How to Setup the Load on a Solar Charge Controller
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- Опубліковано 5 лип 2024
- All you need to know about the load section on a solar charge controller.
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How to Setup a Solar Charge Controller: • How to Setup a Solar C...
UPDATE: If you set the timer to 0H, It actually runs from dusk to dawn, not dawn to dusk like I said.
#️⃣SolarChargeController #️⃣Load #️⃣Setup
⏰ Time Stamps ⏱️
Introduction: 0:00
Overview: 0:36
My Setup: 2:02
Wiring: 2:31
Load Setup: 3:05
3 Options: 4:23
Ending: 5:37
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Brilliant Scott, you answered the exact questions I needed to know. Thank you for taking the time to put together this video.
Given that the timing control for the load is not very flexible on the unit itself, I think I'll switch the load to ON permanently and use a separate timer to control the power to the load. 🙂
GREAT job SCOTT!!!
You've explained this better than anyone.
We really appreciate the help and the time you take out of your busy schedule to teach us.
Now I'm going to go watch another one of your videos and see what else I can learn from your excellent tutorials.
Be safe
The clarification you gave about the USB ports was my question answered. Glad I stayed till the very end of your very helpfull video. Thank you vey much!
Thank you for taking the time to tell me how to set the load settings. I also email your link to myself for quick review. Nice.
Thanks Scott ... that really got me started well on this same controller.
Thank you . I have one ordered and now I know how to set it up . Nicely demonstrated !!👍
Thank you!
Very informative. I learned something today.
Thanks you so much. Your explanation is easy to follow and I've learnt a lot from this video.
You're amazing! Thank you so much for the help 😀 Mandi
Best video on this controller, I know because I saw the others.
Thank you for your service. It's clear.
Good job explaining and hope you'll make more videos as you get farther into solar.
Thanks Robert! I appreciate that!
Brilliantly presented video 👍
Perfect just what I needed to know 👌
Many thanks for clear explanation.
Thanks! That was really helpful.
awesome! thanks for the info
Spot on mate I’ve just bought this and it’s coming today lol
fantastic video, just what i needed. i have multiple charge controllers set up to all our vehicles, ride on mowers, tractor cars now im starting on solar/battery powered grow lights, all this time i had no idea what the load really does, the instructions are not very clear to me and i diddnt need the load anyway, but it was the dusk to dawn thing i was now looking at, for auto on off for grow lights, i just bought a system/kit panels, lifepo4 battery and 30amp charge controller (thank you for pointing out 30amp is prob not 30amp on a charge controller i would not have known this) and i also would have bought the dusk dawn snesors but now will buy a separate larger charge controller and use the load feature with timer. t start with i only have 18 x 9watt led baton lights, so around 200w all together. Im glad to find your channel Scott, i live remote and youtube/google is how i learn to do all the stuff i need to be self sufficient so this is GOLD thank you.
You bet, thank you! Also, just know this controller doesn't work with LifePo4 batteries. Best of luck!
Good job! Thanks!
Hi Scott, nice explanation on the built in output port. Since this output allows to schedule the time for either 12 VDC or 24 VDC devices, it can easily drive a relay coil at one Amp. Then the relay makes it possible to control the timing of the inverter that powers 120 VAC loads. The inverter consumes power at night unless it's turned off, unless the capacity of the battery allows to resume the charge the next morning. All that depends on how much Ah your battery is capable. As far as the USB is concerned, since it's enabled all the time, it can be used for a small LED motion sensor light whenever servicing the unit at night or to power a security camera. I got a newer version of this PWM controller from Temu for about $15, but I ordered the 24 VDC to give me 720 W max or 240W if I follow your derating. Anyways, that's plenty enough to drive all four air pumps and the two 200 GPH water pumps for my pump through a 300W PWM inverter from Temu that I paid only $25 and 2 200W used solar panels at $20 each! Great deal overall!
I can run a 10" TV, Alpocool 9It fridge and a few LED lights, good vid
Nice!
Great video.
thank you , that was very helpful
You're welcome!
BRILLANT 👌🏼👍
Good info.
Thank you!
Thanks Bro!!!
Thank you, very clear explanation. I have a couple of questions if you are able to answer, much appreciated. i have a 120W water pump, can it be run via the load setting or would i have to run it from the battery. If i run trough the load it would enable me to use an irrigation controller and a small relay to control the circuit.
Thank you Scott, you have helped me greatly as I have the same controller (only 20amp version). The 'Chinglish' instruction sheet is confusing, so this helped me understand the functions way better, thanks again! ...I do have one problem however, my 'charge icon' (arrow from Solar icon) is suddenly not working (I have 2 x 80W slimline solar panels on top my teardrop camper trailer), but battery not receiving charge! Will look for other tutorials to help...
