Solar configuration

[Notenoughmoney]

My silly question is; am I doing it right?
Here is what I have. 4 deep cycle batteries wired in parallel. Each battery is of course a 12volt battery. The batteries on each end of the row are 115 AH (used) and the two middle ones (they are new) are 125 AH batteries. For a total of 480 AH @12volts.
I have only 3 - 15 watt 1 amp panels feeding them through a 7amp charge controller.
Here’s the question.
I have the ground wire from the controller connected to the ground post on one end of the parallel batteries and the negative wire connected to the negative post at the other end of the batteries. I have 2 - 50watt light bulbs wire the same way just on the opposite posts that the controller is connected to.

I figured it would charge all the batteries better if I hooked it up this way.

Be nice as I am new at all this and am self teaching myself.

Not enough money

[Notenoughmoney]

MSTA999
THank you for that link. I read it and I still have that same questions about the way I have it hooked up.
Again, Thank you for your input.
Not enough money

[12vman]

This is a great link for general information in laymans terms..

http://www.sunelco.com/resident.aspx

OOPS!.. To Add.. ;)

http://www.sunelco.com/classroom.aspx

[wy0mn]

Hey Don, any get well date on your website?
I got locked out before it went down, someone scrambled my password somehow.
Got the first wind genny tower up (26') on the remote ranch. Wife gave me two Rohn 25G middie sections for xmas, building a crown (top) piece & footers now for an entire second tower. New one cost $250+, ouch! Don't need much height out here on the prairie, just don't want Genny for a barber!
Miss you & the gang.
Lex

[kawalekm]

Hi NEM
Congratulations on your new system!

One thing to mention is that mixing old and new batteries together can be problematic charging wise. The older batteries can lag behind the newer ones, and stay chronicly undercharged. There are two ways you can correct this. One is to periodicly overcharge the all the batteries with a generator (say once every 3-6 months), or alternatively, individually charge batteries with your panels till each is completely charged. Once the batteries are "equilized" you can turn your attention elsewhere.

Pay attention to your electrical loads and the amount of discharge your batteries go through. The more they stay fully charged, the longer their usefull life will be.
Michael

[solarman]

"I have the ground wire from the controller connected to the ground post on one end of the parallel batteries and the negative wire connected to the negative post at the other end of the batteries."
It isnt necessary to do this with a parallell hook up. You can just use the neg and pos from the same battery. and batteries will equalize as they charge. If you are using harbor freight panels and controler you may have problems with the controler provided as they dont handle multiple batteries well. If you are not using much power or only using this set up occasionally it should work. But 45 watts of panel wont recharge your batteries very quickly. Are you using this for a home or other use ?
I use 250 watts of panels and 3 deep cycle batteries to power my whole house.

LaMar

[silver wolf]

hello You need to run the ground to a ground rod and the negative to the negative of the batteries.You need to wire to the neg and the pos of the batterys in a kitty corner or diagonal way.Not off the same side ,it will charge right this way.It is important that you are grounded right.The way you are you will send a short to tyhe batteries and have a fire!