I Think Me Solar Power Is Bu**ered

[Yorick]

Just looking through this thread again? Would I be right in saying you have only one green light on your panel (indicating a low voltage on your battery) and yet your batteries are in fact full (12.7 V) ? If so, the problem is with your control panel, can you calibrate it ! (a fuse ????) (re-boot the whole system ?).

The panel has always been accurate. When it hits red, I know it's bad. If I turn the inverter on, the lights dim.

If I run the van for couple of hours, the split charge relay boosts it up to 3 or 4 bars

Will ask @Freespirit1 to pop round and have a nosey.

 

[TheBig1]

if you turn on the inverter and the lights dim, thats a bad battery

 

[Yorick]

if you turn on the inverter and the lights dim, thats a bad battery

Only when the panel shows red.

 

[DavidG58]

how many lights were on the controller tonight when you checked the voltage at 12.6V it really should be saying fully charged, or as near as it can, as mentioned above

 

[Yorick]

how many lights were on the controller tonight when you checked the voltage at 12.6V it really should be saying fully charged, or as near as it can, as mentioned above

2 out of 4 lit

If I drive for a bit, it will show 3 or 4 lights

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[PhilandMena]

Is it possible, 1 out of 4 means 20% discharged 12.5V. 2 out of 4 means fully charged @ 12.7V 3 out of four receiving float charge 13.7 and 4 out of 4 receiving boost charge 14.4V

 

[PhilandMena]

F.Y.I. If interested.
https://www.batterystuff.com/kb/articles/battery-articles/battery-basics.html

 

[hilldweller]

If I drive for a bit, it will show 3 or 4 lights

As Mr Big said, batteries. Your alternator can push a load more amps than the solar so if one or more of the batteries has a load of gunge inside partly shorting it out the alternator can drag it up to 4 blobs. Possibly.

 

[Yorick]

Is it possible, 1 out of 4 means 20% discharged 12.5V. 2 out of 4 means fully charged @ 12.7V 3 out of four receiving float charge 13.7 and 4 out of 4 receiving boost charge 14.4V

Sometimes after a drive, I've had it showing 4 bars. It lasts a lot longer from 4 bars than from 2 bars.

 

[Yorick]

As Mr Big said, batteries. Your alternator can push a load more amps than the solar so if one or more of the batteries has a load of gunge inside partly shorting it out the alternator can drag it up to 4 blobs. Possibly.

Aha, so mains 240v and the split charger relay will boost it to 4 bars, but solar only 2 ?

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[hilldweller]

Aha, so mains 240v and the split charger relay will boost it to 4 bars, but solar only 2 ?

That's my guess.

You could try removing both leisure batteries and replace with a car battery and see if the solar gets a load of blobs with that. Easy with a pair of jumper leads.

 

[Lenny HB]

Aha, I feel a bit daft.

Now we know your problem.