Solar panel voltage metering.

TrevandJenny

TrevandJenny

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New 120w panel now fitted and battery voltage maxed out at 14.8v. Brilliant for the overcast dull skies at present. I fitted to our MH a couple of years ago a Digital Display Voltmeter switched direct to batteries.
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Now can I fit the same unit to the solar input terminals of a Sargent EC328???, The thoughts being I could then see the voltage being created in different conditions. The panel on our Broadway is not correct in many functions hence the display fitted for battery voltage.

Digital panel.jpeg
 
TrevandJenny said:
New 120w panel now fitted and battery voltage maxed out at 14.8v. Brilliant for the overcast dull skies at present. I fitted to our MH a couple of years ago a Digital Display Voltmeter switched direct to batteries.
.
Now can I fit the same unit to the solar input terminals of a Sargent EC328???, The thoughts being I could then see the voltage being created in different conditions. The panel on our Broadway is not correct in many functions hence the display fitted for battery voltage.

View attachment 61737
Click to expand...
If you mean that specific Voltmeter, then No, you cannot. It says range is 8V-16V, and a solar panels voltage will be in the range of 17V-23V.
You need a 24V meter really, I would say.
 
Thank you Wildbus, Point taken I will order a 12v 24v alternative. However is it feasible to take the voltage reading from the solar input terminals on the Sargent unit. I wondered weather it might take a reading of voltage available from electrical components running below the terminals.
 
I see no reason why reading the PV input voltage is not possible. It won't tell you that much as the voltage could be high with little harvesting or high with good harvesting. It will mainly tell you if it is daylight outside :)
It is probably the only place where you can get the PV panel reading at the sargent unit. other components will be more akin to the battery voltage.

Depending what your objective is, a monitor like this could be much more interesting .... https://amzn.to/3qhjSkq
That will tell you the instant voltage, the instant current, the instant power and also the cumulative power generated by the panel. you would only need the 20A version, but the 100A version is actually cheaper in the link I posted (the monitors themselves are the same size) . I use the same monitor in a test rig where I have one connected to the PV cable in and another to the battery cable of the solar controller (checking for efficiency of controllers) and they work very well.
e.g.

SC - Venus_MPPT_20A - Test Results by David, on Flickr
 
Sorry to sound like a complete idiot, what does PV stand for????
wildebus said:
I see no reason why reading the PV input voltage is not possible. It won't tell you that much as the voltage could be high with little harvesting or high with good harvesting. It will mainly tell you if it is daylight outside :)
It is probably the only place where you can get the PV panel reading at the sargent unit. other components will be more akin to the battery voltage.

Depending what your objective is, a monitor like this could be much more interesting .... https://amzn.to/3qhjSkq
That will tell you the instant voltage, the instant current, the instant power and also the cumulative power generated by the panel. you would only need the 20A version, but the 100A version is actually cheaper in the link I posted (the monitors themselves are the same size) . I use the same monitor in a test rig where I have one connected to the PV cable in and another to the battery cable of the solar controller (checking for efficiency of controllers) and they work very well.
e.g.

SC - Venus_MPPT_20A - Test Results by David, on Flickr
Click to expand...
 
You can get a high voltage but little amps in winter, my volt meters are on both sets of batts, starter and service but only tell me if up to full charge, they don't tell how many amps is being collected and pumped into batts.
I could fit this to my votronic unit which will show all.votronic regulator.png
 
trevskoda said:
You can get a high voltage but little amps in winter, my volt meters are on both sets of batts, starter and service but only tell me if up to full charge, they don't tell how many amps is being collected and pumped into batts.
I could fit this to my votronic unit which will show all.View attachment 61740
Click to expand...
You know me ... Data obsessive :)

On my T5, I had a Amperor Associates combo B2B/MPPT Controller. This unit had dual Solar inputs and I had a pair of 100W panels on the roof and I fitted a pair of those Monitors to see what the panels were upto (one per panel) ...

Quite pleased with 92W from 100W panels :)
 
Where folk get confused is between voltage and current/amps in charge, remember a static spark from pulling a jumper over your hair can give thousands of volts with little power for a millie second. :eek:
 
As I have mentioned in another post my background is mechanical, not electrical, Trevs quite correct I did not think about Volts/amps, Again the power of Motorhomer.com and its contributors is brilliant. Reading the Wildebus suggestion of the Ketotec unit far outreaches my idea of another digital reader as used on leisure batteries. I need to get my head around the wiring for it before my next move.
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Thanks to you all for ensuring my electrical ideas do not go astray, Merry Christmas to you all, at home or away where ever you are. Stay safe.
 
