Solar charge controller info (1 Viewer)

[Glynn]

Hope someone can help here, I have an Epip20 solar charge controller and I am stuck with a few things.
As you can see in the pic it has 3 LED's, OK there easy enough BUt the switch on the right of the unit can be pressed on/off, when I press it it lights up red, press it again and it doesn't light up.

So do I have it pressed ( red light ) or not to have it charge my batteries ?.

 

[icantremember]

Hope someone can help here, I have an Epip20 solar charge controller and I am stuck with a few things.
As you can see in the pic it has 3 LED's, OK there easy enough BUt the switch on the right of the unit can be pressed on/off, when I press it it lights up red, press it again and it doesn't light up.

So do I have it pressed ( red light ) or not to have it charge my batteries ?.

Mine is a different make but has a similar switch which cuts the solar power when lit up........easy to check with a multi meter

 

[Jaws]

It is usually on when the red light is on but to be 100% sure simply put a digi meter across the leisure battery when the sun is shining

Turn on one of the living area lights

Press the button and see what happens to the reading

Press again and see what happens to the reading

When it starts to rise ( proly only by .1 or .2 volts to start with ) you know it is working and charging :thumb:

If you have not got a digi meter pop along to somewhere like Halfrauds and get a wee cheapy .. Around a tenner will get you something usable and useful for all manner of jobs :thumb:

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[pappajohn]

off.....

the switch will turn on a very low power output (maybe 2 amps) to run, say, a single lamp directly from the controller rather than from the vans control panel.

basically back feeding power from the battery to the solar control switch then onwards to the lamp or whatever is connected.

if you look on the controller there are 6 terminals...the two on the right are for connections for this function.

 

[Glynn]

Ok I'm thick, to just leave it permanantly charging the batterys do I have it switch on (red lit up ) of switched off ?.

 

[icantremember]

Ok I'm thick, to just leave it permanantly charging the batterys do I have it switch on (red lit up ) of switched off ?.

If it's like mine.....light OFF for charging

If your battery goes flat you know you got it wrong

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[nomadic]

Our's is on, has been since it was installed by a Fun member, we have never lost power, and have used Aires extensively this year, without loss of 12 volt power.

Hope this helps

 

[pappajohn]

as i said, the switch has nothing to do with battery charging....only to switch on a low amp supply FROM the battery.

doesnt make any difference whether its on or off to charge batteries. :thumb:

 

[Glynn]

Thanks for all your help. it's clear now.
Just wish I could sort out the bloody truma red light problem.

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[motorhomelover]

same system on our solar
question the three LED lights yellow green green middle green flashes
is that showing it is charging ???

 

[pappajohn]

same system on our solar
question the three LED lights yellow green green middle green flashes
is that showing it is charging ???

Yes.

flashing green is charging and solid green is fully charged.

from memory, yellow is either a faulty or discharged battery, only shows if its dark or no sun and the batteries have been flattened.

 

[motorhomelover]

Thank you papa :thumb:

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[Diabalo]

I have the same controller, flashing green is fully charged:thumb:
No you don't need the little red light on to charge.:thumb:

 

[pappajohn]

I have the same controller, flashing green is fully charged:thumb:
No you don't need the little red light on to charge.:thumb:

My mistake....thought it was the other way round but I havent seen one for over a year now oh:

 

[Glynn]

Another question,
Is is OK to have this charge two batteries ?, i.e. the two batteries that I have on the motorhome. Since the batteries are linked for longer use I would have thought the solar can charge both just as the normal charging system does.

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