Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

[Edd Schillay via CnC-List]

Listers,

I installed a new 40W panel on the Enterprise last week connected through a 
Gensun charge controller (as recommended by the list.) 

When I got on board this weekend on a very sunny day, I found the batteries at 
13.3 volts. Towards the end of the day, with the sun still out, they dropped to 
12.8. I don’t know if it was due to less sun or the controller kicking in. 

Since I don’t have Fred’s knowledge (also known as Street-Smarts), does this 
all sound to be normal? Will I see charging days of over 13 volts?  Concerned 
about the battery status, I checked the batteries and the water level in all of 
them were just fine.

Do I have any reason to worry or is this what solar power was meant to be and 
I’ve just been missing out for all this time? I have to say — if it’s normal, 
I’m loving it. 


All the best,

Edd


Edd M. Schillay
Starship Enterprise
C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B
City Island, NY 
Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log 







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Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

[Bill Bina - gmail via CnC-List]

That is working properly. :-)

Bill Bina


On 8/29/2016 3:21 PM, Edd Schillay via CnC-List wrote:

Listers,

I installed a new 40W panel on the Enterprise last week connected 
through a Gensun charge controller (as recommended by the list.)


When I got on board this weekend on a very sunny day, I found the 
batteries at 13.3 volts. Towards the end of the day, with the sun 
still out, they dropped to 12.8. I don’t know if it was due to less 
sun or the controller kicking in.


Since I don’t have Fred’s knowledge (also known as Street-Smarts), 
does this all sound to be normal? Will I see charging days of over 13 
volts?  Concerned about the battery status, I checked the batteries 
and the water level in all of them were just fine.


Do I have any reason to worry or is this what solar power was meant to 
be and I’ve just been missing out for all this time? I have to say — 
if it’s normal, I’m loving it.



All the best,

Edd


Edd M. Schillay
Starship Enterprise
C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B
City Island, NY
Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log 







___

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what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are 
greatly appreciated!


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what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are 
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Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

[Stevan Plavsa via CnC-List]

While charging - higher voltage (13.3 is the charge voltage I get from my
controller, too). When no sun, no charge, voltage drops.
Normal.
My charge controller shows me how many amps I'm making, which I like.

Steve
Suhana, C&C 32
Toronto


On Mon, Aug 29, 2016 at 3:24 PM, Bill Bina - gmail via CnC-List <
cnc-list@cnc-list.com> wrote:

> That is working properly. :-)
>
> Bill Bina
>
> On 8/29/2016 3:21 PM, Edd Schillay via CnC-List wrote:
>
> Listers,
>
> I installed a new 40W panel on the Enterprise last week connected through
> a Gensun charge controller (as recommended by the list.)
>
> When I got on board this weekend on a very sunny day, I found the
> batteries at 13.3 volts. Towards the end of the day, with the sun still
> out, they dropped to 12.8. I don’t know if it was due to less sun or the
> controller kicking in.
>
> Since I don’t have Fred’s knowledge (also known as Street-Smarts), does
> this all sound to be normal? Will I see charging days of over 13 volts?
> Concerned about the battery status, I checked the batteries and the water
> level in all of them were just fine.
>
> Do I have any reason to worry or is this what solar power was meant to be
> and I’ve just been missing out for all this time? I have to say — if it’s
> normal, I’m loving it.
>
>
> All the best,
>
> Edd
>
>
> Edd M. Schillay
> Starship Enterprise
> C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B
> City Island, NY
> Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log 
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ___
>
> This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
> what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions 
> are greatly appreciated!
>
>
>
> ___
>
> This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you
> like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All
> Contributions are greatly appreciated!
>
>
___

This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are 
greatly appreciated!

Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

[Marek Dziedzic via CnC-List]

Edd, very normal.

 

The 13.3 V is the charging voltage. 12.8 V (more like 12.7 V) is the fully 
charged resting voltage (with no voltage provided by the solar panel). If you 
had a display, you could check how many Ah (not amps; ampere-hours) you put 
into your batteries. But the 12.7 - 12.8 V resting voltage is very good.

