Lessons learned while moving from a 3 Way to a DC Fridge ...

[themexicandoctor]

At 8.15am I clicked on my

SMART SOLAR MTTP SCREEN

I see 41W coming in.

My Voltage has risen to 12.97v

I am in Bulk Charge

 

[themexicandoctor]

At 9.15am

SMART METER
My Bank is at 13.35v

My SOC is 100%

Battery Temperature is at 24°C

SMART METER HISTORY

The system has cleared out figures leading up to a Full Charge

 

[themexicandoctor]

At 9.15am

SMART SOLAR
Informs me that there is 76W going in

That my Voltage is 17.35

That I am still in Bulk

SMART SOLAR HISTORY

That my Yeild thus far is only* 90W

*I highlight this because it is like a Winter's Day here in Los Angeles, the Sun even at 6am is an Orange Red.

My system canot harvest more only because of the Fires.

 

[themexicandoctor]

Its 12.57pm

SMART METER
Inform me that I am at 14.24v

That I am at a SOC of 100%

My Battery Temperature has increased to 27°C

SMART METER HISTORY

Again all.the recent history numbers are gone


SMART SOLAR
Informs me that I am receiving 121W

My Voltage is at 17.82

And that I have now moved in Absorption Phase

SMART SOLAR HISTORY
Informs me that even in these conditions thus far I have harvested 520wh

Blah blah blah

Now somewhere here I should have earned that Gold Star that was promised ...

 

[themexicandoctor]

I want to show you some alarming statistics or just one, one is enough of what happens when there is an unknown glitch in the system & as an owner, you add a DC Fridge that places a Tax on your system & it cannot keep up.

Bottom line; one day I had a solar harvest from my 250watt panels170 & 80, of 1.25wh & I still couldn't catch up or even get past Absorption.

My glitch; the culprit behind the Fridge not performing during the Heatwave & afterwards, namely a loose ground connection caused by a different RV Guy adding a flimsy connection.

Sorry thst the image quality is poor, at that time I did not realise that Screenshots were already reduced in file size.

NOT THE NOVAKOOL.

My error, in my system.

Plus all those increased figures as I detailed before & Rowiebowie commented is by bringing the Roadtrek OEM SINGLE & OPTIONAL BATTERY bank, INSIDE the Cab, from off the outside REAR PASSENGER SIDE, as close as possible (42 INCHES) to the SHUNT & ELECTRICAL BOX, which on the 2005 Roadtrek 190 Versatile is up.agInst the rear of the Kitchen Czbinet/Rear Lounge Wall on the Drivers Side.

I could have moved it closer but I wanted to keep my Subwoofer & I had already installed the new (2 years ago), MAGNUM MMS1012 Inverter bolted upside down, above the subwoofer.

 

[themexicandoctor]

The Mickey Mouse Roadtrek 2005 design.

We estimated that we eliminated 85% of the Cablimg Runs.

No more climbing underneath.

No more exposure to the elements.

No more Rear Battery SITTING ON TOP of the Exhaust at temperatures recorded at 52°C!

Here are some AFTER & BEFORE Photos not showing you the full extent of the cabling & connections, etc.

 

[themexicandoctor]

Can the Victron plot amps on a time graph?

Yes it dobut I haven't worked out how to get meaningful data from it like I can the Sensorpush Bluetooth units.

There are so many options.

And of course with Victron you can download the data, etc but I still tripping over Amps & Amp Hours.

Here are the options on two screenshits plus the Solar has that same sata reporting also

 

[@Michael]

Yes it dobut I haven't worked out how to get meaningful data from it like I can the Sensorpush Bluetooth units.

You can get a pretty good idea how often the fridge is running by looking at the sawtooth shape on your sensorpush temperature graphs. If the temp is rising, the compressor is not running. If the temp is falling, the compressor is running.

 

[themexicandoctor]

Great idea - I am working on finding the graphs for Avanti.

But let me dive into Sensorpush later - I have 4 units - they simply are phenomenal!

 

[themexicandoctor]

This is thst night after loading new groceries ...

 

[themexicandoctor]

Here are some new figures for last night & this morning usage.

 

[themexicandoctor]

Explanation;

#1 @ 10.52pm I was only at 98% SOC.

I was already down 5.1amp hours.



#2 @ 12.02am I was at 97% SOC.

The fridge has cycled off but lights, etc were on.

I was now down 7.1amp hours.



#3 @ 7.35am there was a little solar but my SOC was 93%

I was now down 20.5amp hours.



#4 @ 7.35am I had used 20 amp hours rounded up

My last Full Charge was 14 hours & 11 minutes previously.

Next I will present the Sensorpush Bluetooth unit Graph.

 

[themexicandoctor]

It appears that the unit cycled ON & OFF approximately 5/Five times in the course of just under 9 hours.

 

[themexicandoctor]

9 hours ÷ 20 amp hours is an average 2.2amp hour draw.

If anyone wants to see the graph per hour for 9 hours, I can do thst but its about 12 images