Solar amp hours in real life

[JFNM]

What an exciting little exchange!!

Originally Posted by Forest Grump

Another issue is do you need a separate amp meter - battery monitor if you have a modern charge controller with display such as the Tristar in an RV. I don't. My Tristar tells me everything I need to know.

Several interesting things here. Firstly "need" - it's probably an easy argument that a good battery monitor is not a "need" as in a life or death requirement. Next, an "amp meter" is not the same as a good "battery monitor".

No doubt that your Tristar tells you a lot. Sadly, it does not tell you everything about your electrical system. It tells you all about what your solar panels and solar charge controller is doing and very little about your battery bank - some hints as to it's state, yes.

Originally Posted by Forest Grump

In my case I notice my batteries have finished the adsorption phase, are in the float stage and can not take any further charge probably because we use power more wisely, are more energy efficient and the overall design of system is better.

It is quite difficult to convince someone of the value of a good battery monitor. A person really needs to experience it for themselves. I can repeat what others have said, 'without a good battery monitor, you do not have all the information about your 12V electrical system and that missing information is of value', but you won't listen so probably isn't worth the time to say it.

[Reed Cundiff]

My wife thinks I am OCD with respect to our battery management system. She is probably correct!
Reed and Elaine

[Forest Grump]

The reason I posted on this thread was to have some fun with the huge amount of garbage information that was being posted, unchallenged. Yes adjectives, nouns and verbs are important. The person who named his system as a 60 amp solar charger really meant to say that it is a 60 amp solar charge controller. Either that or he keeps his device on the roof soaking up the rays.

There are physical bullies and verbal bullies. I have always loved to have fun with each. It's so easy. When it comes to electrical and someone says something really ridiculous that might cause harm or misinformation then it's time to start asking them the dumb questions. What is remarkable the verbal bully's answer till eventually even they catch on. Some take longer than others. Some call you names, like kindergarteners.

Some insist you must have what they have because it is really important, to them. Some insist this does that without really knowing what its primary purpose or significance is. Some speak to the complete veracity and volume of knowledge of Solar Bob and then butcher what his was saying or trying to get across.

Solar Bob is really good for his emphasis on conductor size, his expertise on solar charge controllers and what certain brands will do and won't do. He is is excellent in matching the various solar components and more importantly he is very practical and uses the correct terminology.

So I had fun guys, enjoy!

[Reed Cundiff]

Handybob as in https://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/ or is there another guru?
Confused

[Forest Grump]

That's him!

[elkski]

Class, class, class... what did happen?
Play nice

[OLYLEN]

It strikes me funny, some have motor home monitors the tell them going down the road all about the motor and trans and tires and and and, guess I'm one. But others get to the same place I go with nothing extra, it is amazing how they get there without the $1000 in extra gauges. Same for solar panels and charge controllers. It must be amazing how some get by, don't run out of power, get max life out of batteries without the $1000 of extra monitors and gizmos. "JUST AMAZING"

LEN

[Forest Grump]

Amen to that!

[Reed Cundiff]

I like having the monitors for the Tristar MPPT-45, the Magnum Inverter, and the Manzanita Micro LFP Battery Management System.

1. It helps to know what is happening and where we are in charging/discharging and what energy usage mode we should be using e.g. using solar/battery for fridge and/or hot water or having to use propane. Or even turning off inverter when not required.

2. And primarily, if something goes wrong I can call our older son for advice. We were camped on beach in Yucatan and things were not working. He had me run through diagnostics and I just had to make several adjustments.

We also carry two extra trailer tires since you cannot get trailer tires in Mexico and Belize. You can get Michellin pickup truck tires anywhere. We met a couple that convoyed down to Panama and back and they said one couple did not have spare tire for tow vehicle or trailer.

Reed and Elaine

[530ktm]

Boy this thread has taken some interesting turns. I did not look up Solar Bob and simply do everything he said to do, until I read numerous other sites and then figured that he knew what he was talking about. I learned everything from reading his and others sites and decided what was going to work for me and it does just that. He also responds to emails and is very helpful.

[jackfish]

Obviously one does not have to do everything Handy Bob says, but the five takeaways from his blog that I previously posted are in general agreement with the likes of Jack Meyer and J. Greg Holder.
RV Electrical
http://www.amsolar.com/shop/images/ams_workshop-1.pdf
And #5. of the afore mentioned takeaways implies employing temperature compensation.

[757driver]

Originally Posted by 530ktm

Boy this thread has taken some interesting turns. I did not look up Solar Bob and simply do everything he said to do, until I read numerous other sites and then figured that he knew what he was talking about. I learned everything from reading his and others sites and decided what was going to work for me and it does just that. He also responds to emails and is very helpful.

I agree, there is a lot of good information there. Interesting turns is an understatement.

[757driver]

Originally Posted by jackfish

Obviously one does not have to do everything Handy Bob says, but the five takeaways from his blog that I previously posted are in general agreement with the likes of Jack Meyer and J. Greg Holder.
RV Electrical
http://www.amsolar.com/shop/images/ams_workshop-1.pdf
And #5. of the afore mentioned takeaways implies employing temperature compensation.

Agreed. With regards to substantial output charge controlling, either solar or inverter, temperature compensation is an absolute must.