 

Marek

C270 “Legato”

Ottawa, ON

 

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Edd Schillay 
via CnC-List
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2016 15:22
To: C&C List 
Cc: Edd Schillay 
Subject: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

 

Listers,

 

I installed a new 40W panel on the Enterprise last week connected through a 
Gensun charge controller (as recommended by the list.) 

 

When I got on board this weekend on a very sunny day, I found the batteries at 
13.3 volts. Towards the end of the day, with the sun still out, they dropped to 
12.8. I don’t know if it was due to less sun or the controller kicking in. 

 

Since I don’t have Fred’s knowledge (also known as Street-Smarts), does this 
all sound to be normal? Will I see charging days of over 13 volts?  Concerned 
about the battery status, I checked the batteries and the water level in all of 
them were just fine.

 

Do I have any reason to worry or is this what solar power was meant to be and 
I’ve just been missing out for all this time? I have to say — if it’s normal, 
I’m loving it. 

 


All the best,

 

Edd

 

 

Edd M. Schillay

Starship Enterprise

C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B

City Island, NY 

 <http://enterpriseb.blogspot.com/> Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log

 




 






 

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greatly appreciated!

Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

[Josh Muckley via CnC-List]

Seems normal but what I didn't hear you describe was the battery reaching
full charge.  The genasun controller will go solid green when it is full.
You should also look for volts to reach 14.2v and after 2 hours it should
go solid green.

If it doesn't reach full charge it may just be that there isn't enough sun
but if it simply can't then there may be trouble with your batteries.

Josh Muckley
S/V Sea Hawk
1989 C&C 37+
Solomons, MD
On Aug 29, 2016 3:22 PM, "Edd Schillay via CnC-List" 
wrote:

> Listers,
>
> I installed a new 40W panel on the Enterprise last week connected through
> a Gensun charge controller (as recommended by the list.)
>
> When I got on board this weekend on a very sunny day, I found the
> batteries at 13.3 volts. Towards the end of the day, with the sun still
> out, they dropped to 12.8. I don’t know if it was due to less sun or the
> controller kicking in.
>
> Since I don’t have Fred’s knowledge (also known as Street-Smarts), does
> this all sound to be normal? Will I see charging days of over 13 volts?
> Concerned about the battery status, I checked the batteries and the water
> level in all of them were just fine.
>
> Do I have any reason to worry or is this what solar power was meant to be
> and I’ve just been missing out for all this time? I have to say — if it’s
> normal, I’m loving it.
>
>
> All the best,
>
> Edd
>
>
> Edd M. Schillay
> Starship Enterprise
> C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B
> City Island, NY
> Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log 
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ___
>
> This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you
> like what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All
> Contributions are greatly appreciated!
>
>
___

This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are 
greatly appreciated!

Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

[Edd Schillay via CnC-List]

Josh,

Thanks. There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the batteries, but I 
haven’t monitored the system all that much. Usually I get on board, head out 
into the Sound, unfurl the jib and accelerate to Warp 7.2 on a reach. 

I think I was just used to the old 5-7W panels that trickle charged. This 40W 
panel is a major difference and I just wanted to be sure all is good (and it 
appears so — Thank you Listers!) Why did I wait so long to do this? 

All the best,

Edd


Edd M. Schillay
Starship Enterprise
C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B
City Island, NY 
Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log 





> On Aug 29, 2016, at 4:40 PM, Josh Muckley via CnC-List 
>  wrote:
> 
> Seems normal but what I didn't hear you describe was the battery reaching 
> full charge.  The genasun controller will go solid green when it is full.  
> You should also look for volts to reach 14.2v and after 2 hours it should go 
> solid green.
> 
> If it doesn't reach full charge it may just be that there isn't enough sun 
> but if it simply can't then there may be trouble with your batteries.
> 
> Josh Muckley
> S/V Sea Hawk
> 1989 C&C 37+
> Solomons, MD
> 
> On Aug 29, 2016 3:22 PM, "Edd Schillay via CnC-List"  > wrote:
> Listers,
> 
> I installed a new 40W panel on the Enterprise last week connected through a 
> Gensun charge controller (as recommended by the list.) 
> 
> When I got on board this weekend on a very sunny day, I found the batteries 
> at 13.3 volts. Towards the end of the day, with the sun still out, they 
> dropped to 12.8. I don’t know if it was due to less sun or the controller 
> kicking in. 
> 
> Since I don’t have Fred’s knowledge (also known as Street-Smarts), does this 
> all sound to be normal? Will I see charging days of over 13 volts?  Concerned 
> about the battery status, I checked the batteries and the water level in all 
> of them were just fine.
> 
> Do I have any reason to worry or is this what solar power was meant to be and 
> I’ve just been missing out for all this time? I have to say — if it’s normal, 
> I’m loving it. 
> 
> 
> All the best,
> 
> Edd
> 
> 
> Edd M. Schillay
> Starship Enterprise
> C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B
> City Island, NY 
> Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log 
> 
> 
>   
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ___
> 
> This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
> what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions 
> are greatly appreciated!
> 
> ___
> 
> This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
> what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions 
> are greatly appreciated!

