Fitted solar panel warning
I have been away from CT for a while so I hope this hasn't already been mentioned - at 8 am today the alarm went warning me of Battery overload from the solar panel. It's a factory fitted one on my 2018 Swift Conqueror.. I called my mobile mechanic and they said I had to disconnect as soon as possible - AND that this is not an isolated incident it has been happening a lot lately. I thought they all had a proper device to cut off the solar power once the battery is full but apparently not.
So especially for those of you who have caravans in store it might be as well to check it out.
If anyone can tell me how to just disconnect the solar but keep the van on mains I would be grateful! Thanks.
Comments
-
pippa, the panel should be connected to the regulator (small box possibly showing charge levels etc) via a small fuse.
if you pull the fuse the 'solar on' light (or similar) will go out showing you that it's disconnected.
pulling the EHU cable won't do anything to do with solar power being fed into your battery....the panel is there to give you a 12v supply when you HAVENT got an EHU plugge in.
0 -
Thanks BB yes I was worried that disconnecting isn't going to help! I have found the box but can't see any fuses near it or wires I can disconnect - perhaps I will have to go through all the fuses. I have a call into the dealer for help too. My next step is to cover the panel so it can't go on pumping power!
I am not sure why this was taken out of C & MH thread as surely you MHs have fixed panels too?
0 -
A solar regulator/controller should have all the circuitry to protect from battery overcharging.
Assuming one is fitted:
it could have failed or
its voltage level at which it "floats" might be a little higher than the provider of the warning equipment thinks is "right". Only the battery maker will know quite what this level is as the actual "safe" voltage depends on amongst other things the alloying in the lead, it is not "one figure fits all". The alarm value could well be set at a lowish value ie playing safe, whereas the solar controller might be seeking to optimise the charging.
it, might be set for a different type of battery than is fitted or the warning system thinks is fitted.
All easily diagnosed by a competent "engineer" .
0 -
Thanks ocsid - problem is now solved well dunno about solved but panel disconnected! That is very useful thank you. They called me back from the dealership and said that if I followed the wires up from the solar control box I would find a join that could be pulled apart. Of course it was well hidden under the bits and pieces and cable protectors. Once reconnected the Battery showed its charge to be 14.4 but that quickly went down to 13.7 so I hope all is well.
I am not sure if my mobile servicer will be able to sort that when he comes for it's first service in about 10 days time. But I can try! When I did use the panel a few weeks ago it didn't seem as efficient as my 80w one that I move round with the sun.
0 -
Hi Pippah, Got to agree with all the advice from all my erudite colleagues on here. The charge controller is definitely the first thing I would suspect. An auto electrician will be able to sort this out in a trice. Your battery should be okay now but the charge will still be being generated from the panel which will vary according to the light available. What size is the Panel? 100w? Wouldn’t this be better in Parts and Accessories?
0 -
Had the same issue last year with our Truma controller. It had failed allowing the battery to be unregulated. I brought a new controller from amazon for £15.00, as at the time I couldn’t get hold of Truma. Said cheapo fitted and all was ok.
Eventually got hold of Truma who agreed to send out new controller as long as I returned the faulty one , as “ we have never had a controller fail and need to do checks”
truma controller fitted bou 6 weeks later it failed again. Have continued to use ell cheapo without issue since.
On a side note whilst at the nec show I mentioned this on the truma stand only to be told by their rep that it was impossible I had had a unit fail. When I politely told him I had in fact had 2 fail, he blamed the installer (me) anyway long-story short when I explained that even a chimp could connect 2 wise from the panel and 2 to the battery he turned away.
So 2 truma controller goosed 1 battery fried
i am am still using ell cheapo is still fitted and doing a great job.
honestly don’t know if yours is still under warranty, but if not you can sort it for pennies yourself.
0 -
Chasstreet, I can’t agree with el cheapo! This is not a criticism of your choice- Yes, I’m sure that, with your experience with Truma, you think that a ‘quality’ brand can and does fail. But many of these companies buy el cheapo and put their own brand on them. They contain cheap semi conductors that are not really fit for purpose. Semi conductors are like everything else- you get poor quality, mediocre quality and first class quality. If the components are sourced from unknown sources then it is more likely than not that poor quality components will be used whereas companies that deal with the best semiconductor manufacturers in the world have little problem.
But whether from Truma or EBay, how long is a cheap one going to last and if and when it fails are you going to be able to claim against the company for frying your battery?? However, there are controllers on the market, tried and tested and lorded as being bulletproof. Votronic for instance. They may be dearer but you pay that for reasons and they are longevity, efficiency and reliability. Fit the best you can afford- it pays in the end.
0 -
I don't know how long the warranty should last but if it was the unit that failed - it is less than a year but should be under warranty! Do I want another faulty Truma? not sure about that!
Thank you Chasstreet that has reinforced the fact that it does happen to others as well - which was mostly my reason for posting so that others would be aware that it IS happening. I certainly wouldn't want to leave mine for any length of time knowing this might happen.
0 -
Merve
whilst I agree that there are many more expensive items which may be the dogs danglies, my whole point is not about the price paid, its about an experience I have had and passing the info on to a fellow vanner, who himself /herself, clearly has a problem.
The difference between my 1 £15.00 controller and 2 failed £55.00 truma controllers (although my first was replace free ) is the elle cheapo is working fine, you can adjust upper charge limit, it can charge 2 usb simultaneously whilst charging the battery, and more importantly it has not cooked 2 batteries like the truma did.
Remember price has nothing to do with quality, if it did then a 30k caravan would never leak
0 -
Well - service man came and declared he had checked the unit - but couldn't be sure as there wasn't enough sun. Next day enough sun to trip the alarm - It's a Sargeant unit by the way. Back in touch with Service office - and they called back quickly to say that a new unit would be on the way - and did I by any chance have problems with my Tracker??? The tracker has a fault and they are replacing that too - pity they couldn't have told me that before as I haven't used the bally thing since the first 5 false alarms! I am hoping that both new units can be fitted before I go away!
So it looks like Sargeant and Truma solar boxes both have problems!
0
