Sounds like you got everything wired, but the comment about 500 milliamps (only 1/2 amp) has me worried. You should see much more that that with an 80 watt panel (and we have some of those). Max for it is 4.6 amps. I'd expect to see at least 3 to 3 1/2 going to the battery in sun. Not sure what you saying about weak light, but if a panel is shaded it can go down to about zero very easily. Now once the battery is fully charged and in 'float' stage you won't see many amps and then 1/2 might be reasonable. If the panel is in sun and you are getting that then something is not right.WhiskeyTango wrote:.. went to solarblvd.com and ordered an 80 watt/12 volt panel (120 bucks) and a Morningstar Sunsaver Duo with remote meter (about 150).... it all seemed to work fine, producing at least 500 milliamps in weak light. ....
Following is a link to a PDF file on cruisersforum that is quite good. It compares PWM and MPPT controllers and at the end shows the effects of shading using two comparable MPPT controllers. The effects of shading is a lot worst than I use to think it was. On the next link go down to the post by OceanPlanet and open the PDF file and read the test that he and Nigel Clader did....
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f14 ... 728-4.html
Good luck,
Sumner
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