___

This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are 
greatly appreciated!

Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

[Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List]

I just looked at my telemetry and when the boat is sitting with the 50 watt 
solar panel and no load other than the telemetry system, it tends to go up to 
13.6-13.8 volts as the sun goes up and drop to 12.9 as the sun goes too low to 
provide much power. Overnight it will drop to 12.6-12.5 or so and then repeat 
the next day.
Joe
Coquina

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Edd Schillay 
via CnC-List
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2016 16:50
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: Edd Schillay
Subject: Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

Josh,

Thanks. There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the batteries, but I 
haven’t monitored the system all that much. Usually I get on board, head out 
into the Sound, unfurl the jib and accelerate to Warp 7.2 on a reach.

I think I was just used to the old 5-7W panels that trickle charged. This 40W 
panel is a major difference and I just wanted to be sure all is good (and it 
appears so — Thank you Listers!) Why did I wait so long to do this?

All the best,

Edd


Edd M. Schillay
Starship Enterprise
C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B
City Island, NY
Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log<http://enterpriseb.blogspot.com/>






On Aug 29, 2016, at 4:40 PM, Josh Muckley via CnC-List 
mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote:

Seems normal but what I didn't hear you describe was the battery reaching full 
charge.  The genasun controller will go solid green when it is full.  You 
should also look for volts to reach 14.2v and after 2 hours it should go solid 
green.
If it doesn't reach full charge it may just be that there isn't enough sun but 
if it simply can't then there may be trouble with your batteries.
Josh Muckley
S/V Sea Hawk
1989 C&C 37+
Solomons, MD
On Aug 29, 2016 3:22 PM, "Edd Schillay via CnC-List" 
mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote:
Listers,

I installed a new 40W panel on the Enterprise last week connected through a 
Gensun charge controller (as recommended by the list.)

When I got on board this weekend on a very sunny day, I found the batteries at 
13.3 volts. Towards the end of the day, with the sun still out, they dropped to 
12.8. I don’t know if it was due to less sun or the controller kicking in.

Since I don’t have Fred’s knowledge (also known as Street-Smarts), does this 
all sound to be normal? Will I see charging days of over 13 volts?  Concerned 
about the battery status, I checked the batteries and the water level in all of 
them were just fine.

Do I have any reason to worry or is this what solar power was meant to be and 
I’ve just been missing out for all this time? I have to say — if it’s normal, 
I’m loving it.


All the best,

Edd


Edd M. Schillay
Starship Enterprise
C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B
City Island, NY
Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log<http://enterpriseb.blogspot.com/>









___

This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are 
greatly appreciated!
___

This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are 
greatly appreciated!

___

This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are 
greatly appreciated!

Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

[Petar Horvatic via CnC-List]

That sounds reasonable for new batteries.   Are you logging the battery 
voltage?  Is that what you mean by telemetry?

Voltage is difficult to use as means of charging.  Amps would be more useful, 
and AH are what ultimate truth teller.  Solar charge controllers should have 
Amps.