It is easy to go a bit overboard with readers, monitors and meters :)
The power monitors I linked to are excellent value for money for someone who is looking for something they can glance at to check things are working. I have tended to move to an on-line style of monitoring due to the flexibilty, but I know it wouldn't be for everyone, not least due to the cost (I do this to be able to evaluate kit and setups so I do have a legitimate reason - I do it so you don't have to :D ).

Currently trying out a system called "Home Assistant" which brings in all kind of info together.
For the Motorhome, this is the display I can have on my phone when driving:
The DC Power will actually tell me what the B2B is doing, and the Battery Data tells me which battery bank is getting the current and their SOCs. The AC Power will tell if the Fridge (AC only) and Water Boiler are running (I turn the water boiler onto Electric when driving to use the 'free' power instead of using LPG).
Screenshot_20211223-121114.png
RIght now on the PC, I have a summary where I can see how much ink the Printer upstairs has, the battery level of my mobile phone, weather forecast, state of charges for the Motorhome battery, and the temperatures in the Motorhome (Fridge to check the food is safe, Room to check for risk of any freezing, etc).
Screenshot 2021-12-23 at 12-26-26 Overview - Home Assistant.png
Overkill maybe, but bit of fun :)
 
wildebus said:
It is easy to go a bit overboard with readers, monitors and meters :)
The power monitors I linked to are excellent value for money for someone who is looking for something they can glance at to check things are working. I have tended to move to an on-line style of monitoring due to the flexibilty, but I know it wouldn't be for everyone, not least due to the cost (I do this to be able to evaluate kit and setups so I do have a legitimate reason - I do it so you don't have to :D ).

Currently trying out a system called "Home Assistant" which brings in all kind of info together.
For the Motorhome, this is the display I can have on my phone when driving:
The DC Power will actually tell me what the B2B is doing, and the Battery Data tells me which battery bank is getting the current and their SOCs. The AC Power will tell if the Fridge (AC only) and Water Boiler are running (I turn the water boiler onto Electric when driving to use the 'free' power instead of using LPG).
View attachment 61743
RIght now on the PC, I have a summary where I can see how much ink the Printer upstairs has, the battery level of my mobile phone, weather forecast, state of charges for the Motorhome battery, and the temperatures in the Motorhome (Fridge to check the food is safe, Room to check for risk of any freezing, etc).
View attachment 61744
Overkill maybe, but bit of fun :)
Click to expand...
David, you need a chauffeur. This will help you keep your driving licence. Then you can play with your gadgets until your hearts content. Not forgetting keeping other road users safe. ;)

This is a serious warning to you all. Don't play with your toys whilst Driving, let alone yourself! Merry Christmas to you all.
 
SquirrellCook said:
David, you need a chauffeur. This will help you keep your driving licence. Then you can play with your gadgets until your hearts content. Not forgetting keeping other road users safe. ;)

This is a serious warning to you all. Don't play with your toys whilst Driving, let alone yourself! Merry Christmas to you all.
Click to expand...
This is why having a clear display with key info pre-configured is useful. This app is configured to keep display on (so no screentime) when running.

BTW, talking about playing with toys when driving, the rules on Mobile Phones is changing in the New Year .... it will become an offence to TOUCH your mobile phone (even if in a holder) for any reason when driving, or even when stationary if the engine is running (not sure how it reads if you have a stop-start setup or you have an electric car (so no engine at all)?).
 
wildebus said:
... it will become an offence to TOUCH your mobile phone (even if in a holder) for any reason when driving, or even when stationary if the engine is running (not sure how it reads if you have a stop-start setup or you have an electric car (so no engine at all)?).
Click to expand...
No it won't. From gov.uk:

"Drivers will still be able to continue using a device ‘hands-free’ while driving, such as a sat-nav, if it’s secured in a cradle."
 
Setting a sat-nav on the move requires far more attention than a telephone call.
I suppose if it's voice activated it might be ok.
 
The law is "changing" so that it will be an offence to use a hand-held mobile phone to do anything with it when driving.
As far as I was aware, this was always the law, but the law hadn't been quite explicit enough and some people were able to avoid conviction, so the wording has been changed to make it clear.
It has never been illegal (and still won't be) to use a mobile phone as long as it is in a holder.
So all you need to do is to buy a £2 holder and set it to speakerphone.
 
It dont mention using a ph on a cradle but only a satnav, me I would never touch a mobile when driving.satnav.png
 
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