solar panel wiring (1 Viewer)

Bart

Free Member
Jun 4, 2016
3,188
1,396
Northern Ireland
Funster No
43,436
MH
Boxer L4H2 van build
Exp
Since 2016
i remember reading somewhere that the order in which you initially connect the your wires from your solar panel and leisure batteries to your MPPT was important, but i cannot remember if it was the leisure batteries or the solar panels that should be connected to the MPPT first.
Also in my set up i have a sterling battery monitor with the Shunt on the negative to measure all input & outputs to the Leisure batteries , should i connect my negative from my MPPT controller to the batteries so that it goes through the Shunt , or should i connect it directly to the negative on my battery bank.
 
R

Robert Clark

Deleted User
Everything goes through the shunt - including the solar
 
OP
OP
Bart

Bart

Free Member
Jun 4, 2016
3,188
1,396
Northern Ireland
Funster No
43,436
MH
Boxer L4H2 van build
Exp
Since 2016
Thanks all for the fast replies, sure if i have an inline trip / fuse on the positive wire between the solar and the MPPT then if i just leave that tripped , that will save me having to cover them i'snt that right ?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

two

Aug 4, 2011
4,901
4,559
West Midlands
Funster No
17,624
MH
A-Class Fiat
You would still have live wires from the solar panels, when connecting them to whatever. Covering them is a simple precaution that I have used in the past to avoid surprises.
 

Shrimp

Funster
May 27, 2015
3,958
32,731
Bedfordshire, UK
Funster No
36,573
MH
Hymer B584
Exp
Long time
Hubby put new panels on the other week, got all the work done then did very last connection-inside van-to the controller at night when all was dark!
Worked a treat!
 

Geo

Trader - Funster
Jul 29, 2007
11,757
14,563
Mansfield,Notts
Funster No
35
MH
Autotrail Tracker FB
Exp
45 +years with breaks
Hubby put new panels on the other week, got all the work done then did very last connection-inside van-to the controller at night when all was dark!
Worked a treat!
He got somat wrong! shouldn't have worked at all:Eeek::doh:

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
R

Robert Clark

Deleted User
Thanks all for the fast replies, sure if i have an inline trip / fuse on the positive wire between the solar and the MPPT then if i just leave that tripped , that will save me having to cover them i'snt that right ?
I'd suggest covering them as I was told that joints should not be made or disconnected whilst live.
 
OP
OP
Bart

Bart

Free Member
Jun 4, 2016
3,188
1,396
Northern Ireland
Funster No
43,436
MH
Boxer L4H2 van build
Exp
Since 2016
ok guys today is connection day and i have a problem , i connected my 3 solar panels in parallel
panels 3 off : http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111504448877
through roof into MH via : Broken Link Removed
then into MPPT controller : Broken Link Removed
now when i connect the batteries and turn on the MPPT it goes through its cycle , i then turn on the trip from the solar panels thus making connection between the solar panel and MPPT , but nothing changes on the display , solar panel wattage reads as "0" amps reads as "0"
also i seem to be unable to change the battery type as its set for Gel where as mine are lead acid , tried as per instructions , holding in on/off button for 1-3 secs , but nothing happened.
Any ideas ?
Also how can i check to confirm which lead is positive and negative on the solar panels ( when in situ ) using a multimeter to make sure my leads are not mixed up anywhere. is that possible ?
 

eddie

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 4, 2007
8,104
40,884
Taunton Somerset
Funster No
540
MH
RV
Exp
since 1989
Check the trip type circuit breaker. They are not very reliable :xrofl:

Sorry, couldn't resist that. Check the panel voltage at the breaker input and output. If all OK check the voltage at the regulator input
 

hilldweller

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 5, 2008
605
36,106
Macclesfield
Funster No
5,089
MH
Zilch Mk1
Exp
From Aug 2007
Also how can i check to confirm which lead is positive and negative on the solar panels ( when in situ ) using a multimeter to make sure my leads are not mixed up anywhere. is that possible ?

Set your meter to 20V or higher.
Clip on leads.
If it says 15V the red is connected to positive.
If it says -15V the red is connected to the negative.
Label them with red tape or masking tape.

