Solar panel charge

[Lizzy]

we have a 2004 Autoscruise, which came with a solar panel fitted. We are usually on EHU, but having to go off grid. The leisure battery doesn’t seem to be keeping topped up by the panel, and sometimes appears to be drained, with nothing connected. Is there something I’m supposed to switch on that I’m not? Does it make any difference what I have the battery charger settings on?
Any ideas? Thank you!

 

[Stealaway]

How old/ good is the hab battery

 

[Ivory55]

And how big is the panel and how much are you using the electric

 

[Lizzy]

The battery was new a couple of months ago, it happens when we aren’t using anything? The panel is just a single panel about 40” x 20”

 

[John H.]

Does the solar panel have an MPPT charge conroller?

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[TheBig1]

You should have a solar regulator fitted, does it have any LEDs lit?

 

[Lenny HB]

The battery was new a couple of months ago, it happens when we aren’t using anything? The panel is just a single panel about 40” x 20”

Probably a 100 watt panel.
What regulator a photo would help.

 

[Lizzy]

This is the panel

 

[Lizzy]

When I press the on button it just says 0.0amps

 

[Lenny HB]

Don't know that regulator but battery voltage is very low & it says off, what happens if you press the red button. Also the cables to the battery look far too small.

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[Lizzy]

Don't know that regulator but battery voltage is very low & it says off, what happens if you press the red button. Also the cables to the battery look far too small.

It says 0.0A instead of off

 

[Lenny HB]

Found some info on it.

http://www.jyinverter.com/upload/file/2016-01/20160113101243-0346-57540.pdf

 

[Ivory55]

Also what size battery are we talking about, if only 80 amps it’s not going to last long

 

[Raul]

It doesn’t seem to get anything from the solar. The on off button is for the load side that’s not connected. You won’t be using that anyways. Try to trace voltage from panel to controller.

 

[GeoffnDee]

Are the terminal connections tight at the black pair of wires on the left on the controller also if you can follow these two wires back towards the solar panel roof connection is there a fuse or switch that they are connected to that needs replacement / turning on.

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[Lizzy]

I’m not very tech savvy, but thank you everyone, at least I know it’s not connected for some reason - I’ll have to find a garage to look at the connections for me

 

[autorouter]

The 'moon' symbol on the left side of the display means the controller thinks it's night-time. If that's correct, then all good. If it was during the day with sun on the panels, that means the solar power is not getting from the panels to the controller for some reason. During the day, the 'moon' symbol should change to a 'sun' symbol, and the charging current (amps) should appear at the top left of the display.

The ''OFF' symbol in the top right is related to the 'Load' terminals. Nothing is connected to the load terminals, which is as it should be in a motorhome. The 'OFF' symbol and anything related to the load terminals can be ignored.

The battery voltage of 11.3V is very low, as others have already mentioned. If it's left like that for more than a day or two, it will start to degrade. Best to charge it up ASAP, either with EHU or by driving.

For future reference, a battery not being charged should stay between 12.0V (fairly flat) to 12.8V (full). When being charged, it should be between 13.4V and 14.4V, maybe up to 14,8V if it is a gel or AGM battery. If it's 15V or more, something is wrong with the charger.

 

[Lizzy]

The 'moon' symbol on the left side of the display means the controller thinks it's night-time. If that's correct, then all good. If it was during the day with sun on the panels, that means the solar power is not getting from the panels to the controller for some reason. During the day, the 'moon' symbol should change to a 'sun' symbol, and the charging current (amps) should appear at the top left of the display.

The ''OFF' symbol in the top right is related to the 'Load' terminals. Nothing is connected to the load terminals, which is as it should be in a motorhome. The 'OFF' symbol and anything related to the load terminals can be ignored.

The battery voltage of 11.3V is very low, as others have already mentioned. If it's left like that for more than a day or two, it will start to degrade. Best to charge it up ASAP, either with EHU or by driving.

