Hi All,
Another question from me - I have a solar panel that runs through a controller to the battery. It was working fine after installation earlier this year, but now it’s not. Today it was showing on the controller as the panel producing between 10 - 12volt, but no amps going into the battery. A volt metre confirmed the voltage - but I can’t figure out why it isn’t charging the battery.
Solar panel doesn’t appear to be charging.
Started by
carpenter29
, Oct 23 2018 04:21 PM
38 replies to this topic
#1
carpenter29
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Posted 23 October 2018 - 04:21 PM
Boat is sold, looking for a new one. Hopefully an Elliott 1050.
#2
splat
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Posted 23 October 2018 - 04:47 PM
What voktage is the battery at when disconnected after an hour or so?
#3
Battleship
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Posted 23 October 2018 - 04:52 PM
10-12 volts wont charge the battery. Matt will probably chime in with a more detailed answer but if it was me I would disconnect the panel from the controller and check the voltage there to eliminate the controller as a possible cause. I Would expect more voltage than that.
Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt
#4
Island Time
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Posted 23 October 2018 - 04:53 PM
if the panel is 10-12 v, and the controller is mppt, then the panel is shaded, has bad connections, or has failed. Take the wires off the controller - open circuit voltage should be over 19v.
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing, as simply messing about in boats
#5
carpenter29
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Posted 23 October 2018 - 04:58 PM
Thanks. It’s an mppt controller. Disconnected from the controller and direct to the multi metre it was still only showing fluctuating between 10 - 12 volts. Do you think the panel is knackered - it wasn’t shaded....
Edited by carpenter29, 23 October 2018 - 04:59 PM.
Boat is sold, looking for a new one. Hopefully an Elliott 1050.
#6
carpenter29
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Posted 23 October 2018 - 05:24 PM
IT - is your workshop based in Gulf Harbour?
Boat is sold, looking for a new one. Hopefully an Elliott 1050.
#7
Island Time
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Posted 23 October 2018 - 05:44 PM
yep
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing, as simply messing about in boats
#8
splat
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Posted 23 October 2018 - 05:47 PM
IT not all panels have an open circuit voltage higher than 19V.
#9
Island Time
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Posted 23 October 2018 - 05:50 PM
True, but the vast majority do, and 10-12v disconnected is bad
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, half so much worth doing, as simply messing about in boats
#10
funlovincriminal
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Posted 23 October 2018 - 07:31 PM
Is it a flexible panel?
Had three fail in 2 years, gone to glass/alloy.
"We are not at home to Mr Cock-up"
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