecta.com.au/Products/PowerManagement/DualBatteryVoltMeter.aspx

[Pedro_The_Swift]

I thought I'd fixed it,, again.
small led volt readout
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2014/08/1191.jpg
mind you its so bright at night I have to cover it with something!:eek:

but even that wasnt enough:(
After 4 months living in the van I'd come to the conclusion we didnt have enough in-coming amps. So another panel has been bought, roof space is now at a premium so could only fit a 125W panel, but another 5-6 amps should do it:angel:
but another 5-6 amps maxes out my current battery controller,
can you see where this is going?:p

one of these should fix everything
http://www.morningstarcorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/PS-30M-Angled-F_retouch.png
the screen cycles through batt volts, in-coming Amps AND outgoing amps.

Please god let that be an end to it---:angel:

[pop058]

Try turning off one or two beer fridges to save some amps :D

[bee utey]

I prefer the blue back lit LCD type volt meters eg:

Blue LCD Volt Meter DC 7V 30V FOR 12V 24V Power Supply | eBay

And there's no good reason why your extra panel couldn't just run its own separate charge controller, gives a bit of backup in case one fails.

[PhilipA]

I don't know if this is some "in joke " that I am on the outside of, but I will play it straight.
Derek Bester at ABR sells a great little LCD meter that logs volts amps and the cumulative amps over time periods .
Have a look on his site.
I love mine.
Regards Philip A

[Pedro_The_Swift]

no joke here,,
or if there is,, its on me:(

[TerryO]

The ProStar 30 amp does the job really well Pedro, just don't mount it like mine where I can see it from bed. It drives me crazy flashing up and down all night.

The trick with solar is not as many battery's as possible but as many panels as possible and two good sized battery's, plus make sure no part of them is in any shadow from the aircon or TV ariel on the roof or at least for the shortest amount of time each day. Often that means making sure you park the van in a spot and direction that suits the suns arc.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

or the fact that if I could see it, I'd be checking it all night:(:D.

Heres something to think about--
Why- have all my led light rocker-switches little red lights that go on when the switch is on,,
shouldnt they go on when the switch is off? so you can find the switch in the dark?

[justinc]

:o:o I am also a volt/ amp counter....we need to start a society, a bit like AA?

I have 3 120W panels, and 3 120Ah deep cycle batts, but I don't have a fridge full of that XXXX stuff....seems to last OK, AND the controller is hidden in a cupboard with an opaque front panel, so at night, from the comfort of my bed, I can see the soft glow of the LCD display beckoning...aaaarghh!!! STOP, make it STOP!!!:p


JC

[bee utey]

:o:o I am also a volt/ amp counter....we need to start a society, a bit like AA?



JC
AA

Closet lover of little batteries???:eek:

Could be worse, you could be a member of AAA and you'd have an even smaller battery charge to worry about.:p

[PhilipA]

BTW there is a great little Iphone app called "camp aspect" which gives you the sun track from where you are and includes a google earth shot where available so you can see any sun impediments.
Regards Philip A

[TerryO]

You will be able to see the three lights cycling up and down on the ProStar but not actually read the screen. Unless that is you use a torch or leave a light on so you can see it and that is kind of unproductive and is likely, sooner or later, to get you bashed by she who must be obeyed.

[Pedro_The_Swift]

Mrs Pedro just read this-
"you will be able to see the three lights cycling up and down"
and hit me on the back of the head,,
:confused::confused:

whats three more coloured lights?:angel:

[TerryO]

Mrs Pedro just read this-
"you will be able to see the three lights cycling up and down"
and hit me on the back of the head,,
:confused::confused:

whats three more coloured lights?:angel:


Hopefully she hit you hard!

[Pedro_The_Swift]

well its in,,,:banana:
ya gotta love self test buttons:cool:
still getting over 3 amps on a 10/tenths cloud cover day:D

[LandyAndy]

Pedro.
I need a new controler for the camper trailer,will that handle 2x200w panels in paralell,ie 24V+ input plus 400w and 12v output to batteries.
Andrew