Solar Batteries: How low can you go? Increase performance and lifespan of your battery bank

[@jacksprat3009]

Will, you're discharging about 500 amps of information at about 5000 volts to my .05 amp brain which blew the fuse. I'm going to have to go over your excellent videos enough times to bring those volts down to usable power. ;-]) Great info! Thank you.

[@anitamitchell3452]

Jack Sprat ... Too funny ... I couldn't have said it better ... I thought it was because I have a woman brain. I'm shoveling in the info with the hopes that one day it will all come together. Thank God Will makes videos to be watched over and over again.

[@TheRoadRoamer]

So, NOT just me. My infinitely indexed memory bank has shut down due to over loading. Attempting to reboot and restart. Stand by. I guess we could use the PAUSE button, right?

[@cybersalvy2]

I'm glad yours has a fuse. Mine just rolls the dice.

[@Metoo1111]

He's a rainbow starseed human

[@mostlypeacefulmisterputin]

You forgot to include the resistance so he knows how much you can handle 🤦🏼‍♂️ Everyone knows it’s voltage = current x resistance, or volts = amps x ohms, or V = A x Ω. But nobody wants to do the math!

[@heftyheights5115]

You are absolutely correct.. I use full river agm battery and I don't discharge it below 12.5 and it's now 5yrs and counting. Thanks for the info.

[@joeyperez8581]

Outstanding young man, be blessed with much goodness and wisdom.

[@ridynh7923]

My wife said you have outstanding eyes. 😏

[@stevewithavision]

I don't post often, however the knowledge you have on Solar is impressive. Thanks for the info

[@wes7195]

You absolutely have the best videos on solar information and installation! That is how I found and why I subscribed to your blogs.

[@WillProwse]

+Wes thanks!!!! :D

[@WillProwse]

due to demand, I am writing a book on off grid solar system design!! it will teach anyone what they need to know to build an awesome solar system! I will announce the release in a video so be sure to subscribe. it will also be super cheap so that everyone can afford it, and have a 100% money back guarantee! :) I think it will really help a lot of you guys. I can't wait to finish it. UPDATE! Check out the book here :) www.mobile-solarpower.com/the-book.html

[@johanswede8200]

Point by point Will...And let someone stupid read it before you publish it.

[@zookeeperification]

LOL! That someone could be me! :)

[@johanswede8200]

Register...Ask for a "tenner".

[@mattcarber6194]

I will buy it the moment it is available. Thanks bud

[@zookeeperification]

Me to!

[@mattcarber6194]

You make the best videos on solar man. Thanks

[@extrememiami]

You rock, crazy how far you've come in just 4 years. Keep up the good work.

[@bjtaudio]

For everyone's information:- That chart can be misleading as the battery voltage versus depth of discharge, depends on the load on the battery too. These charts are typically published for 0.05C or 20 hour discharge rate, that is what the terminal voltage will be for a typical AGM battery at 25 DegC while under load, so for a 100Ahr battery that's 100/20 = 5Amps. This all changes drastically for higher loads. 30% depth of discharge it best, 50% max..and you will not get any where near the 12 Years out of most battery's on the market, also room temperature has a dramatic effect on battery life too, not just the amount of cycles. The 12 year life is a design life under perfect conditions that basically do not exist in the real world.

[@josepeixoto3384]

for sure,thanks; amazing that you have no likes or comments, that shows us that... ok

[@mikestone9129]

You're the man when it comes to solar. You explain things in a way that dummies like me can understand, that's a rare talent.

[@andynieto5432]

The more I watch your videos the more I learn. Thanks for putting the info out their for people to learn.

[@andynieto5432]

I was thinking off getting more solar panels but you made me think maybe more lithium batteries instead.

[@notoriouskelly]

I'm not new to electrical systems but I am new to solar and you are an excellent teacher. Thanks, Will!

[@LESLIESANDRA1014]

You have the BEST videos on you tube! You give the most information in a way that we new users can understand! Please keep putting out the videos! I have learned more from you than any other and I have watched every video I could find! Thank you!!!

[@AsTheWheelsTurn]

I just need to watch this like ten times to absorb everything. good info!I just bought two 100 watt renergy solar panels for my van feeling overwhelmed about actually setting it up but I think all my answers are in this video! thanks!

[@s-c..]

Young Will! Were your eyes even bigger back then?! Congrats on all your success, you deserve it.

[@christiancowboy352]

I'd love to see you rig up a automatic shut off for the battery bank. That would be a great video. Then list the parts and where we can get them to set it up on our systems. That would be awesome, and save us the worry of over dischatging our batteries. You seem like you could figure out how to do it.

