Before I start really digging into the system, I have a question about the Victron Connect App. I have a Victron MPPT 75/15 with a Renogy 200w Shadowflux panel connected. This is currently charging a lead acid battery. The panel is mounted flat on the roof of my bed topper. During mid day, with the sun shining bright, I am showing 6 watts of solar in the Victron Connect App. Is the Victron app telling me how much of the solar is being used or how much is being generated? The battery is currently in float charge right now. I’m in Colorado and while the sun is getting lower on the horizon the panel is still seeing plenty of sun. I would have expected more wattage from the panel but I’m wondering if I’m looking at it wrong.
ETA: I should mention that I have no load on the battery.
Solar panels only produce as much power as the consumer takes, up to the max panel power. So if your battery is full, and there is no load, then the panel only produces a few W. If the battery is discharged, and the sun is full, then the panel will produce the max power.
What happens is that as the output current from the solar module drops, the voltage rises up towards the open circuit voltage, and the output power drops accordingly.
Mike, just wanted to say thank you once more. This morning, under full clouds I put a load (Starlink Mini) on the battery to discharge it some and see what the panel did as the sun started coming up. Now, still under heavy clouds and the sun fairly low, I’m showing a little over 30 watts which is the most I’ve seen. The battery was brought back up to float and the Starlink mini is humming along!
