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Ice maker on Solar

By 9 am today our 640 watts of solar had overcome yesterday's 84 ah deficit from a cloudy day. After turning on our big inverter and the ice maker we're still making a net positive 8 amps.

Doesn't it seem reasonable we can let it run all day as long as we shut it off before the sun gets lower in the sky?
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Ice maker on Solar

Reply #1 –
You can use any appliances as long as the batteries are charged and the solar is making more amps than you are using.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Ice maker on Solar

Reply #2 –
 Interesting phenomenon. Once the batteries went into absorption the solar stopped bringing in energy. This resulted in a net negative charge with the icemaker working. Since were going to be gone today I shut the icemaker off but I'm assuming that if I had left the icemaker running it would happen eventually drawn down the batteries to the point where the charge controller would allow power back to the batteries.

Am I thinking correctly?

I'd rather not experiment while we're away From the coach today.
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Ice maker on Solar

Reply #3 –
Not sure how your system works. On mine at home it was down to 50 watts and on float. I put a glass of water in the microwave and it jumped to 850 watts which was more than the microwave used, When the microwave shut off it started tapering back down.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Ice maker on Solar

Reply #4 –
My guru buddy mentioned having to put a load on the batteries to bring the SOC low enough to allow bulk charging on large  battery banks.

I have a me-rc  charge controller currently that it's standard non adjustable mode is 80% SOC to allow bulk charging.

Purchased but not installed yet a me-arc controller that the SOC is adjustable up to 99% to allow bulk charging.

Plan to add it and the auto gen start and the power trace solar controller at the same time as a larger panel setup.

Maybe if you have a magnum setup you can swap your controller to the ARC?

Maybe other systems have adjustable SOC cut in points like the ARC?
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Ice maker on Solar

Reply #5 –
Quote from: floridarandy –
By 9 am today our 640 watts of solar had overcome yesterday's 84 ah deficit from a cloudy day. After turning on our big inverter and the ice maker we're still making a net positive 8 amps.

Doesn't it seem reasonable we can let it run all day as long as we shut it off before the sun gets lower in the sky?

Quote from: floridarandy –
Interesting phenomenon. Once the batteries went into absorption the solar stopped bringing in energy. This resulted in a net negative charge with the icemaker working. Since were going to be gone today I shut the icemaker off but I'm assuming that if I had left the icemaker running it would happen eventually drawn down the batteries to the point where the charge controller would allow power back to the batteries.

Am I thinking correctly?

I'd rather not experiment while we're away From the coach today.

Try an experiment when you will be home a few hours:  Wait until system goes into float and system shows hardly any watts or amps incoming (batteries pretty much charged, and system is slowing charge rate to protect the batteries). 

With sun hitting the panels, now turn on every 12 volt light and see how the watts/amps from solar in increases to match load.  You can also load the inverter at this point with your ice maker and or a 3 minute microwave run.  The solar charger should increase the amps and watts to match the load - as long as within system design capability.

Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Ice maker on Solar

Reply #6 –
More info from today. Coach recovered about 70ah of deficit from yesterday by 10 am. I turned inverter (Xantrex 3012) on and fired up the ice maker. Net incoming amperage decreases with load to about 10amps net positive.

About 30 minutes later I find that the 100amp breaker from the charger controller to the batteries  (Outback Flexmax 80) had tripped...same as yesterday.  80 amp breaker from panels to charge controller ok, yesterday and today.

Ice maker working fine with Solar offline, albeit with 18 amp draw.

Curious.
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"

Re: Ice maker on Solar

Reply #7 –
Maybe you exceeded the 60 volt rating?
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4
 

Re: Ice maker on Solar

Reply #8 –
The 100 amp breaker in question lies between the charge controller and the batteries.
Randy (N4TDT) and Karen Crete
Sarasota, Florida
SOLD:  2000 U270 34' WTFE Build 5756 "Ole Red"