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Troubleshooting strange RV solar charge system behavior

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  • Troubleshooting strange RV solar charge system behavior

    After 2 years of running well, my RV solar charge system has stopped working, and has a peculiar behavior: it shows voltage in the early morning and late evening, but voltage goes to zero during direct sunlight. I have tested all 3 of my panels (Allpower 100W flexible, 18V) and they are at 0V in direct sun. I had them connected in series to a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 75/15 charge controller, connected to 2 12V batteries (I planned to change the configuration to parallel and get better batteries this month, but then it all went on the blink). The unit was charging until 2 weeks ago (see graphics below), power kind of dropped down for a week then went to the 0V in direct sun , 11 to 14V in the morning and evening. One thing that’s odd is the power dropped off to zero July 23 and 24, and my weather station recorded 42 lightning strikes July 23, then on July 25 the system started charging again, then dropped off to the current pattern around August 1 or 2. Also, we had 256 strikes nearby on July 18, but it didn’t seem to have any effect. So, I was thinking someone with some knowledge might have a clue why this system is behaving this way… the early morning and late evening voltages are confusing, it even charges the batteries a little sometimes before it shoots down to 0V when hit by direct sun in the morning.
    Regards

    Attached Files
    Last edited by Bobbylon; 08-15-2020, 07:50 PM.

  • #2
    CAn you disconnect everything and test each panel on it's own, for voltage and amps ?
    Lightning usually takes out charge controllers, and if you had lightning and then the controller is acting funny .....
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

    Comment


    • #3
      Yes, I took it all apart, 0V and 0A for all 3 panels in full sun. I haven't picked any of the early morning voltage or amperage that the charger recorded, but that might indicate the CC is okay. I'm going to pull the diodes and see what I get. The CC still shows a tiny bit of charging in the morning, so I'm not sure the CC is the problem.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Bobbylon View Post
        Yes, I took it all apart, 0V and 0A for all 3 panels in full sun.....
        Thats not good. Decision , repair 3 shocked panels, or get a new 300+ watt panel and use the CC MPPT down to your battery voltage. But if your panel diodes got fried, I'd be very suspicious of the the CC too, it could be damaged and still work for a few weeks ......

        Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
        || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
        || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

        solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
        gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

        Comment

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