Solar Panels w/Amp Gauges

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by CoCoKnots

Good morning,

Skip, here is the post made by Andy about the jumper wire. My mistake... He was talking about the white wire & my mind processed it as the positive instead of neutral. My mistake... The 12v vs 120v translation factor & being too tired.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CoCoKnots,

I understand. Did the same thing last night myself. Got to stop spending half the night on the internet and get a little more sleep.

[pbiJim]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

I do know that the 1946 dodge I drove in high school was 6V positive ground. Try getting a jump start with that!!!

If that was an old power wagon, then they jump quite well from a 12v system as long as you get the polarity correct. They really spin over quick on a 12v jump.

[Opie91]

Back to the amp meter, did you try swapping the leads on the gauge?

[CoCoKnots]

Originally Posted by Opie91

Back to the amp meter, did you try swapping the leads on the gauge?

Yes... Not any difference

[CoCoKnots]

I just replaced my starter because I destroyed the last one from trying to start the engine when the batteries were too low. The refrigeration really takes it's toll... In a week the batteries are low again. What is the minimum voltage should be there before I try to start the engine again. (Three days ago they were 12.6 ...Two:12.2 ... Yesterday: 11.1 ... This morning: 10.07) In shock I turned off the refrigeration first thing.

[Stu Jackson]

Back to the Freedom unit. Question: Why is there any question about the generator and the "inverter" working at the same time? Reason I ask is that on my Freedom 15 you can't run BOTH the inverter and the charger at the same time. EITHER the charger is functioning OR the inverter is. I control my Freedom 15 with a Link 2000. The heavy wires between the I/C and the house bank can have current only going in one direction at a time: either it's charging or inverting, and if you have a charging source present when you're inverting, you're not going to get any charging.

[CoCoKnots]

Originally Posted by Stu Jackson

Back to the Freedom unit. Question: Why is there any question about the generator and the "inverter" working at the same time? Reason I ask is that on my Freedom 15 you can't run BOTH the inverter and the charger at the same time. EITHER the charger is functioning OR the inverter is. I control my Freedom 15 with a Link 2000. The heavy wires between the I/C and the house bank can have current only going in one direction at a time: either it's charging or inverting, and if you have a charging source present when you're inverting, you're not going to get any charging.

I know I could be clearer in my communication, but there is a misunderstanding. The issue is not the inverter... It's the conflict that occurs when using a Honda generator connected to the shore power inlet using the Freedom 20 to charge the house batteries. Both units, (the Honda & the Heart Freedom) include an inverter we get a reverse polarity light even though we are not addressing that part of either unit.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by CoCoKnots

I know I could be clearer in my communication, but there is a misunderstanding. The issue is not the inverter... It's the conflict that occurs when using a Honda generator connected to the shore power inlet using the Freedom 20 to charge the house batteries. Both units, (the Honda & the Heart Freedom) include an inverter we get a reverse polarity light even though we are not addressing that part of either unit.

Why should that cause an issue , unless you have rigged your AC wiring to allow both shore power and invertor AC to become paralleled together , which is a big no no

Dave

[CoCoKnots]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

Why should that cause an issue , unless you have rigged your AC wiring to allow both shore power and invertor AC to become paralleled together , which is a big no no

Dave

You're absolutely correct Dave,
There shouldn't be an issue. However, if you read a thread labeled "Reverse Polarity" it addresses an on going inconsistent problem in polarity using a Honda 2000i with the Heart Freedom Charger/Inverter. The issue does exist.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by CoCoKnots

You're absolutely correct Dave,
There shouldn't be an issue. However, if you read a thread labeled "Reverse Polarity" it addresses an on going inconsistent problem in polarity using a Heart 2000i with the Heart Freedom Charger/Inverter. The issue does exist.

Probably inconsistent ground wiring , reverse polarity in itself isn't the end of the world and everything should still work.

Dave

[Opie91]

Originally Posted by CoCoKnots

Yes... Not any difference

The meter is bad, the solar regulator is not putting out or you have an electrical path around the meter.

[Hotel L]

This is a confusing thread(s). Seriously stay on one topic.

[CoCoKnots]

Originally Posted by Opie91

The meter is bad, the solar regulator is not putting out or you have an electrical path around the meter.

I agree Hotel... I will be the first to admit this is a confusing thread.

I've replaced the meters, both are new, & I replaced the NC-25 regulator/controller unit. It appears to be working fine with 18 volts into the unit. I would think a bypass in the current around the meter would be obvious...
I could be wrong.

[pbiJim]

I think that you need some good old fashion point to point troubleshooting with a good hand held meter. A few system schematics would also be helpful.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by CoCoKnots

You're absolutely correct Dave,
There shouldn't be an issue. However, if you read a thread labeled "Reverse Polarity" it addresses an on going inconsistent problem in polarity using a Honda 2000i with the Heart Freedom Charger/Inverter. The issue does exist.

You're right, it is not an issue because the Freedom has a built in ATS.

There was a lot of discussion about the RP light on boats being lit up by using Honda generators, in addition to that RP topic, in many other boating forums. IIRC, the issue had to do with how the Honda generated its power via its inverter and the neutral ground issue. Most skippers just ignored it. Let me see if I can find some more posts for you. I'll get back to you.