Community Forums

RAM1961 · 09-02-2011, 02:35 PM

I have a 90.5 blunder with solar panel and two 6v batteries tied together. Are you supposed to connect them by positive on one battery to negative on other battery? Solar panel is working-i have 18.5 volts running thru it.

KIX · 09-02-2011, 02:46 PM

To get 12 volts from two 6 volt batteries you would connect the neg on one to the pos on the other. That will leave you one neg and one pos terminal free (one on each battery) that you connect your load to.
AS to the 18.5 volts from your solar panel.........I hope you have a controller to reduce the voltage as 18 volts will cook your batteries

RJay · 09-02-2011, 02:51 PM

You are correct about the configuration. After you connect the batteries together as stated connect up the pos and neg feeds from the coach to the batteries.

18.5 volts going to your batteries is too high and will boil the electrolyte. Do you have a controller to regulate the voltage??

BlauMax · 09-02-2011, 05:54 PM

Hope you also have a diode in the solar system to keep things from going in reverse at night..

bigskymt · 09-02-2011, 06:13 PM

Welcome Ram1961 from us in Whitehall. Did you measure the 18.5 VDC at no load?

DAN L · 09-03-2011, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM1961

I have a 90.5 blunder with solar panel and two 6v batteries tied together. Are you supposed to connect them by positive on one battery to negative on other battery? Solar panel is working-i have 18.5 volts running thru it.

check this resource.

Electrical Tutorial

Midniteoyl · 09-03-2011, 01:16 AM

Also look here: The 12volt Side of Life (Part 1)

RAM1961 · 09-03-2011, 08:05 AM

Thanks for all the info. I don't know about a controller or diode. Not even sure where to look. This system and hwh levelling system are the only two components that didn't have a manual.

Ed-Sommers · 09-03-2011, 08:42 AM

If that solar panel is one of those cuts little square battery minder types, you may get 18.5 volts, but next to nothing in the way of amps. Boiling a batt with one of those, especially 6 volt deep cycle is next to impossible.

A larger panel is another story, and NO, I am not implying I know which is in use.

Ed

RAM1961 · 09-05-2011, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed-Sommers

If that solar panel is one of those cuts little square battery minder types, you may get 18.5 volts, but next to nothing in the way of amps. Boiling a batt with one of those, especially 6 volt deep cycle is next to impossible.

A larger panel is another story, and NO, I am not implying I know which is in use.

Ed

its about a foot square. The 18.5 volts I read was from a line straight off solar panel that was not connected to anything at the time. Its for the chassis battery which I monitored all weekend when I connected it. With it connected, the chassis battery never read more than 12.7 volts while not running. I ran to sandpoint and replaced both 6v batteries with new electric golf cart batteries. That system stayed steady at 12.5 volts when motor wasn't running. So perhaps there is some controlling device?

Now to get onan 6500 nhe genset running. Got new spark plugs but didn't bring gap gauge. Old plugs ran well for 5 minutes then started surging and wavering then died. Wait 20 minutes and repeat. Got everything else to work.

RJay · 09-05-2011, 08:29 PM

Ram,
Didn't know you had the small panel. by the time that voltage gets to the batteries it should be down to about 13 or 14 volts because of the voltage drop to the batteries.

RAM1961 · 09-05-2011, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigskymt

Welcome Ram1961 from us in Whitehall. Did you measure the 18.5 VDC at no load?

Thanks for welcome. I have customers there....too

Ed-Sommers · 09-06-2011, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAM1961

its about a foot square. The 18.5 volts I read was from a line straight off solar panel that was not connected to anything at the time. Its for the chassis battery which I monitored all weekend when I connected it. With it connected, the chassis battery never read more than 12.7 volts while not running. I ran to sandpoint and replaced both 6v batteries with new electric golf cart batteries. That system stayed steady at 12.5 volts when motor wasn't running. So perhaps there is some controlling device?

Now to get onan 6500 nhe genset running. Got new spark plugs but didn't bring gap gauge. Old plugs ran well for 5 minutes then started surging and wavering then died. Wait 20 minutes and repeat. Got everything else to work.

That solar panel is only good to MAINTAIN a fully charged battery, not enough oomp there do any charging. Direct connection is fine, not enough amperage to do any damage.

Ed