For future reference, a battery not being charged should stay between 12.0V (fairly flat) to 12.8V (full). When being charged, it should be between 13.4V and 14.4V, maybe up to 14,8V if it is a gel or AGM battery. If it's 15V or more, something is wrong with the charger.

That’s really helpful thank you

 

[Lizzy]

The 'moon' symbol on the left side of the display means the controller thinks it's night-time. If that's correct, then all good. If it was during the day with sun on the panels, that means the solar power is not getting from the panels to the controller for some reason. During the day, the 'moon' symbol should change to a 'sun' symbol, and the charging current (amps) should appear at the top left of the display.

The ''OFF' symbol in the top right is related to the 'Load' terminals. Nothing is connected to the load terminals, which is as it should be in a motorhome. The 'OFF' symbol and anything related to the load terminals can be ignored.

The battery voltage of 11.3V is very low, as others have already mentioned. If it's left like that for more than a day or two, it will start to degrade. Best to charge it up ASAP, either with EHU or by driving.

For future reference, a battery not being charged should stay between 12.0V (fairly flat) to 12.8V (full). When being charged, it should be between 13.4V and 14.4V, maybe up to 14,8V if it is a gel or AGM battery. If it's 15V or more, something is wrong with the charger.

When I’m driving how should these switches be selected to charge the leisure battery?

 

[autorouter]

Sorry, I don't know, but I'm sure someone with a similar MH would be able to tell you.

For what it's worth, I think the 'Charger' switch is to switch the EHU charger on/off, and should have no effect while driving. In my opinion, the circuit that charges the leisure battery while driving should activate whenever the engine is running, whatever the switches are set to. But I could be wrong about that.

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[GeoffnDee]

If the leisure battery is being charged when the engine is running I would expect the battery voltage shown on the solar controller to increase its reading at this time, if this is not happening there may be a fuse blown or another fault on the vans charging system but you could try altering the switch positions while the engine is running to see if this causes the volts reading on the controller to increase. As Autorouter has said I would not expect to have to alter switches but it would be worth a try.

 

[John H.]

The battery voltage of 11.3V is very low, as others have already mentioned. If it's left like that for more than a day or two, it will start to degrade. Best to charge it up ASAP, either with EHU or by driving.

As autorouter has said, I think your first priority is to get the battery charged. If the solar panel and engine are not doing the job then you should try EHU if you can. and then worry about the solar panel.

 

[John H.]

It is also possible that the solar reulator is refusing to connect to such a badly discharged battery.

 

[Raul]

It would have to be well below 10,5v to be out of range, 11v is still ok.

 

[Lizzy]

I’ve got it back on EHU. Earlier, I also checked the wire connectors into the controller - when I initially reconnected them, Hey Presto! The sun symbol appeared, all seemed to be great. Then the controller just went blank. The battery seemed to have drained. Nothing is happening. I will wait an hour or two on EHU, and see what is what. Probably another new battery at least?

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[Lenny HB]

Need to get yourself a cheap Multimeter so you can check the voltages once you have one we can talk you through using it.

Amazon product ASIN B000LFXGFK

 

[Lizzy]

Need to get yourself a cheap Multimeter so you can check the voltages once you have one we can talk you through using it.

Amazon product ASIN B000LFXGFK

Sounds like a plan thank you

 

[Richard n Ann]

If you want one today screwfix sell them.
£7.50 though

 

[autorouter]

Earlier, I also checked the wire connectors into the controller - when I initially reconnected them, Hey Presto! The sun symbol appeared, all seemed to be great. Then the controller just went blank.

If you disconnect the wires, you have to reconnect them in the correct sequence. Battery first, then panels. The controller automatically detects whether it's a 12V or 24V battery.

If by mistake you connect the panels first, the output voltage can rise and fool it into thinking there's a 24V battery connected. When you connect the 12V battery, it thinks it's a 24V battery that's completely flat, so it switches everything off.

 

[Lizzy]

I have reconnected wires in the correct order. I have put the multimeter across the wires from the battery reading 2.4 across the panel 20.4. Controller still blank....