[@smalexander1828]

I don’t know who you are or your background and education, but you’re GREAT! I have a class A M/H with a solar system and I’m using your excellent videos to educate myself on solar, controllers and batteries so I can troubleshoot it. Thank you very much! Very helpful.

[@harrrytoool1391]

You haven’t really talked about voltage drop Will in terms of what is the real battery voltage. Keep doing your great videos. I’ve learnt a lot. Still waiting for your book.

[@ClutchTFS]

Cool Fact "Ghost Load" is also referred to as "Parasitic Draw" in the automotive industry. Thanks for the video as always Will!

[@terryblade6280]

Thanks for your ideas. I have run an undersized agm bank for 4 years. Because I know all the loads I use and have done the calculations, I only bother to plug in my voltage monitor during bad weather or when I decide to switch on a heavy load that I rarely use. At this point, since it is too late to add battery capacity, if I decide to add more load on a regular basis I will add panel capacity and run the heavy loads in the late morning when the batteries are back up, the panels are giving good output, and there is time to recharge before the evening.

[@gobucs7717]

Will is exactly why being a geek in high school pays off. How cool is he now. lol This guy stuck to it and knows his solar.

[@michaelpettett3087]

Have the voltage display front and centre in your face... Great advice. Cheers mike

[@rajiabdulrahman5646]

What a self explanatory tutorial. Thanks for that. I will like you to make a video on solar batteries being drained without use. Thanks

[@WillProwse]

Need help building a vehicle mounted or mobile solar system? Check out my new website! Click the link below: www.mobile-solarpower.com/

[@laronis]

Guess I am confused. You say a large solar panel system with a small battery bank will charge them too fast and degrade the batteries making them not last as long as they should. But I always thought that was the purpose of the controller, to keep the charge rate correct and accurate through various stages (bulk, absorption, float and equalization). I never heard that having a lot of solar panels were a bad thing, this is new news for me. Another thing I do not understand is all my PWM solar charger controller manuals say they do the 4 stages of charging, but you state in the video only MPPT controllers will do this. Another thing I never heard of. I just thought that the main difference was that MPPT controllers were better at the 4 stages.

[@ljan6379]

Exactly! The regulator will limit the current to its rated value (for example 30A). It also knows shut itself off when the battery doesn't need any more charge, so no power to 'burn off'. I don't understand how the lecturer can not know this? The fact is that batteries are more expansive than the solar panels, so it is cheaper to oversize the panel than the battery bank. It is actually the cloudy or late/early season (depending what latitude you are at) that determines how much solar power you need, not the 'good days'.

[@HansKeesom]

I might have missed it, but setting the max amps on your mppt-controller can also save you battery from being charged to fast. Most of the time your huge nr watts of solarpanel will not come close to that huge nr watts but when they do the mppt-controller can limit the amps to f.e. the nr of Ah of your battery, so keep it below 1 C....

[@kjaan]

I have been watching few videos of yours and it is very informative. What would you recommend solar system for 3000 square footage house that I can do it myself rather paying 20k from the companies

[@zookeeperification]

When you decide to publish the RV Solar for Idiots guide that one person suggested, I will be buying that.

[@WillProwse]

+zookeeperification good to know. I am thinking about writing it up.

[@OGCrypto33]

Depends where you live really, canada vs florida in winter with 1000w solar setup is a game changer. More solar for winter is a must for the shorter hours

[@phonemd1]

Great explanation, I printed out your handy voltage chart and pasted it next to my battery monitor! Thanks!

[@carissahill9303]

Anyone else notice how perfect his facial structure is? Extremely smart, great face to draw, gorgeous eyes, and perfect eyebrows. my lanta 😻 thank you so much for all the advice definitely building my solar set up from your videos 💜

[@DavidrKun]

I bought 4 lead deep cycle batteries for about $50 each used in Las Vegas. They where size 27 golf cart batteries.

[@DavidrKun]

420 amp hours 210 usable 600 watts solar system

[@kellymelrose8527]

great channel.. from someone that knows his stuff...glad i found you ..

[@lakegeorgeloyalist2151]

dude, you are so young! today your'e all growed up!

[@SolarSailor1967]

Hey Will. I have 4 identical batteries that I want to wire in parallel. My first year, I just used a basic in line parallel connection. Then my research showed the proper way to wire parallel batteries for balanced charging/discharging. I understand the wiring diagrams but not the theory. I've watched many of your videos & not found this covered. Could you do a tutorial on proper wiring of parallel battery banks? Or direct me to the correct video on your site. Thanks for all you do to help everyone.

