question

missy avatar image
missy asked

Why aren't my batteries charging faster?


Here are current screenshots of my smartsolar output:


And my battery monitor :


I also have an Orion tr 12/12-30 running.

We have been driving for 2.5 hours today, and have only gone up 1%. We started yesterday fully charged, but used a laptop and inverter for several hours, plus a heater overnight. That dropped us to 76%, 12.63V.

Screenshot from this morning, before we started driving:

I would have thought that we would be recharging quicker given the sunny weather and the Orion (it's new, am I expecting too much of it?)


Ive reread the instructions for the monitor and mppt, I can't figure it out.

We have a fridge running, a fan on low, no other draws.



battery charging
screenshot-20191105-131515-comvictronenergyvictron.jpg (291.0 KiB)
screenshot-20191105-131400-comvictronenergyvictron.jpg (327.0 KiB)
screenshot-20191105-110646-comvictronenergyvictron.jpg (323.4 KiB)
screenshot-20191105-131515-comvictronenergyvictron.jpg (291.0 KiB)
2 comments
2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

Murray van Graan avatar image Murray van Graan commented ·

What’s the rating of your panels?

0 Likes 0 ·
missy avatar image missy Murray van Graan commented ·

390w, its bifacial so could go up to 500w but I've only ever seen it reach 390!

0 Likes 0 ·
2 Answers
Matthias Lange - DE avatar image
Matthias Lange - DE answered ·

Batteries? Capacity? Settings? Is the shunt wired correctly (pictures)?

5 comments
2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

missy avatar image missy commented ·

I have 3 x 100ah agm batteries. The solar was charging the batteries fully in June/July, we hit float most days.

Then August was rainy and cloudy and we dropped to 50% many times, having to charge up with mains hookup.

I thought adding the Orion would make up for the lack of sun during winter. Unfortunately I accidentally bought a non-smart one, so I have no idea how it is performing while we drive.

I'll get a picture of the shunt in the morning.


Thanks!

0 Likes 0 ·
Matthias Lange - DE avatar image Matthias Lange - DE ♦ missy commented ·

AFAIK the "old" non-smart Orion's are not designed DC to DC chargers. They are power supplies for loads, not as DC-DC-chargers.

0 Likes 0 ·
Show more comments
Daniel avatar image
Daniel answered ·

I could be wrong. Are your MPPT, BMV, and Battery in the same Location? Your BMV shows -1°C. Maybe the Charge controller doesn't give out more power because of its cold. I don't know if the MPPT has a Temperature Probe. If you have the temperature sensor on your battery I higly recommend to make a VE.Smart network.

2 |3000
Toggle Comment visibility. Current Visibility: Viewable by all users

Up to 8 attachments (including images) can be used with a maximum of 190.8 MiB each and 286.6 MiB total.

Related Resources

Additional resources still need to be added for this topic