First.
REMEMBER NOT TO PUT THE AMMETER ACROSS THE PV INPUT OF THE CONTROLLER! Or anywhere else on the controller.
Too expensive to blow up the first day. And I felt like yelling
- nd. Remember not to let the wires from the PV short while any are connected to the controller. Don't over-strip the wires and careful with the screwdriver.(see yelling, same result)
- rd. The controller will not make sparks with the battery clamps, or have an 'output voltage'. The battery voltage turns it on. This is good if it is near gasoline, or maybe, batteries?
What I do.
I like to have a low battery (under 12.5v), test the voltage of the battery, and check the PV current (meter between the battery positive and positive clamp. The negative clamp needs to be connected to the battery negative). Then I like to connect the battery to the system, and connect the volt meter to the battery and watch the voltage rise. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
A regular meter has tiny little lead wires, and this can effect the current. Your output is probably higher than measured.
Sometimes the controller will act goofy for the first few minutes, until it gets everything figured out.
If you test Vbattery at sundown, then Vbattery at sun up, the sun up will be lower than it was at sundown. This is normal, and it is not draining out at night (it's called surface charge). The morning voltage is more accurate for battery condition.
(fancy meter only- Test the Hz, if its more than say 20Hz (usually goes straight from 0 to 360Hz), the battery is over 85%.
Test the duty cycle, if it's under 20% the battery is over about 95% full.)
Hope I helped somehow.
G-