[@eddiemiranda1224]

Thank you You make so much sense open. Keep watching your videos and you keep putting them out there. Thanks for the info

[@jeromecaile5603]

Love your videos! I just got a lithium battery which I think now in hind site is just a can of worms!

[@panospapadimitriou3498]

thanks man.. you rocked all my possible questions /// greetings from greece

[@robertdixon6536]

Great video. Less heat is always the best course at anytime. Go low charge rate for several reasons.. 5-6 amp per 100 hr of battery packs most reserve.

[@Rhythmrockshocker1]

Dude you’re a frikin genius

[@accident420]

I am getting into solar power and you will be the one to teach me.

[@jessejames8211]

Super informative !!! Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge :)

[@drymoonproperties]

My lord did I ever learn lots and lots. You are amazing Will you are the man I needed to learn how to actually build a real system that isn't a waste of time and money. I truly appreciate you beyond words you deserve every dime you make and more. Thank you so much.

[@magicmanspaz]

Watching this vid right now and you get to the voltage beeper part and i'm looking at the same beeper sitting in front of my monitor lol.

[@sameygamees2059]

Can you post a link to the voltage beeper that will work for my AGM battery please? Thank you!

[@basilkasimi2646]

Please which battery is the best and safe between, lithium ion battery, lifepo4 battery, gel battery, valve regulated battery and tabular battery for a 12v solar system?

[@jespero94]

Great explanation. I got a 140Ah agm solar battery from Amazon. Does not say deep cycle on it but it says everything else (solar battery, agm, etc..) and I use a 100w panel on The roof of my car. Works Great 👍

[@jay-rus4437]

You need to do a video on the West Mountain system. Epic PwrGate, PwrCheck, rigrunner distribution etc. It is marketed for HAM operators, but it seems like a well designed and made system that can manage power supply, battery bank, and solar input. Some had told me that the epic pwrgate was not an mppt, but when I called west mountain tech and engineering they said that it absolutely is an mppt. Input?

[@TheBirdandEagle]

A young buck with a brain, love it. Thank you.

[@miked7162]

My solar saviour . Thank you

[@TheRoadRoamer]

Cool, man lots of info packed into 12 mins and two second of useful chart at time code 9:02. Thumbs up.

[@Budgetfriendlygroup]

Keep your good work dear

[@mnieliw]

Great video Will. Super informative. Keep up the great work man!

[@johanswede8200]

It's hilarious...The youngest looking RV dweller on KZbin is the true expert...Will you can make money doing this. Individual designs via the internet. Thanks for the tutorial son!

[@Shredaholics]

Johan Pappila I've got all of my info off of his videos.he is the Shit.

[@mdmrubic07]

I have a toyota dolphin and have many questions.... and from what I have seen... you have the knowledge

[@WillProwse]

+Matthew Millard thanks! Yeah I know the dolphins well. What do you need help with?

[@WillProwse]

+Matthew Millard my email is [e-mail]

[@mdmrubic07]

several things.... trying to figure out solar.... love the vids... how can I contact you?

[@mdmrubic07]

just sent you an email

[@ZIVUGAENTERTAINMENT12]

Thanks for all of this information but here I want you to help me to buy good solar system Suppose I have 100ah lithium battery what is the size of solar panel do I need and charging controller Thank you

[@penwize1158]

I am looking forward to your book! I hope you will have a video to go with it as well. I hope to be purchasing my RV in June at the latest. I will be getting a used Class C, anceinthopefully, usancient. :)

[@saviourcassar1080]

Hi thanks for your tutorials they really help me a lot. I bought a 190ah 12v agm battery last year and i used it for 4 months only on my boat, it is charged from a 400 watt solar array through 2 epever pwm charge controllers. . I live in Malta so normally in the summer time we get round 12 hours of sunlight. During the winter I used to give a good charge once a month. Last year I had no problems but this summer I noticed that after I take approx. 35ah from it without any charge the voltage on load drops to 10. 7 volts. After I switch off the load, the open circuit voltage returns to 12.64 volts. Do you think there is a problem with the battery.

[@peteroconnor5537]

Can you have an RV when you’re 12? Dude, your vids are great. Clear and concise.

[@WillProwse]

I'm almost 29

[@ShadrachOchiel]

Fabulous lesson

[@OrlandoPaco]

Thanks Mr. Powers!

[@solidsnake4022]

What is the difference between a deep cycle battery and a true deep cycle battery? Is a deep cycle battery a true deep cycle battery? Which of the two has a better replacement warranty? I know Walmart has a 4 year replacement warranty on their AGM batteries.