Little DC/AC clamp on Amp meter is very useful in troubleshooting.   The other 
day I couldn’t believe that at 11AM, on a sunny day I was getting very low 
Amperage out of the solar panels.  only 6A out of 2x 130W Kyoceras (should be 
15A -20A).  But the shadow of the mast and windgen pole was covering sections 
of both panels.  Panel output drops off drastically even with slightest shadow. 
 Angle to the sun also drastically influences the output.   Few minutes later I 
was at 15A.  My batteries are so old that I could tell when the sun hits the 
panels cleanly by the RPMs of the cabin fans.  Fans are also old and starting 
to get noisy.   When I say old batteries, I mean their surface voltage responds 
quickly to charging and discharging.  So sun hits the panels, charge amperage 
goes up and so does the battery voltage, and the fan noise.  Then a cloud comes 
and the fan RPM goes down.  

 

 

Petar Horvatic

Sundowner

76 C&C 38MkII

Newport RI

 

 

 

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Della Barba, 
Joe via CnC-List
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2016 11:21 AM
To: 'cnc-list@cnc-list.com'
Cc: Della Barba, Joe
Subject: Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

 

I just looked at my telemetry and when the boat is sitting with the 50 watt 
solar panel and no load other than the telemetry system, it tends to go up to 
13.6-13.8 volts as the sun goes up and drop to 12.9 as the sun goes too low to 
provide much power. Overnight it will drop to 12.6-12.5 or so and then repeat 
the next day.

Joe

Coquina

 

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Edd Schillay 
via CnC-List
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2016 16:50
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: Edd Schillay
Subject: Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

 

Josh,

 

Thanks. There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the batteries, but I 
haven’t monitored the system all that much. Usually I get on board, head out 
into the Sound, unfurl the jib and accelerate to Warp 7.2 on a reach. 

 

I think I was just used to the old 5-7W panels that trickle charged. This 40W 
panel is a major difference and I just wanted to be sure all is good (and it 
appears so — Thank you Listers!) Why did I wait so long to do this? 


All the best,

 

Edd

 

 

Edd M. Schillay

Starship Enterprise

C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B

City Island, NY 

Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log <http://enterpriseb.blogspot.com/> 

 

 





 

On Aug 29, 2016, at 4:40 PM, Josh Muckley via CnC-List  
wrote:

 

Seems normal but what I didn't hear you describe was the battery reaching full 
charge.  The genasun controller will go solid green when it is full.  You 
should also look for volts to reach 14.2v and after 2 hours it should go solid 
green.

If it doesn't reach full charge it may just be that there isn't enough sun but 
if it simply can't then there may be trouble with your batteries.

Josh Muckley
S/V Sea Hawk
1989 C&C 37+
Solomons, MD

On Aug 29, 2016 3:22 PM, "Edd Schillay via CnC-List"  
wrote:

Listers,

 

I installed a new 40W panel on the Enterprise last week connected through a 
Gensun charge controller (as recommended by the list.) 

 

When I got on board this weekend on a very sunny day, I found the batteries at 
13.3 volts. Towards the end of the day, with the sun still out, they dropped to 
12.8. I don’t know if it was due to less sun or the controller kicking in. 

 

Since I don’t have Fred’s knowledge (also known as Street-Smarts), does this 
all sound to be normal? Will I see charging days of over 13 volts?  Concerned 
about the battery status, I checked the batteries and the water level in all of 
them were just fine.

 

Do I have any reason to worry or is this what solar power was meant to be and 
I’ve just been missing out for all this time? I have to say — if it’s normal, 
I’m loving it. 

 


All the best,

 

Edd

 

 

Edd M. Schillay

Starship Enterprise

C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B

City Island, NY 

Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log <http://enterpriseb.blogspot.com/> 

 

 

 





 


___

This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are 
greatly appreciated!

___

This list is supported by the generous donations of our members. If you like 
what we do, please help us pay for our costs by donating. All Contributions are 
greatly appreciated!

