So there is a few solar sites that I am having some issues with.. It had a laod of about 0.3 amps and had 2 -90 watt panels to an ASC 24/16 regulator. It was running great for about 15 years with regular maintenance. Then they added some load and did nothing with the panels.
They almost trippled the load to around 0.85 amps.. Needless to say, the batteries on the sites were drained.. We recommended adding 2 -140 watt panels and a Sunsaver SS-20L-24V (with the battery outputs wired in parallel to one common battery connection). In the meantime, to keep the sites running, we added a generator, a battery charger and left it at a 5 amp charge then it went to a "maintain" mode..
About 1.5 months later, some of the solar panels have been upgraded and we are having some issues.. The batteries are failing and have between 6 and 11 volts on them (6 - 12 volt, 100 aH, Gel batteries). Once the batteries are replaced, the voltages and currents return to expected values (26-27 vdc and charging currents depending on sun exposure).. A couple of the ASC regulators have failed and are putting ove 32 volts on the batteries.. Yesterday, the Sunsaver was charging at the "Absorption" level, and the ASC was showing not charging.
My questions are:
1) With the batteries being drained previously, would that reduce their ability to hold a charge now?
2) Are the two regulators compatible?
3) Am I missing anything with this set-up?
Thanks..
They almost trippled the load to around 0.85 amps.. Needless to say, the batteries on the sites were drained.. We recommended adding 2 -140 watt panels and a Sunsaver SS-20L-24V (with the battery outputs wired in parallel to one common battery connection). In the meantime, to keep the sites running, we added a generator, a battery charger and left it at a 5 amp charge then it went to a "maintain" mode..
About 1.5 months later, some of the solar panels have been upgraded and we are having some issues.. The batteries are failing and have between 6 and 11 volts on them (6 - 12 volt, 100 aH, Gel batteries). Once the batteries are replaced, the voltages and currents return to expected values (26-27 vdc and charging currents depending on sun exposure).. A couple of the ASC regulators have failed and are putting ove 32 volts on the batteries.. Yesterday, the Sunsaver was charging at the "Absorption" level, and the ASC was showing not charging.
My questions are:
1) With the batteries being drained previously, would that reduce their ability to hold a charge now?
2) Are the two regulators compatible?
3) Am I missing anything with this set-up?
Thanks..