Advice needed

[urnmor]

I have factory installed solar on our 2012 FB FC that does not appear to be working. When I check the Sunexployer it shows my batteries fully charged, (we are connected to shore power) however the solar charge amps show 0 and the solar Amp hours at 4.6 even though it has been sunny the last few days.
I have never had this issue before and know little to nothing about solar. So any advice on where to begin trouble shooting is greatly appreciated.

[Mattirs]

With the batteries fully charged there would be no place for the solar panels to send the juice. Try turning on the fans and the lights that should have something show up coming from the panels. If nothing then run the batteries down about 25% and don't have any other source of power coming in to the batteries.

Thanks
Matti

[daleyocum]

Originally Posted by Mattirs

With the batteries fully charged there would be no place for the solar panels to send the juice. Try turning on the fans and the lights that should have something show up coming from the panels. If nothing then run the batteries down about 25% and don't have any other source of power coming in to the batteries.

Thanks
Matti

Good advice. You’ll need to unplug from shore power and run the battery down a bit before the solar controller would wake up.

[urnmor]

First let me say thanks for your advice. Please bear with me as I don’t really understand, however if I give it a shot. You are telling me that my batteries have to be run down about 20 to 25 percent for solar to kick in and register amps. Am I correct?These are new batteries (just installed before we left on our trip)

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by urnmor

First let me say thanks for your advice. Please bear with me as I don’t really understand, however if I give it a shot. You are telling me that my batteries have to be run down about 20 to 25 percent for solar to kick in and register amps. Am I correct?These are new batteries (just installed before we left on our trip)

Apparently this true. The Atkinson solar controllers allow the batteries to discharge too much before initiating a charge. However, in my case, the controller was hit and miss and worked when if felt like it.

At the suggestion of others here, I upgraded to the Victron 75/15 blue tooth controller (you can get a lower or higher rated controller to fit your solar needs).

Now the solar tries to keep the batteries in float to keep them topped up.

Edit: You will loose your Sunexplorer display when you upgrade, but get much more information and programability via the Victron blue tooth. I re-purposed the Cat5 cable to power a USB outlet in the old display location. But you could always use the old Cat 5 for a voltage display instead.

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[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by urnmor

. . .
When I check the Sunexployer it shows my batteries fully charged, (we are connected to shore power)
. . .

When connected to shore power, the standard AS OEM battery monitor does not show the correct battery voltage IMO. It instead shows the voltage output of the converter/charger [typically about 13.7]. Maybe your setup is different?

Disconnect from shore power, wait a couple of hours, then check your battery voltage.

Peter

[rowiebowie]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

When connected to shore power, the standard AS OEM battery monitor does not show the correct battery voltage IMO. It instead shows the voltage output of the converter/charger [typically about 13.7]. Maybe your setup is different?

Disconnect from shore power, wait a couple of hours, then check your battery voltage.

Peter

Excellent advice. When I upgraded to the Victron MPPT controller, I can now see real time battery voltage as well as solar charging.
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