Something's up with our Solar (?)

[Paprika]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

Check your fridge for a "Climate Control" switch. It should be OFF. This runs heat strips in the door frame to control condensation.

Dunno what they're installing in 2018 models, but my 2017 International Serenity 27FB has a Dometic 3762 that has the anti-condensation heater, but no switch to turn it off, unlike older models. It's on all the time, drawing power...which is annoying, since I live in the dry Southwest and have no need for it.

Here's what the 3762's service manual says:

"5.7 Climate Control Heater
The climate control heater keeps the frame from sweating in high humidity. Unplug the light green wire from J3 (Gray incased control module) or the light blue wire from P5 (Flip cover control module) and test for proper ohms. From the light green wire or light blue wire to ground the reading should be 24 ohms +/- 10%."

I have not yet dug into the guts to pull off the appropriate wire and disable the heater, but it's on my list. Who needs another phantom load?

[Knuff]

Originally Posted by megadice

Thanks everyone;

My sunexplorer display panel reads;
35 Battery Percent Remaining
11.5 battery voltage
11.5 solar voltage
.6 solar charge amps
64.2 solar amp hours
(Charging status is red)

This is 8am with no direct sun and after the furnace running for much of the night.

(Bin lights off)
(All fans off)

At 0.6 solar charge Amps, you are not replenishing your batteries.
Right now in full sun with our 400W panels, we get 7-8Amp hours max perhaps during 2-3 peak hours (between 11AM and 2PM). The rest we are lingering between 2-4Amp hours. This adds up to about 30Amps solar per day. Summers are different: 12-15Amps over 8+ hours.

The baseline draw from the fridge and other sources in our Airstream is 1.2-1.4 Ams; add the TV (inverter), radio, etc, and we are at 6 Amp hours. During the winter months, we are unable to fully replenish our needs just form solar alone. We have Li-batteries, which gives us a little more freedom when the charge is getting low, but with the stock batteries, anything below 30% has the potential to damage the batteries. The furnace definitely brings the batteries down even more and if you have to run it all night, it easily can "eat" 60-80 Amps, which would be barely replenish-able with your solar panels on a sunny day in July.

[gregwall]

Plug it in and recharge the batteries, or remove the batteries and put them on a charger. Then see if they will hold the charge in the trailer.

[LyleRussell]

My refrigerator uses quite a bit of battery even when on propane. Igniters and a fan eat a bit of battery. When I was was boonie'ing in Maine last summer my Airstream installed panels wouldn't keep up until I found the lights on in my outside lockers and turned the refrigerator off.

[LyleRussell]

Set the panel to Amp Hours then hold the button down to zero the counter. Then look at the Amp Hours after a day. It ought to be near to the capacity of your panels if you're getting perfect sun.

Your propane furnace eats battery big time.

[Forrest]

Originally Posted by rvb

Are the solar panels clean? Mine get covered with dirt and tree sap and my output drops noticeably. Wash them with soap and water or Windex. Also, the sun is at a lower angle this time of year, so, unless you can tilt your panels toward the Sun your output will be reduced.

I agree 100% with RVB, with the lower sun angle, clean panels are absolutely necessary. This can especially be a problem in the dry southwest. With very little precipitation to keep the panels rinsed off, dust adheres to them like a magnet.