Putting it all together
- Install the bimini (repaired and waterproofed.)
- Measure gap between Aft Shade Panel Zipper ends
- Secure main solar power cables to Bimini frame.
- Secure main solar power cables with cable glands
- Clear out Port Side Locker for access
- Feed cables from port locker into bathroom and into cabin and secure to loom
- Restore the Port Side Locker contents
- Install 30amp circuit breaker/switch to bulkhead adjacent to blue sky controller
- Remove Blue Sky Controller
- Install Victron Controller
- Connect Battery to Victron Controller
- Connect +ve main solar power cable to 30amp circuit breaker
- Connect 30amp circuit breaker to Victron controller 'PV +ve'
- Connect -ve main solar power cable to Victron controller PV-ve
- Cover port and starboard solar panel to turn off.
- Make up cables from Port side solar panel to T Branch Connectors (+ve & -ve)
- Make up cables from Stbd side solar panel to T Branch Connectors (+ve & -ve)
- Remove covers from solar panels to turn on.
- Attach Smart Battery Sense unit to Main Battery System
- Setup Victron Controller using Victron App on cell phone or Tablet
We quickly ran the Victron Connect app to check the state of solar charging and it was less than 1amp !!!! What the heck . But the heat got me and it was enough for today.
Thursday Aug 20th. Back down to the boat. I started to check things.
- Was the Circuit breaker ok - Checked - less than 0.01ohms.
- Check the Voltage from the two panels.
- Port Panel 19v (the Solar radiation must have been lower then the screenshot was taken.)
- Stbd Panel 19v
- Check the Ics at each panel - 0amps!!! or so low it could not read.
- Check the physical connections inside the Panel Terminal boxes - all secure and correct.
- Checked the physical connections to the T Branch MC4 connectors - Ah Ha! both pairs had a termination pin/socket not fully inserted - that's why there was 0amps the probes could not reach the pins/sockets.
- Both pairs of pin & sockets were opened and the inserts fully inserted, they moved in by nearly a quarter of an inch.
- Attach new panel onto Bimini
- Monitor Solar Charge Status (to compare with status after connecting new panel)
- Plug new panel into T Branch connectors (+ve & -ve)
- Monitor Solar Charge Status
- Put Blue Sky controller on Craigs List