Subscribed!
Hi. Can you explain the different types of batery setting? And what one is best for a conventional led acid wet battery.
Thanks.
Great video. Can you connect an inverter to the load ports or directly to the battery?
Much appreciated Scott. I have this 30amp unit. Connected to my 110 amp leisure batterles with 1 2x100w solar panel with a 1000w invertor does this sound OK.can I add another solar panel to the set up
Thanks for the vid ! i think i have the same controller, used it over the weekend and i don't think it was working. how can i tell if the solar panel is charging my battery?
Is there a good way to utilize this in an RV? Everything is already either powered by shore power or inverter (when turned on).
I think I commented another of your videos but, would you know where I can find an adapter to connect a dv(18v) to the solar controller?
Great video, thanks. One further question on the load on/off. If i set for 3hrs (after dusk) and use the manual on to turn on the load when it's "off" when will it turn off automatically or will it stay on indefinitely?
I ordered a two panel solar kit. And the solar panels already have a place for wires on the back of them. As they were part of the $50 kit. At your convenience if you could help me with this I would truly appreciate it. What I'm not understanding is how I'm going to hook it up the panels when they only have an extension for the little wires? Just wanting to know if it's too late for me to do anything about it. Thank you and God Bless you!
On the load side can you connect AC or DC appliance or bought
I'm going to use this to power a small LED light in my shed. Something like .3 amps. I put a switch by the door so I don't have to fumble in the dark to find the load on/off button on the controller. I'm hoping to use to load connection to prevent me from killing the battery if I forget to turn the light off. (My unit is a bit newer, will have to see if the discharge stop is still set to 11.3 as you explained in another video) but will that work? If the switch is "off" at the door, and the load is set for 24, will having no load on the load (because of the switch being off) cause any issues? And if I DID leave it on, would the light just keep cycling at the discharge reconnect/discharge stop? I'm thinking it would.
Do you know if it possible to charge AGM batteries, with this controller? 😀
Cool vid thanks, I'm trying to work out the simple math so i know what wattage the controller is effectively producing... When I switched the controlled on obviously all i could see is voltage.. So I'm i'm running 100w solar into a 12v battery can you please tell me the magic math so I know what its putting out in watts at any one time. Thanks!
Your videos are to the point and that is why I decided to ask for your input.
I am setting up a Solar Pond aeration with 2 100 watt panels same Controller, 100 aH 12v battery , a 225W(400W surge) inverter and a HiBlo Air pump1.6amp 120v. I need to know how to correctly connect the inverter. Should it be connected to the controller or directly to the battery leaving the load port empty. Also should all Positive 10awg wires be Fused?
Thanks for the feedback. It depends on the rated output watts your controller load can handle. In the video, mine can only handle up to 120 watts, which wouldn’t work for your setup. So I would hook directly up to the battery. And when it comes to fuses, I’m not an expert, but I would say when in doubt, it never hurts to use one. I hope that helps!
Scott Nice job!
The link you posted for the solar controller
(that appears to be blue) comes up with a green one not like the demo you used and I would like to purchase the one you demoed.
I am hooking it to a Pop up Truck camper and the camper has to have a maximum of 10 amps.
can you provide me with a link on Amazon Please!
thats for the vid , since I am new to this I have a simple question
I have a DC pump 12V 180W 80 ampere controller , can i just put the pump into the load terminal ? or shall i connect it to the battery directly ?
So far i understood is the load terminal the regulated output from the Battery ? is that so far correct ?
What is the optically controlled voltage? Can't find anything on it. My set to 5v but goes to 10. Anything would help.
Can you set it up with no load just to maintain the battery long term (like in a storage environment)?
Is there a scenario where this would switch from a leisure battery to a car battery when full? So that it charges both?
Can i use 7Ah/12v battery if I want to light up chistmas lights on outside conditions?
How do you set up the bulk charging parameters?....and in the beginning what are you multiplying the charger controller amps by to get the 120W of power?
Great Video! So, could I hardwire my Jackery to the load output using the provided 12volt car adapter that came with the jackery? That way I could charge the jackery during the day and have it stop charging at sunset. Since I can already charge the jackery using the 12volt car adapter by plugging it into the cigarette lighter, seems I should be able to just chop off the 12volt adapter part and use those wires to connect to the charge controller output. Other end of the adapter already has the 8mm plug on it. Am I wrong???
