Charge Controller Question

[Mwseif]

I have a Xantrex C60 Charge controller with remote display, 6 - 60 watt 3.4 amp panels. My question is, charge contoller display shows that battery is at 12.0 volts and that the 6 panels are putting out 3 amps 36 watts.... kind of cloudy today. When i check panel output with ampmeter it show that panels are putting out 14.5 amps. Is this right or is there something wrong with controller? Controller is blinking green so its not throwing error.

[Mike90250]

If the batteries have any charge in them, the controller only feeds them what they need. Try putting a heavy load on the batteries, and then see what the controller feeds them.

[Sunking]

Something is not right as your controller is a MPPT type where the output current should be higher than the input.

[Mwseif]

Turned some lights, fan , and small refrig on....... voltage of batteries dropped to 11.9 in batteries, no change

[Sunking]

How are your panels configured? My guess is you have a wiring problem with the panels.

[Mwseif]

wired parallel, to combiner, checked voltage there, everthing in the right place. I get the same 2 amp reading form the xantrex dispalay, if i only have 1 panel connected to the controller same 2 amp - 24 watt array reading.

[Mike90250]

wired parallel, to combiner, checked voltage there, everthing in the right place. I get the same 2 amp reading form the xantrex dispalay, if i only have 1 panel connected to the controller same 2 amp - 24 watt array reading.

Maybe 1 panel is bad ?

[Sunking]

wired parallel, to combiner, checked voltage there, everthing in the right place. I get the same 2 amp reading form the xantrex dispalay, if i only have 1 panel connected to the controller same 2 amp - 24 watt array reading.

Are you saying regardless if you have all six connected or just 1 you get the same results? Sounds like it is time for you to learn how to do some Voc and Isc test to find either bad panels or wiring.

[Mwseif]

I'm Questioning the controller/display. The contoller reads the same no matter how may panels i have conected, no more than 3 amps, 36 watts of panel power. If i pull the fuse between the panels and the controller and check on the panel side each panel i get a 19 volt reading with 2.5 amps aprox for each panel, don't think it is the panels. The reading at the fuse wich just ahead of the controller, 12 inches, is 19 volts with 15 amps. Must be my new controller?

[Mike90250]

Your controller has lots of switches and jumpers. Be sure that they are all in the right settings.

You should only have connections to PV input and BATTERY terminals. Nothing on load terminals.

The C-60 is so bullet proof, I have no idea what could be wrong. Look for a wire with not enough insulation stripped back, and you are connecting to insulation or something.

[Mwseif]

May have found the problem, fingers crossed. Was rechecking jumpers on controller and noticed when i touched the 12/24 volt jumper that the voltage on the contollers meter, for the battery, jumped around, from 3 volts and back up to 12.1! I replaced the jumper with a new one and now touching the jumper the voltage stays the same, 12.1 volts. Now i need sunshine, very overcast and drizzly today, poor pv output!