William Isherwood's posts

80 watt panels are not that small. Just put an amp meter in series with either battery cable and leave out the controller. Panel-meter-battery. The amps will be less if the battery is fully charged. Measure each panel separately. If you get 3-5 amps midday you are doing fine. Clean all connections as that makes a big difference. Sometime putting new connectors helps if it has been awhile since your installation. Then add your controller and measure between that and the battery. That should tell you where your problem is. Also eliminate at least for testing any lights or devices on the panels. The lower the charge on the battery the greater the amp flow. I crimp and solder my connection on my boat (home). Good luck

Thanks. I'd sent 2 customer service emails and some one from India answered 1 of them. He did not read my question or ignored it and said they come with remotes. I then called customer support at the number you and got an American who said it would charge but not invert with out the control panel. The $62.50 remote (449-0042) is out of stock till April. So I have to wait and save my pennys for the ASC remote unless Bush takes my SS check for his financial gov. follies.

thanks for your insight. So you think the inverter will work even without the remote? I sent 2 email to xantrex customer support Sat. I hope it (invert mode) won't work without the remote otherwise I just have a back-up charger. Maybe it has internal fuses like the true charge 40+. I am in the Bahamas in a small boat so it would be difficult to send to xantrex for service.

Some one gave me a prosine 3.0 but no remote. Will it work with out the remote? They come with the remote but I only saw the remote for the 3.0+ in your product listing. I have a freedom 20 now on my boat but I don't suppose the link 2000 will work with it. Amy thoughts anyone? Thanks, bill

SN 21270366

I tried it without the remote today Sun. and it charged but did not invert. When I switch from "bypass" to "on" it comes on for about 3 seconds (fans come on). I am really tempted to plug the link 2000 phone cable into the prosine but am afraid of burning something up. The bypass switch works. Ac flows through as long as I have AC on the input. The charger works in any position of the "bypass-on" switch.

I'm on a boat. 4ea. t-105 Trojan batteries. 2ea. in series to battery switch that has 1, 2, both or off. Should I run both sets in parallel for 450 amp capacity or alternate using 1 set 1 day and 1 the next, 225 amp hrs each.
I use 50 amp hrs overnight and maybe 60 during the day.
I have 5 solar panels with about 22 amps total output. I have a C-40 Xantrex/Trace controller that goes into float about mid afternoon. Also a Freedom 20 with Link 2000 to a 2000 watt Honda generator for cloudy days.

Do those pulse devices really work? I had one on my Rolls l-16 type batteries and got a bad cell after 3 years. With my usage what would be the correct equalizing schedual
I'm in the Bahamas with lots of sun. Thanks for any comments

Yes, I bought 2ea. t-105 and all is working well. Thank You.

I think the answer is no but...
I have 2 Rolls 400 ahrs 6v batteries on my boat in the Bahamas. 1 has a bad cell. They are 3-4 years old. Could I replace 1 with a Trojan T-105 6v 220 ahrs or would they charge incorrectly. I only use 50ahrs overnight and get 90-140 ahrs from my solar panels during the day. Just trying to save from buying 2 new Trojans. Also the don't sell L-16 type batteries over here. The T-105 are $140. I was thinking that if I only draw out 50 ahrs maybe the charge would be equal to each until they were full.
Thanks for any info.

The 2 Rolls @400 amp hrs are almost 3 years old. The 2 new batteries are US Power 225 amp. Won't the bigger Rolls try to feed the small 225 amp hr as they discharge? They are both connected to a battery switch that has 1-2-or both so the switching is easy.

I have 2 rolls 530 6 volt batteries on my boat that are almost 3 years old. They are fed with 6 panels and overnight I use around 50 amps. I got a chance to get 2 new Trojan t-105 for back-up so I put them in with a switch. I charged them and have never used them keeping them for back-up. Should I use them or just keep using the Rolls? I have had a pulsing desulfator on the Rolls since they were new. Should I have to equalize them?

The BZ 500 mppt is on sale so I want to get a back-up controller to my Xantrex/Trace c-40. I am in the Bahamas on a sailing catamaran so I like to have spares and have the space for 6 panels.
1 Evergreen 110 watt
2 Photowatt 50 watt
1 Photowatt 40 watt
2 Photowatt 80 watt
TOTAL......410 WATTS
Would I get any boost with these different size panels or should I get a Xantrex c-35 and save $100?

I charge 2ea. l-16 type Rolls S-530 batteries and use 40-60 amps overnight with computer, lights, fridge and fan.

Having had a wind gen. for a number of years I find I am much happier without one. Too much movement, noise and maintenance. On a boat your size you have room for 4 good panels and then you can live comfortably. Not seeing you rigging config. I can't comment on placement but on the Bimini or an arch above the stern and then a move to the tropics. Good luck!

I live on a sailboat in the Bahamas and have been away from the dock for years. I have Adler Barbour 12vdc fridge, Microwave, radios, fans, computer etc. I have 7 panels (475 watts total) going to a Trace C-40 controller to 2 Rolls 400amp hr 6v L-16 type batteries. I am on a small boat a cat 27' long. so I have the panels scattered about. I use about 45-60 amp hours nightly and am usually charged up by 1 PM the next day if it is sunny which is most of the time. I have a Honda 2000 watt gen if I need it. I have a Link 2000 control for a Freedom 20 inverter. I run Sirius sat radio 17 hrs. daily and my computer about 5 hours.

I point some of the panels depending on the boats position. In the summer once I got in 180 amps in in one long day when the batteries were low. It sounds like you have everything you need except more panels. I would get at least 2 more.  I wish I had your fancy mppt controller but they are expensive.

Good luck!