Yes, that sounds like it would work. If you're wanting to tie into your existing system, then yeah, just hook up the Jackery to the load output and the Jackery should also manage charging on it's own.
so i have 21 hours selected, after sunset, it will say ON for 21h, regardless if it reaches sunrise. is this correct?
Ok , so i took a "cigarette plug adapter" and wired it into the load , so my load in now powering a cigarette socket , into the cigarette socket i plugged in a 75 watt power inverter which is so small that it doesnt have a cooling fan , and therefore doesnt waste much juice when its on.
And it also has 1 USB socket and into that i plugged a USB powered light bulb , so when you turn on the load it also turns on its own work lights , so u can see the top of the battery and front of the charge controller and everything else one might want to check on at night.
Thank you for explaining to me that i only had 120 watts to play with there ,,,,,, that could have gone badly otherwise lol .
The 75 watt power inverter is also just enough to run my modem all night if i wanted to get my laptop running to find out why my power went out.
Hello, Thank you for this informative video.
Does the controller stop charging the battery automatically when it is full ?
Thank you
Sort of, it slows the charge down to a trickle charge, which is good for batteries. It regulates how much charge the battery needs based on what you set.
Great video man, going to check my settings out to see why my battery practically dies every night and can’t get it fully charged
Haha, awesome, glad it helped!
I have the same issue kindly assist.when my battery dies after four hours I'm in darkness
Hi Scott, can you explain the functions marked on the manual as 2, 3 and 4 after the main display and before the timer function:
1) Floating charge: 13.7V (default, adjustable), 12.0-15.0V? : Can you explain what this is?
2) Discharge stop voltage: 10.7V (default, adjustable), 8.0-11.5V : This I managed, it's a limit set that when the battery voltage is below the set value ex. 10.7V, the controller cuts off the supply to the load. Unfortunately I couldn't set this below 8V, I guess it's to protect the battery from draining too much.
3) Discharge reconnection voltage: 12.5V (default, adjustable), 11.0-13.0V : Can you explain this function please?
Thanks
Hi, i just curious 1 thing, how do u set the controller 12volt for the 18 volt solar panel, i'm really wanna know about that...
Wow I thought it had a min batt voltage you can set to cut load to prevent battery drain. The internal timer is great will set that one.= for small 12v heater after sunset in greenhouse.
Can I use the load output without connecting a battery? We are using the controller in a solar powered boat competition. Two of the races use only solar panels to power the boat. The third race, an endurance race, uses small batteries to power the motor.
Does the charge module show how much you are currently drawing when the load is on?
Will it work for my electric bike
When people talk about a float charge for a solar charge controller, I have trouble understanding if the float charge is going to be the max charged voltage, and which would shut off the power going in? They talk about the idea of 'float charge' and bulk charge, and I'm worried if I have this at the wrong ranges for my batteries if its overcharging them. And do you want to limit the float charge for some types of batteries like lead acid and AGM battery types, and what kinds of ranges?
Its also hard because on the sides of the batteries they quote cycle charges and standby charges but not float charges or bulk charges. So I'm not sure how to translate those figures to the float charge, etc?
I have a technical question:
I am using this system for a water pump which I am as for now starting manually every day for about 30min at about mid-day.
I would like to make this automatical but the options here do not seem to match with my request.
The best ide that I came with is to set the discharge reconnect to it's max value and the work mode to stop at about mid-day. I didn't try this yet as I think that it would anyway work more than the 30 min what I need...
The real question is : how can I set it to work only from 11h30 to 12h00 ? Maybe an external device ?
Sorry for long text, I am an absolute beginner at electricity and still quite unsure of what I am doing...
Thank you for the information.
You didn't mention if the controller remembers your settings once it is disconnected from the battery, or do you have to set up every time ??😢
I got an atempower controller that looks the same as yours. I can't get the 0H function to work to power a pond pump during the day only. When the bulb icon is on the pump works but it doesn't switch off at sunset? It just keeps going into the night and I have to switch it off manually. Any thoughts what I may have missed?
Ah, fair enough. I was kind of assuming the "Load" connections were for something like a big resistor or an incandescent lightbulb or something similar, so if your batteries were fully charged, but the solar cells were still cranking out watts, there was somewhere for the excess power to go.
Thanks for explaining this.
