Batteries/voltage/power.

[MikeH]

Anyone got any idea what’s going on here? Control unit shows green steady light at 14 on vehicle battery. Power will not turn on on unit. Start ignition then turn off again. System powers up fine, cabin lights working, level indicators etc. Leisure battery showing 13, vehicle battery showing 13.5. Sargent unit shows vehicle battery 16v, leisure battery 12.9v. Battamps -0.4a.
Vehicle battery is new. Solar panel no direct connection to leisure or vehicle battery but batt 1 is connected to somewhere, maybe regulator next to Sargent system, can’t see as cable disappears behind a panel.

 

[Jo662]

Is it worth just disconnecting the solar charger and replacing it?

If your going to replace the solar controller I would go for a Votronic mppt one as much more efficient!

Diabalo beat me to it.

With a Votronic one it will charge your starter battery and leisure batteries and no need for a b2b as you would need with a Victron!

 

[MikeH]

Ok. I’ll disconnect this one in case it fries my vehicle battery and order a new one.
Thanks so much for help chaps-saved me lots of head scratching

 

[funflair]

If your going to replace the solar controller I would go for a Votronic mppt one as much more efficient!

Diabalo beat me to it.

With a Votronic one it will charge your starter battery and leisure batteries and no need for a b2b as you would need with a Victron!

Think you mean Battery Master/stand by charger rather than B2B,

 

[GeoffnDee]

Think it’s the small solar charge controller and not these Sargent units?

The Sargent units are, on the left, a power distribution unit (PSU) which controls the power from the batteries (and charger when switched on) to each section, along with the display, (lights,water pump, etc) and which battery will receive, as required, charging from the engine/or solar/ or battery charger. The right hand Sargent unit is the mains battery charger and is only active when on Mains hook up .
It does appear that your solar controller is faulty, you could try running with it disconnected for a while and if all is well it would confirm this.

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[MikeH]

A decent replacement?

 

[Lenny HB]

A decent replacement?

No that is the PWM version you want the MPP 250 which is MPPT.

Votronic 1715 Solar-Regulator MPP 250 Duo Dig.

<p>This is an MPP regulator and is suitable for solar panels with these specifications:</p> <ul> <li>Max. 250 Wp Module Capacity</li> <li>Ma...

www.roadpro.co.uk

 

[MikeH]

My solar panel is 100w. Their website has a 165 and the 250. Either ok or definitely the 250?

 

[Tombola]

My solar panel is 100w. Their website has a 165 and the 250. Either ok or definitely the 250?

Get the 250, that will charge at max 17.5 a to your leisure, the 165 is only 11a and although you only have a 100w panel
if you can afford it go for the 250 or 350 even which will allow you even more amps and future proofing if you want to add more solar.
yes the small one "will do" but slow

 

[Lenny HB]

I would go for the 250 as it's only 30 quid more then you can add another panel later at minimum cost.

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[MikeH]

Ok I’ll order the 250. Gonna check for discounts with any of the clubs first

 

[Lenny HB]

Ok I’ll order the 250. Gonna check for discounts with any of the clubs first

I think you get 5 or 10% with Fun.

 

[GeoffnDee]

I expect that the fitting information will be with your new controller, but if not, dont forget, as has been mentioned, when you fit it that you must fit the battery connections first and the solar connection last for it to work correctly, also it may need to be set for your battery type.

 

[MikeH]

I’ll probably be picking brains again then!

 

[autorouter]

Reconnect the solar charge controller-vehicle battery climbs to 16v and Sargent system shuts off power. Any ideas?

When you reconnected the solar charge controller, did you disconnect the solar panels, connect the battery, then reconnect the solar panels?

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[Jo662]

Think you mean Battery Master/stand by charger rather than B2B,

Yes your right

 

[MikeH]

Ordered the Votronic 250 from Road Pro (thanks for the link Lenny HB). 5% discount with C&MH Club code CAMCMEM

 

[MikeH]

When you reconnected the solar charge controller, did you disconnect the solar panels, connect the battery, then reconnect the solar panels?

Sorry missed this one but yes that’s how I did it.

 

[MikeH]

So my new solar controller arrived today but has left me with another puzzle. Would anyone know what setting these Bord-Battery sliders should be set to? The instructions don’t seem to help my simple mind too much! The controller output will go to my Sargent 400 to charge leisure and vehicle batteries. Not checked type of leisure battery but vehicle is new Halfords

 

[funflair]

You need to know the battery chemistry of the leisure battery that you have so Lead, AGM, or Gel I guess you would know if you had Lithium then just follow the chart.

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[MikeH]

So does it make a difference that the power will go through the Sargent PSU first and then to the batteries or is that unit not taken into account?

 

[autorouter]

EFB = Enhanced Flooded Battery, which for charging purposes is the same as Standard Lead-Acid. So the first (ie extreme left) switch is set to Pb not LiFePo. (Pb is the chemical symbol for Lead). Then set the third switch (Acid/AGM1) to ON (ie up) and the other two to OFF. Exactly as in the picture, in fact.

 

[MikeH]

Thank you! This is more complex than chucking planes about!

 

[MikeH]

A massive thanks to all of you that gave me advice on my solar power charging issues. You were right. I’ve replaced the charging controller and everything is now working fine. As you can see, when I took the old one apart something inside had burnt out. Saved me so much head scratching and trouble. Thank you all

 

[Richard n Ann]

That's why I over specced our regulator (150w panel - 250w regulator) especially as we go to Spain