Help with Synapse 3kw

[BrooksAfrica]

I have a simple system .
Synapse3kw with 2 x vito deep cycle gel 100ah as back up for a few led lights,garage door opener,smart TV and the router.
It has been working well (we have gas geyser,gas stove .)
With recent increase in loas shedding in the Lowveld it is not performing. Please guide me with the following:

1) The battery only every shows 25% charged .Is this correct? I thought it would read 50%/75%or 100% but it never has.
2) I am ready to add some panels but dont know where to start. Budget is tight but can manage a couple to get going and increase month by month.
The only people I have asked want me to scrap what i have and start over with their much better ,(read more expensive ,)system.
Any advise really appreciated.
brooks

 

[TheChamp]

Forget about solar for now and start with the batteries, the time for lead acid batteries has long passed, get lithium batteries and then you can start thinking about improving the system by adding solar.

You can do what many do and proceed to buy another pair of lead acids because "you cannot afford lithium batteries", but you will be back to where you are in 6 months time or even less, so just save yourself the trouble and do the right thing first time.

 

[leon.davibe]

You can just parallel whatever panels you buy on existing inverter, you can add two in series but then you would have to buy a 60cell panel that will be 41v ish the normal 72 cell panels will exceed the max voc if 2 in series

Hence all parralel

Just add a fuse on each panel equal to the fuse value on the panel

Just buy whatever you will be able to buy again in future, ie popular size

Then if ever you need to go bigger and better inverter you just series them and buy more

Oh and like he said get lithium