I thought the same thing. Can some please confirm? Does excess load need to be dumped? Thank you
@@kaydog890 I actually did a bit of research after writing that comment, and the answer is that there ISN'T any excess power to get rid of. Solar cells have a sort of resistance "Sweet spot" where they produce the most amps, and the charge controller plays with this resistance to modulate the panels output. That can go all the way up to pretty much disconnecting the panels so they produce a high "open circuit" voltage, but in that state they make next to no amps. This is why disconnected solar cells don't just build up energy until they start arcing all over the place and exploding. When disconnected they see a pretty much infinitely large resistance, so produce a miniscule amount of power.......... OK, this way of describing it isn't really 100% accurate, but it's close enough to how it works to be "True enough", and it's easier to get your head around this that to take a deep dive into the science behind how solar panels work. :D
It helps to think of the solar cell like a kind of battery, but one that stores it's power about 90 million miles away in the sun. :D . When a charged normal battery isn't connected to anything it's still got POTENTIAL energy inside, but without any way for it to flow from one terminal to the other it's energy that's just sitting there....... twiddling it's thumbs and waiting for something to do. Solar panels have a similar sort of potential energy in the form of the light that's constantly hitting it, the difference is, if a solar cell can't do anything with this energy it's just wasted as a slight amount of heat.
In most senses though, solar cells can just be thought of like batteries. To an extent you can run them in parallel to get a higher amperage, in series to up the voltage, or a mixture of both to try and keep the open circuit voltage and total amps produced below what your charge controller and wiring can handle.
Great job deciphering the code. But how on earth does the manufacturer expect the helpless user could break the secrets behind this Enigma of 1-23H, 0H 😅 Thank a lot
so is it ok to charge your batteries with a generator when the sun hasn't shown for a couple days. do you have to disconnect from charge controller to do this
I'm running a 60 watt greenhouse heater through a 300 watt inverter overnight. It drains my 105 ah deep cycle battery to 10v after 2 nights? Should I be able to run this heater this way without draining the battery?
So to run a 12v fridge 24hours connect the fridge to the load port and the solar will charge the battery and the charge controller will manage the charging of the battery and also running the fridge?
OK, so what do you actually connect to the output load, practically? I'm using with an RV...I don't have anything that would plug two wires into a controller, so still no idea what you use for that output load...?
Sorry Scott I made a mistake. I have 1x100w solar panel going to 2x110amp leisure batteries with 1000w inverter. Is this OK. Can I add another 100w panel
to the set up.
Hi Scott I have fitted a 300ah lithium battery into my caravan and had to update my MPT controller to a Mppt controller. I have a positive only load wire from the MPT. The new Victron mppt 100/50 doesn’t have a load terminal. My question is can I join my positive load and positive BATT wire together and connect to to BATT terminal on Mppt controller. I can’t get back to the battery to give the load wire power. Thanku for any feedback.
I would say the best solution would be to hook the load right off the battery terminals. But if you can’t access the battery, that makes it hard. I’m not a professional and I’m not recommending anything, but, it would make sense to me that whether the load is connected on the battery terminal or at the end of the wire hooked into the controller, that there wouldn’t be a difference. But, again, that’s my unprofessional opinion and I don’t advise it, be careful with the wiring. You just wouldn’t want an electrical fire and ability to prevent them too. I hope that helps!
I have this same controller, it always gets hot and smells when the sun is high and display E12 or E16. I have 6 panels on two 12v batteries. What could be the issue.
Good job explaing. For some reason I can't get the OH settings to work and idea
In my video description I wrote this: UPDATE: If you set the timer to 0H, It actually runs from dusk to dawn, not dawn to dusk like I said in the video. Maybe that will do the trick!
OK thank you
Some people connect both appliance and mppt directly to the battery. How is this different from connecting the appliance to the load port. Thanks for sharing.
By connecting the appliance to the load port, you can adjust the settings like when it powers on or off. But it doesn’t really work when you have a large load, in that case you need to connect to the battery directly.
Thanks can you explain a 60 amp mppt charge controller??
You bet! It would be similar, an mppt controller is better and more efficient for harvesting more solar power. I don't have one to showcase, but maybe down the road!
I'm using a drompower 60a mppt solar charge controller with 5 12V sealed batteries and 10 200W Solar panels. I'm unable to have electricity the whole night. Could you guide me through the load setup?
So is the output still drawing from the battery, or is it only supplied by the power of the panel/charge controller?
I believe the output is drawing mainly from the battery source.
Can you hook up to the load side without a battery? I’m trying to run a small water pump 2.7amps during the day only.
Unfortunately I don’t believe so. I have had success with a 12 volt fan and solar, but it would only spin maybe 10% when the sun would shine. So you could try, but you really need a battery to operate properly.
What does the the two voltage meanings mean in the menu? You can increase and decrease.It's 12.6-14.4 volts
That might be the float voltage, you can set it to whatever you want, or just leave it to the default.
Hi I've just got into solar and I have bought one of these controllers. I have 8 low power LEDs which are on a 5H setting. I am using a 12v gel battery. The lights come on great at dusk but a couple of hours later the whole system starts flashing. Any ideas why?
