Solar set-up

Hi to all!  We just took delivery of our 2552 last Thursday, spent the night in the parking lot, got a few minor issues fixed, and finished up at Dan's Hitch.  Now I have a question about my solar set-up.  I have two panels hooked up to the Trimetric SC2030 controller monitored by the TM2030.  My monitor is showing 0.00 so I'm guessing I need to program it myself.  I went to Bogart Engineering's website and found the charging parameters section and input my information.  75 system amp hours defaulted, is this correct?  How do I find out the amp hours for my coach?  I've got the two six volt AGM batteries from Fullriver.  Is there an on off switch for this system that maybe is shut off?  Bogart's website says I can modify any of the settings but how do I know when and to what?  I'm not comfortable fussing with this stuff but am eager to learn.

Thanks!
Tall Guy aka Gary

P.S. The first place I hit my head was on the side of the cabinet above the kitchen sink, nice and padded and not very high............figures I hit my head on something lower. 

Congrats on the new rig!

I have the TM2030 but not the SC2030 on my rig so things might be different.  What value are saying shows 0.00?  On mine pressing the center button steps through all of the possible monitors.  From memory: volts, amps and state of charge.  I'm guessing with the SC2030 connected you have even more monitors available?

There is a digital read out where it appears that the values for volts, amps, etc would show up but mine shows 0.00.  I've not pressed any buttons on it yet but plan to explore some tonight since I've done some research but was hoping for some tips in plain ole beginner language.  I think, Jatrax, that I have somewhere around 20 different things that can be monitored.  I just want to get it charging properly first then gradually work up to more complicated items.  Did the factory program yours or did you do that yourself?

Factory installed a solar kit from Samlex in mine so I don't have the SC2030.  I requested that but at the time they were new with solar and only used the Samlex kit.  I did have to program the Samlex charger to match my AGM batteries but that was a minor detail.

On your monitor if you press the center button it should cycle through all the different screens.  It should at least give you volts, amps and state of charge.  Plus whatever the SC2030 charger is telling it.  Sorry that's all I know.

I suspect you will need to read the manual on the SC2030.  I read it back then but since I did not get that unit I have not bothered with it since.

Thanks for the tips!  As soon as I pressed the select button the 0.00 changed to volts, amps, etc and stayed that way.  I figured out how to program the unit with the values given by Bogart so I'm on my way.  Next question, I assume since the battery paperwork says 250AH @ 20Hr that my system is a 250 amp hour system, am I correct?  Again an assumption, I don't add the two batteries together to get 500 it stays at 250 correct?  Last question this round, how do I know if it's working, is there an on / off switch somewhere or does it just kick in when there's enough sunshine and the batteries are asking for a charge? 

Have a great day everyone!

You are correct, with 6v batteries they don't add.
No on/off required.
On the Bogart, you normally keep the selection switch set to % full.
It should read 100% when fully charged, if it reads above that hit reset button.
When you are not plugged into 110v power and no sun the % will start going down.
NEVER let it go below 50%, if no sun, either plug in, drive or run your generator.

What @keelhauler said.

Your six volt batteries are wired so that they look like and act like a large 12 volt battery that just happens to be in two different cases.  So your total amp hours is 250.  Total usable is more like 100 to 125 as you never want to draw the battery below 50%.

How do you know it is working?  Look at the monitor, switch it to 'amps'.  It is hard to see but on the left there is an LED for a minus sign.  If that is lit then you are drawing power OUT of the batteries.  If it is not lit then you are putting power IN to the batteries.

To test:
1) Park in sunlight.  Turn off everything you can, lights, fans etc.  You should see a number on the 'amps' reading.  Maybe 5.00 or more and the minus sign should not be lit.  Something is adding power to the batteries.  It could be: generator, shore power, truck alternator or the solar.  All of those things will charge the battery.  If everything is off except the solar then the charge is coming from the solar.

2) At night with no shore power or generator look at your 'amps' monitor.  It should show the power draw with the minus sign lit.  Turn on a light and watch what happens.  Turn on a fan and watch what happens.  keep doing that with devices and watch the power drain number go up.  Switch the monitor to SOC and see what the % is.  It should have started at 100% when fully charged and gradually go down as you use that charge.

Never, ever go below 50%.  Better to never go below 70% or 80% but accepted rule of thumb is that going below 50% is a bad thing.

Thanks for your help Jatrax and Keelhauler!  I'll fix the system amphours tonight.  This weekend we're heading out for a weekend trial run and will try out your suggestions.  The learning curve can be fun or a pain, I plan to make it fun!

Hi all , new guy here ( Pappy T ) , glad I ran across this thread , gives me more homework ! Will be looking up systems mentioned , reviews etc., but would like to ask if you're content with them ?    Am also considering NOT getting a generator on next coach , having solar with 2 additional agm installed instead. Haven't used our gen except for monthly maintenance and check  , possibly 1 time that we can't exactly remember why and it wasn't for an emergency or anything !  There are pros and cons I know but our experiences haven't warranted its use, and we have dry camped a few times as well . They are a pia as far as I'm concerned , at least on our present unit .   I ran across a thread somewhere on here , believe they were from Michigan (?) , that said they didn't have a genny , sorry I didn't pin it . I'm not a ' hi-tech ' person by any means but want to know enough about whatever it is to get me by , I ask 'dumb' questions rather than make 'stupid' moves.
I have never been wrong a day in my life ... but have been mistaken a few times    Thanks !

I'm very happy with the Bogart unit and my Trojan lead-acid batteries. Need to check water 5 times a year, not a problem.

With 2 batteries I need the generator to run the microwave. We dry camp enough that we would miss it.
Only problem is it needs to run once a month to keep it happy.

Heres a little form you can use for an amp our inventory.  Some of the items are different brand names but the draws will be similar.

I tried to send through so that you could actually use the calculator, but the file was to large.

You can do the same just manually.