A Variaty of Meter readings [RE-wrenches]

[Rick Cullen - RV Power Products]

Dana,

One thing to consider when comparing these meters is to keep in mind where
each one individually measures. In the case of the SB50, it measures the
voltage on it's battery terminals. When in solar charge, it can be normal
for the SB50 display to read slightly higher that actual battery terminal
voltage due to voltage drop in wiring connecting the SB50 to the battery.
The 0.2V difference you show doesn't seem out of line. This difference can
vary widely depending on charge current and wiring resistance. This applies
to the other devices as well. Try the measurement again right on the
terminals of where these devices actually measure voltage.

Rick Cullen
RV Power Products, Inc.
Providing quality MPPT solar charge controllers
Phone 760-597-1642 x102
Fax 760-597-1731

mail to: rick at rvpowerproducts.com
www.rvpowerproducts.com



----- Original Message -----
From: "Dana Orzel" <dana at solarwork.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 6:20 AM
Subject: A Variaty of Meter readings [RE-wrenches]


> After installing our first Outback FX200 and an Outback Mate meter in the
> home of a long time client as a replacement for an older inverter we were
> hit with the dilemma of up to .7 Volt variances in the meter readings.
There
> is/was an existing Trimeteric meter in the kitchen and the charge
controller
> is a RVPP SB50 with the meter. Here is where it got interesting. All the
> meters read differently. The owners were out of town and the house sitter
> called in a panic the first evening the new inverter and Mate were in.
> Which meter do I believe?
> I stopped up yesterday and put the Fluke 87 in to the fray and a Greenlee
> rms rated meter just for fun.. The Fluke and the Greenlee meters matched
> down to the .001 VDC so I put the Greenlee meter backin its case.
>
> The readings please..................
>
> Outback mate meter : 25.0 VDC
> Trimeteric meter @ the meter :   25.7 VDC
> Solar Boost 50 :  25.4 VDC
> Fluke @ the battery cable in the APT center :  25.23 VDC
> Fluke at the point of the TRimeteric wire hook up in the APT center :
25.22
> VDC [ meter fuse in center ]
>
> Note: The system was in PV charge mode at the time of these readings.
>
> The house sitter was seeing the trimet and the outback mate meters.
> At the time the Trimet was reading 24.3 VDC and the Outback mate was
reading
> 23.6 VDC.
> She was in a panic as to which meter to believe? The system has a manually
> started small Honda generator.
> I had her start it up and bring the battery bank up.
> I have turned the Trimetreic off at his point.
> The Outback meter as its own supplied cable.
> The Trimeteric is 8 ft. from the battery bank and is wired with a twisted
&
> shielded pair of 16 ga cable.
> My supplier, Dankoff Solar, is contacting the manufacturers.
>
> Anyone else hit this glitch?
>
> Thanks - Dana Orzel
>
> Responsible Technologies for Responsible People.
> Great Solar Works, Inc.
> dana at solarwork.com - 970.626.5253
> Ridgway, CO, USA
>
> - - - -
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/
>
> List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm
>
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html
>
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
>
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
>
>
>

- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://www.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/

List rules & etiquette: http://www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquete.htm

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/index.html

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com

==^================================================================
This email was sent to: michael_welch at sbcglobal.net

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

TOPICA - Start your own email discussion group. FREE!
http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/create/index2.html
==^================================================================