The lights starts flashing? Or the controller screen? What’s your battery voltage at when they start flashing?
Hi Scott, could you clarify the 00h setting? - when my device is set to that, is the load supposed to be switched on between sunset and sunrise, or between sunrise and sunset? I want the load to be on during the day while the sun is on the PV, but its not doing that - its not turning on the load in daylight when PV is coming in. Any help appreciated.
It is the opposite, from dusk till dawn. There is an update in the video description.
Does the load take power from the battery or directly from the panel?
The battery lol
If you Load side 12v on the charger controller
Hello,
My controller doesn't see solar panel.
I bought cheap setup from ebay...
but I might have bought controller which is too strong for weak panel,
am I correct?
panel is 12v 60watts
controller is 40amp,
giant of the sun with extra 2x 12v dc sockets.
I tested my panel with multimeter 11-12 volts
during poor sunlight, daytime.
controller see the battery, but cannot see the solar panel.
any hints, or solutions ?
can those controllers run with just a usb battery bank and not connected to a lead acid battery? anybody tried that?
i have 100ah battery and 120 w pannel (all new) during the day, it shows a fully charged battery signal (14.4v) but during the nyt after 1hr the controller displays a blinking low battery signal and lights are off . have i interfered with charge controller settings? is the battery a problem?
am using lead acid battery (Incoe n100)
Yeah, it could simply be a bad or weak battery.
Hi,
I've set up my controller, battery and solar panel. I was planning on running a USB heat mat from the controller.
When I switch the mat on, the controller loses power, switches the blanket off then the controller comes back on.
Do you know what the issue could be?
Thanks
Most likely it’s an issue with your battery. Either not large enough, bad, or the controller settings need to be adjusted so the load stays powered longer. Try lowering the load off voltage.
Can we connect lcd tv to the controller DC output?
In order to do that, if it works, you would have to connect a small inverter to the controller and then try powering your tv from there.
Is the voltage readout accurate on your controller? Mine indicates 0.26 V higher than either the electric one I connected as a load OR my DVMeter across the main battery terminals. Not very good ... but hoping it's just a calibration thing and that the controller is otherwise good to go.
Yes, I have seen a slightly different voltage reading off the controller, not sure by how much, I hope it works out for you!
Hey Scott ... update is that I can't alter the Float Voltage on either unit. It's stuck at 12.6. Simple solution is to return them. I'm ordering something by Renogy now. You get what you pay for. Thanks -
Gotcha, interesting, thanks for the update!
I order one of these controllers to add to my portable power box to just regulate charging my lithium battery during the day while out on the pier fishing . My question is do I have to run my lights and other thing from the load side or can I just run them off the battery like it now.?
Yes can run from battery, the load port can’t handle much load so connect directly
The load ports can handle up to 120 watts, if it's greater than that, just hook up to the battery. Also, this controller doesn't work with Lithium batteries, so be aware of that.
Hello Sir can you please help me out 😢 i have solar system at home which is troubling me.the problem is i can't watch a t.v at night but during day i can use solar system very well i have 3000w inverter, 440W solar panels and 50a Sun Solar controller charger and the time i bought all of this i used to operate it even at night so i have have but my problem is i don't know which one is should Change my batteries are 1 year old its 100ah your response will be appreciated 🙏.
👍
My controller doesn't display "0H"but does display "00". Unfortunately, when it is set to "00" I can't get the output to turn on. I am trying to power a small 12V, 6W fountain pump during the daytime only.
So is the load only for 12v appliances? also how do the load ports differ from the battery charging ports other than by name?
The load ports provide 12 volt power for whatever you want to run, up to its rated spec, which mine is 120 watts. The middle ports for battery charging specifically regulate the battery voltage to how you configure the settings.
No difference at all..
Can i use the load output for my 12V DC TV while the charging is on 14.4V. thanks
Yes, I believe so.
@@ScottsSolarProjects thanks sir, cos it's normal for the voltage to go high when there is enough sunlight
Thanks GOD bless
Can the battery be disconnected from the charger (shut off switch) while a solar panel is connected and return to normal use after the battery is reconnected?
Unfortunately I wouldn't think so. You always have to connect the battery first to the controller.
What's the difference between discharge reconect and discharge stop? I read in my mppt 30amp controller and can't understand?
I made this for you! Hope it helps! ua-cam.com/users/shorts2BikQAjhaPs
@@ScottsSolarProjects thanks. I thought discharge reconect was the output to the load.
Be very careful with the USB ports. The plastic contact support is easily broken.