Posted on 06/11/2018 22:22
Hi looking for advice i have just changed my battery and got a 120ah agm type the problem is the panel won't charge the battery above 12.2 the panel is a 160 watt when the sun is on the panel the charge controler shows green and won't put anymore charge in but as soon as the sun goes in it shows red and only shows 12.2 on the caravan panel any ideas could it be the charge controler
Thanks
Posted on 07/11/2018 09:48
either the battery is suspect or the controller...
as above....
charge the battery fully using an offline charger or EHU on the van. wait 24hrs the resting voltage should be 12.6 or even 12.7
if it isn't getting above the 12.2 as in your post, then the battery has failed. showing red and 12.2 must be a big clue?
however, if the battery gets to 12.7 via a different charger and stays there after a rest period, then the solar charger can't be charging it fully.
im no electrician but when I asked about a second panel (2x 100w) I was told my 10amp regulator would need to be changed for a 20amp one. could this be the case for you?
i have 2x 95 ah leisure batteries.
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Posted on 07/11/2018 12:01
It is not clear what voltage you are measuring, is it the solar panel when not connected to the battery or is it the battery voltage with panel connected? It sounds like the latter in which case the battery has had it and the panel cannot rescue it. Do as BB above suggests.
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Posted on 07/11/2018 16:12
Hi thanks for all your reply's back home now will take the battery off and give it a full charge,it was showing full green on the charge controler and 12.6 on the caravan power panel and taking no more charge but if you put the panel in the shade it would start to flash on the solar cotroler as though it was putting more charge in and would drop to 12.2 on the caravan power panel the solar charge controler is 10amp the reading iam showing is with the solar panel connected to the battery
Thanks
Posted on 07/11/2018 16:12 by hallagatherHi thanks for all your reply's back home now will take the battery off and give it a full charge,it was showing full green on the charge controler and 12.6 on the caravan power panel and taking no more charge but if you put the panel in the shade it would start to flash on the solar cotroler as though it was putting more charge in and would drop to 12.2 on the caravan power panel the solar charge controler is 10amp the reading iam showing is with the solar panel connected to the battery
Thanks
Posted on 07/11/2018 16:40
as hitch says, the 'showing full' and the 12.6v reading could be the raised voltage charge from the regulator....
you could just disconnect (pull a fuse) on the connections to the battery, wait a bit and measure again....this would then be the real charge in the battery not what's coming in via the panel/controller.
i also agree with Ocsid re the amperage of the controller, it needs to be a 20amp one...
hallagather