cruz-in
Southern Maryland
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Hi All,
I was considering installing one of those "ole school" needle movement amp meters on the leads from my solar panel to the charge controller. The way the wires run, they go right behind a nice panel for the install. Not looking for big time accuracy, just a relative reading showing solar panel output. Can anyone think of any issues with doing this?
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BFL13
Victoria, BC
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Not sure that would give you the right amps. Those amps would be on the battery side of the controller. I haven't put an ammeter on either side to see if the amps are diffeent.
2003 Chev 2500HD Gas, 2003 Komfort 26FS 5er
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cruz-in
Southern Maryland
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The victron will tell me what is going into the battery.
I am curious about the voltage and amps coming from the panels to the charge controller. I chose the word "curious" as this certainly is not a required item to know...Volts/amps from the panels is just something I am "curious" about...
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harold1946
Surprise Arizona
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Morningstar makes a remote meter for just that purpose. It would probably be an overkill as it is designed for use with the sun saver duo for charging two battery banks, such as house and chassis. It retails for $80.
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Hurricaner
Hurricane Utah
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I don't think it will really tell you much since you already have amps into the battery. If you want to do this I would spend a few more bucks and get something that is accurate, you won't be happy with close enough if you have something to compare it to.
Sam
Sam & Kari
Hurricane, Utah
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cruz-in
Southern Maryland
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harold1946 wrote:Morningstar makes a remote meter for just that purpose. It would probably be an overkill as it is designed for use with the sun saver duo for charging two battery banks, such as house and chassis. It retails for $80.
When the Morningstar remote display is used on the Sunsaver MPPT, it will only tell the voltage from the panel. Not the amps.
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2oldman
Winchester WA
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Many controllers have readouts for that already.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Well there are some good meters out there, Like Simpsons. but I will go into the details and issues:
First any thing you add in series with the charge lead adds RESISTANCE, this increases voltage drop in the charge circuit.. This lowers efficiency. Now there are different types of meters and some of them have less loss.
The other issue in an RV with any mechanical meter is physical.. As you go bouncing down the very well maintained "Washboard Lane" (Well, for a washboard it's well maintained) the vibration and impacts can play havoc with those old meters. How much of an issue this will be I don't know.. But I've had to re-do plumbing after a washboard road. (That was on my PUP)
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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2oldman
Winchester WA
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cruz-in wrote:.Volts/amps from the panels is just something I am "curious" about... Then I'm curious as to why you didn't get a controller that has that metering on it!
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smkettner
Southern California
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I have an analog Blue Sea ammeter to see what is going in-out of the battery to the distribution panel and has been just fine bouncing down the road. Add the meter later or just get a DC clamp-on meter to satisfy the curiosity. Good tool for other stuff too.
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