Need help with DIY solar generator
- Thread starter Krak256
- Start date
The inverter uses power even if you don’t have anything on. The inverter is on. My inverter uses 100 watts. You can look yours up and do the math to see if you really have a draw or not.
The charge controller may use a bit also. Especially if it is a fancy bluetooth enabled one.
Same with your battery sensor itself.
And some lithium ion batteries have protection inside, which also uses a tiny bit of power.
Yes, the inverter will use current in standby.
Usually < 1%. Depends on size and brand of inverter.
Also, you can get "load sensing" inverters, that only use 1W or so when idle.
Most of these builds assume you leave the solar panels outside, so the little current here and there is irrelevant.
Same with your battery sensor itself.
And some lithium ion batteries have protection inside, which also uses a tiny bit of power.
Yes, the inverter will use current in standby.
Usually < 1%. Depends on size and brand of inverter.
Also, you can get "load sensing" inverters, that only use 1W or so when idle.
Most of these builds assume you leave the solar panels outside, so the little current here and there is irrelevant.
Angry Andy
Supporting Member
What voltage and battery types are we dealing with? I assume your solar is 12VDC. And battery 12v also? What type of battery chemistry?
LED lights won't draw much power consumption. Run a stronger load like a 100w light bulb for starters. Turn on a timer and see how long it stays lit while running off battery power.
It's possible your battery is charging, but not storing the charge.
First thing I would do would be to fully charge your battery and load test it. I have a load tester that connects to a battery and displays the total amp hour after it runs the battery from full voltage to low voltage, whatever settings those are (for 12vDC min 10.5vDC)
LED lights won't draw much power consumption. Run a stronger load like a 100w light bulb for starters. Turn on a timer and see how long it stays lit while running off battery power.
It's possible your battery is charging, but not storing the charge.
First thing I would do would be to fully charge your battery and load test it. I have a load tester that connects to a battery and displays the total amp hour after it runs the battery from full voltage to low voltage, whatever settings those are (for 12vDC min 10.5vDC)