[@johncronk3939]

Excellent information. Much appreciated I wish I had seen his befor I purchased marine batteries

[@redwood1957]

Are you saying all marine batteries are junk? So what should a boater do for a house battery and a start battery. A ND how to charge

[@immrnoidall]

I was about to hook up a battery disconnect relay, [for a higher than 10.5 voltage shutdown], when I remembered something about not disconnecting the batteries while solar charge controller or charger/inverter is on because it will damage them.

[@meyqool]

Hi Will, I have a super question. What would kind of battery, and what "trick" would you recommend for a battery that will stay inside a car (knowing that car interiors can get up to 164°F in summer) ? Is there a preferred battery type (please don't say lifepo4 nobody has this kind of money !), and any ideas how to prevent it from reaching such temperatures ? What's the max temperatures it could go up to without damaging ? I've been banging my head on this question for several days and it would mean a lot to have your opinion. Thank you so much. 💚

[@BlueVanDan]

DUDE!!! I finally decided to flap my gums on one of your vids!!! Been saying this for a long time! Big battery bank, as big as possible panels, and a good charge controller!!! (Most important to me is STORAGE) It doesn't matter how much you shove into the hole dammit - it can only hold so much...

[@ashforkdan]

It's a fuel tank. If you have a 454 and a dixy cup for a tank it's not going to last long. But if your bank is huge then your only taking off the top and never cycling your batteries.

[@liammccarthy2277]

I’d like to ask about the cycling. If you’re just skimming off the top and not cycling the batteries, does this negatively impact the batteries?

[@jimnickerson1273]

Looking for info on how to attain maximum life expectancy of my lif-po4's, like what maximum voltage charge should be and minimum discharge. I have two 300ah ampere times and a epver mppt controller with six 100 watt panels for my system that I will be hooking up soon.

[@DisabilityFraudKJW]

How about an actual video of your setup? I am curious as to how you wired it and how many batteries you ran. Do you run a inverter (or two)? What kind? What type of panels and what voltage? How did you seal the wires penetrating the vehicle? Do you have any recommendations as to the type of wire used?

[@DisabilityFraudKJW]

Will, you have an open invite here in MI. I have plenty of room for you to park your vehicle and it's well off the road. You have a place to stay if you ever "holiday" here in MI.

[@jackcole1681]

can you use acid and lithium together ?

[@jackmason7518]

Good morning. I'm installing 400 w solar sys. I was going to use Trojan Golf cart batteries T105. Jack

[@Srisky]

You said that it is fine to discharge upto 12.2V so i want to know is it Under load or open circuit value ? Because under load If we discharge the battery up to 11.5V then we disconnect the load, Battery will go up to 12.2 or 12.3V .. So which is correct ?

[@Ijascrytec]

You can't use The beeper. The beeper can be only adjustedfor 3.5v. So this will not work.

[@tcc1213]

So helpful! Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge and experience, and for doing so in a clear and understandable way.

[@MTBioGuy]

Will...I'm seeing a number of requests for info about your beepers but still none of your helpful links. Am I just looking in the wrong place? Thanks!

[@colinross188]

thankyou for you video you kow your stuff i live in the uk i have a solar system 300 watts 2kwatt inverter and a 2 kwatt ups mppt charger 40 amps i was using leasure batterys my last was a 2200 amp battery was a 2 man lift and only lasted 2 years my inverter cut out at 10 .6 volts didnt relise i was damaging battery discharching at a low rate now i am going to up grade my batters to agm 110 amp x 2 and link them together and not discharge les then 12.5 volts will give me longer life span i have a off grid system because i installed it into my flat solar and batterys are out side and mppt charger and inverter are inside i am learning all the time about solar would like lithium batterys but are so expensive maybe next time thankyou for you video much applicated

[@MYCHANNELWITHMYSTUFF]

Will, aren't you supposed to discharge your golf cart batteries down to 10.6 at least once per year so you can calculate the actual amp hour rating of the batteries as they age?

[@rogerhargreaves2272]

Still informative even today. 😀

[@andrievbastichy8551]

i wonder if this video should be revisted and updated by will. to now incorporate newer technology.

[@12vLife]

The Voltage charts are for at rest or with loads? I've been using a really cheap $100 Excide 115AH deep cycle battery as my starter and house battery for about a year and half. I've taken it down to 11.5v about 50 nights. I am wondering how long it will last. One number that confuses me is Reserve capacity. If my battery is rated 115AH, I presume that means i have about 700WH of usable but have never been able to achieve that. Also If they claim it has a 205 minute reserve capacity @25amp, what does that REALLY mean.. not really (205*12*25)/60 = 1025WH of usable right?? How is it possible that a 12 fridge that is consuming about 40watts took my battery from 12.6v to 12.1v from 9pm to 6am?