 

___

This list is supported by the generou

Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

[Della Barba, Joe via CnC-List]

I have a system that reports battery voltage, cabin temperature, and location 
by radio.
http://aprs.fi/#!mt=roadmap&z=11&call=a%2FN3HGB-5&timerange=3600&tail=3600
The telemetry graph is a little ragged because I have not had it on nonstop 
like I do when the boat is on my mooring. I can see the charge amps when I am 
on the boat, but so far I have not figured out how to send that over the radio. 
The telemetry channels need at least a 5 volt swing and the shunt output is 
only 50 mv.
Joe
Coquina
From: Petar Horvatic [mailto:phorv...@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2016 11:40
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com
Cc: Della Barba, Joe
Subject: RE: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

That sounds reasonable for new batteries.   Are you logging the battery 
voltage?  Is that what you mean by telemetry?
Voltage is difficult to use as means of charging.  Amps would be more useful, 
and AH are what ultimate truth teller.  Solar charge controllers should have 
Amps.
Little DC/AC clamp on Amp meter is very useful in troubleshooting.   The other 
day I couldn’t believe that at 11AM, on a sunny day I was getting very low 
Amperage out of the solar panels.  only 6A out of 2x 130W Kyoceras (should be 
15A -20A).  But the shadow of the mast and windgen pole was covering sections 
of both panels.  Panel output drops off drastically even with slightest shadow. 
 Angle to the sun also drastically influences the output.   Few minutes later I 
was at 15A.  My batteries are so old that I could tell when the sun hits the 
panels cleanly by the RPMs of the cabin fans.  Fans are also old and starting 
to get noisy.   When I say old batteries, I mean their surface voltage responds 
quickly to charging and discharging.  So sun hits the panels, charge amperage 
goes up and so does the battery voltage, and the fan noise.  Then a cloud comes 
and the fan RPM goes down.


Petar Horvatic
Sundowner
76 C&C 38MkII
Newport RI



From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Della Barba, 
Joe via CnC-List
Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2016 11:21 AM
To: 'cnc-list@cnc-list.com'
Cc: Della Barba, Joe
Subject: Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

I just looked at my telemetry and when the boat is sitting with the 50 watt 
solar panel and no load other than the telemetry system, it tends to go up to 
13.6-13.8 volts as the sun goes up and drop to 12.9 as the sun goes too low to 
provide much power. Overnight it will drop to 12.6-12.5 or so and then repeat 
the next day.
Joe
Coquina

From: CnC-List [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Edd Schillay 
via CnC-List
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2016 16:50
To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com<mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>
Cc: Edd Schillay
Subject: Re: Stus-List Solar Charging -- Normal?

Josh,

Thanks. There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the batteries, but I 
haven’t monitored the system all that much. Usually I get on board, head out 
into the Sound, unfurl the jib and accelerate to Warp 7.2 on a reach.

I think I was just used to the old 5-7W panels that trickle charged. This 40W 
panel is a major difference and I just wanted to be sure all is good (and it 
appears so — Thank you Listers!) Why did I wait so long to do this?

All the best,

Edd


Edd M. Schillay
Starship Enterprise
C&C 37+ | Sail No: NCC-1701-B
City Island, NY
Starship Enterprise's Captain's Log<http://enterpriseb.blogspot.com/>




On Aug 29, 2016, at 4:40 PM, Josh Muckley via CnC-List 
mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote:

Seems normal but what I didn't hear you describe was the battery reaching full 
charge.  The genasun controller will go solid green when it is full.  You 
should also look for volts to reach 14.2v and after 2 hours it should go solid 
green.
If it doesn't reach full charge it may just be that there isn't enough sun but 
if it simply can't then there may be trouble with your batteries.
Josh Muckley
S/V Sea Hawk
1989 C&C 37+
Solomons, MD
On Aug 29, 2016 3:22 PM, "Edd Schillay via CnC-List" 
mailto:cnc-list@cnc-list.com>> wrote:
Listers,

I installed a new 40W panel on the Enterprise last week connected through a 
Gensun charge controller (as recommended by the list.)

When I got on board this weekend on a very sunny day, I found the batteries at 
13.3 volts. Towards the end of the day, with the sun still out, they dropped to 
12.8. I don’t know if it was due to less sun or the controller kicking in.

Since I don’t have Fred’s knowledge (also known as Street-Smarts), does this 
all sound to be normal? Will I see charging days of over 13 volts?  Concerned 
about the battery status, I checked the batteries and the water level in all of 
them were just fine.

Do I have any reason to worry or is this what solar power was meant to be and 
I’ve just been missing out for all this time? I have to say — if it’s normal, 
I’m loving it.


All the best,

Edd


Edd M. Schillay
Star