Solar Panel not charging leisure battery

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Puma931
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Solar Panel not charging leisure battery

Post by Puma931 » Mon Apr 13, 2015 5:30 pm

Hi,

Any solar experts on here?
My panel (80 watt) no longer charges the leisure battery.
The panel is dishing out 22v, and I have the controller wired correctly but the battery does not charge (it is now on 9v [measured at the controller] after using the lights and cool box etc).
Any ideas? I suspect the controller is not working, as all the wires are connected....

My controller - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151252367886? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Any recommendation on a good quality controller?

Thanks

Mathew
Mark Elvin
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Re: Solar Panel not charging leisure battery

Post by Mark Elvin » Mon Apr 13, 2015 5:39 pm

I had a failure on the same type.

Replaced it with one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10A-20A-30A-4 ... 58b51ace15
Puma931
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Re: Solar Panel not charging leisure battery

Post by Puma931 » Tue Apr 14, 2015 8:43 am

Hi Mark,

Which one did you go for 10, 20, 30 or 40 Amp?

Cheers

Mathew

Mark Elvin wrote:I had a failure on the same type.

Replaced it with one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10A-20A-30A-4 ... 58b51ace15
Gasy
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Re: Solar Panel not charging leisure battery

Post by Gasy » Wed Apr 15, 2015 6:35 am

Dodgy posted a while back that he is using new controllers on the solar kits he supply's
He might be able to sell you one cheaper than those
Think they use 30amp ones for 100w panels
Gas safe heating engineer / plumber if you need any advice just shout.
Dodgey
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Re: Solar Panel not charging leisure battery

Post by Dodgey » Wed Apr 15, 2015 10:37 am

I don't use those any more. I've replaced them with the newer models as Gasy says (nothing wrong with the old one mind you). The newer ones are more compact and the LCD icd is a proper pixel display.

At the bottom of thsi page:

http://solarcampersolutions.co.uk/index.php/bongo-kit

I use 10Amp chargers for 100watts. You'll touch 6 amps at best. I step up to 20Amp chargers for 200w installations.

I'm afraid I don't sell chargers on their own. I buy them specifically for kits.
http://www.solarcampersolutions.co.uk Solar panel solutions for campervans
Puma931
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Re: Solar Panel not charging leisure battery

Post by Puma931 » Mon Apr 20, 2015 3:40 pm

Quick question...

I bought this controller, but should you disconnect the solar panel from the controller when not in use, as the batter indicator is flashing (indicating fully charged)?

Thanks

Mathew
Puma931 wrote:Hi Mark,

Which one did you go for 10, 20, 30 or 40 Amp?

Cheers

Mathew

Mark Elvin wrote:I had a failure on the same type.

Replaced it with one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10A-20A-30A-4 ... 58b51ace15
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g8dhe
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Re: Solar Panel not charging leisure battery

Post by g8dhe » Mon Apr 20, 2015 3:57 pm

If the Battery LED is flashing Green then its full, but there is no need to disconnect anything, it will just float charge the battery or supply current to whatever load you have running at the time.
Geoff
2001 Aero V6, AFT, full side conversion.
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928uk
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Re: Solar Panel not charging leisure battery

Post by 928uk » Mon Apr 20, 2015 5:25 pm

I'd look at the Victron 75/15 for your set-up. Deffo go for MPPT. worth their weight in gold if you find you are partially shaded at any time.
Avoid the cheapo ones on eblag, check out you tube. Most of the low end ones that claim to be MPPT aren't.

For 100 Watt no need for greater than 10 amp.

Happy hunting
Roy
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