[@TxRiverElf]

Can you show us how to hook up the buzzer to go off at a specific voltage?

[@IntoTheMystery13]

Great vid, thanks

[@WillProwse]

+Into The Mystery 13 sure thing buddy!!!

[@waynesgrid49]

Scare tactics are not necessary jed, be honest and get in here with some of your honest input, that is, if you actually watched wills video. Will knows his stuff, but so do you. The video would be 100% better if the word "wear" was used over "damage".

[@richardtammi7156]

Hi, I have a 24v system at my cottage with a 400watt solar bank and a home built 1000watt wind gen. (best output is about 2-300watts if it’s really blowing) that I run through a Zantrx(Trace) C40 charge controller and a 2436 Trace investor. I plan to change out my 8 lead acid batteries for 2 12v LiFePo4 100ah batteries. Can I continue to use the wind gen . with this ? Would it work with a 2nd C40? I have two. I would like your thoughts on this. I think that you’re most knowledgeable person I know.

[@pbk380]

Hay Will very good video! I really like your discussions on Solar and all the stuff that goes with it. you are a great source of information. After watching this video, Solar Batteries, How Low Can You Go, I purchased one of the battery alarms for our RV. During the video you were talking mostly about flooded Lead acid and AGM but as I found out the low voltage warning device only works for Lithium batteries as they read and warn from the cell voltage and cannot be set for total voltage low warning, unless I am missing something. But it is still a great video.

[@jacklydon]

You really know your stuff. Thanks for the info.

Hi, is the 12.2 volts discharge limit what we read when the battery is on the load or when it is off the load?

[@philo2808]

only Will can talk about a subject thats so dull and make it interesting and fun to watch. Thanx William your the best.

[@WillProwse]

+Phil O thanks man!!!! :)

[@jethrotull5847]

Hola ! Newbie here... I saw a published chart that indicates a correlation between the cutoff voltage of a battery as measured under load vs at rest. The figure was 12.2 for 50% depletion @ rest but lower if tested under load ( a 60 watt bulb via inverter ). Indeed I ran the test and after I removed the load the at rest battery voltage went to 12.2 in 15 seconds. Does a Battery moniker consider the current load and compensate for it when determining capacity ?

[@LostMerkaba]

Just the info I was looking for thanks.

[@DragonPilot]

I recently set up two 100W Renogy panels in series with a 40A MPPT controller. Bright cloudless spring sunlight, good angle. I got out a 6-7 year old 12 volt battery marine so-called deep cycle battery for my test run. Not sure of the SOC but I think it was around 12.3 or so. When I hooked everything up and got around to checking the various displays I saw that the controller was reading about 14.4 volts, but the current charge was only 1.31A. Is that because the controller was stepping down the current flow as I was over 80% SOC...or was it because this battery was so old? I did not have any appliance connected to the battery.

[@tiffanyarns6152]

This may be a silly question but I am still learning here but would it be better to do like 4 panels with 5 deep cycle batteries so there's an extra battery for over flow? Or keep it even numbered? 4 panels, 4 batteries type thing?

[@carln1303]

Great explanation

[@Leggir]

Size it this way: 1. Size battery bank for the # of days of backup without running generator. 2. Size charger to recharge the battery bank in the amount of sun hours in a day. 3. Size solar array to provide the charger full power for the # of sun hours.

[@nicholassinclair4589]

I apologize if this has been asked. If ones battery has a disguise surface charge, what is the fastest way to know it's true charge capacity? After stopping any charge and applying a small load is my first instinct. Is this wrong though?

[@focusedmessagemarketing958]

I just wanted to buy quality off the shelf solar storage system. I bought a Goal Zero Yeti 1400. I also have a Honda 2000i generator. Why? I live in earthquake prone CA. I could build a system, as I built a laser in high school, but I have plenty of money to purchase solar. Your videos are informative. Ed from CA

[@18Wheeler-cf1mx]

I'm new the solar world and I just purchased a system from harbor freight 100 w system, I'm using an everstart deep cycle battery with 12volt with 114 amp-hours with a 2000 watt inverter. My question is did I buy to big a battery for my solar system?

[@jackmason7518]

Me again. What kind of Beeper are you talking about? And where can I get one. Again Thank you. Jack

[@bendy1808]

nice video will very help full great solar battery info

[@anthonyosunde2129]

I have a 12v 220ah batteries joined together to make 24volt ... what is the recommended voltage of discharge ? What should i set my inverter cut off voltage to ?

[@richardobannon6301]

If you have the time also am I right in think I won't need another dc to dc charger when I add an additional 100 ah AGM to my Prius w/a 1000w inverter?