If it says 0V panic.
 
OP
OP
Bart

Bart

Free Member
Jun 4, 2016
3,188
1,396
Northern Ireland
Funster No
43,436
MH
Boxer L4H2 van build
Exp
Since 2016
Check the trip type circuit breaker. They are not very reliable :xrofl:

Sorry, couldn't resist that. Check the panel voltage at the breaker input and output. If all OK check the voltage at the regulator input
Lol Eddie that was the first thing I checked after you saying they were crap :). Turns out you were right as before I posted this I did check it and sure when the trip was closed there was a circuit , and also when I pressed the trip button to break the circuit I was still getting contact when checking with the multimeter,, so that's now been removed, and even running wires direct from 1 solar panel to the MPPT is showing "o" amps

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 

andy63

Free Member
Jan 19, 2014
4,672
15,016
south shields
Funster No
29,767
MH
None
Exp
since 1990
Also how can i check to confirm which lead is positive and negative on the solar panels ( when in situ ) using a multimeter to make sure my leads are not mixed up anywhere. is that possible ?
You could check that with a digital multimeter, by just connecting to what is labeled posotive and negative... if red on possible and you arnt getting a -sign in display they are right way round...
But your panel will tell you if the connections are reversed by the colour of the led.. it's listed in the instructions..

also i seem to be unable to change the battery type as its set for Gel where as mine are lead acid , tried as per instructions , holding in on/off button for 1-3 secs , but nothing happened.
Any ideas ?
I had same problem... keep playing with the button and watch the display ... eventually I noticed the battery type number changing ,and eventually got it set to where I wanted ,but it displays appear a bit inconsistent. .. just keep playing... it will happen lol..
If you are still having bother get back and I'll go out play with mine .. see if I can shed any more light lol..

Also on a dull day you may not get any charge current displaying
Especially if you have fully charged batteries...
I think the panel will only do its job if the incoming voltage is 5v higher than battery voltage..
Andy
 
OP
OP
Bart

Bart

Free Member
Jun 4, 2016
3,188
1,396
Northern Ireland
Funster No
43,436
MH
Boxer L4H2 van build
Exp
Since 2016
image.jpeg
Thanks , yip well the 1 panel I am testing now is reading 20.54v it is connected directly to the MPPT with a direct feed for testing and yet the MPPT is just showing the 100w solar panel as 8W and zero amps getting charged.
Now it is very cloudy ATM with no sun shining through the clouds, are the above readings normal for a cloudy day with 1 x 100w panel , as I thought it should show as a 100w panel on the MPPT ?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Bart

Bart

Free Member
Jun 4, 2016
3,188
1,396
Northern Ireland
Funster No
43,436
MH
Boxer L4H2 van build
Exp
Since 2016
@andy63 thanks will look at the battery type setting after I'm sure panels are ok , as today I don't think we have the weather here to fry the batteries with solar:)

@Stealaway atm they are connected directly bypassing the rcd. To test them
 

andy63

Free Member
Jan 19, 2014
4,672
15,016
south shields
Funster No
29,767
MH
None
Exp
since 1990
8W and zero amps getting charged.
Now it is very cloudy ATM with no sun shining through the clouds, are the above readings normal for a cloudy day with 1 x 100w panel , as I thought it should show as a 100w panel on the MPPT ?
I would say that's right.. well it's similar to the sort of readings I would be getting with same controller. .
I'm assuming it displays the available power ...rather than what's installed..
You could put a good load on your leisure batteries... then you should see a small charge current from the solar ..
 

hilldweller

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 5, 2008
605
36,106
Macclesfield
Funster No
5,089
MH
Zilch Mk1
Exp
From Aug 2007
I thought it should show as a 100w panel on the MPPT ?

Nothing connected to the panel wires can tell what size it is. It could 50W in blazing sunshine or 100W in fog fall the voltage will tel.

If you expect 100W on the panel I would guess you have to tell it that.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Bart

Bart

Free Member
Jun 4, 2016
3,188
1,396
Northern Ireland
Funster No
43,436
MH
Boxer L4H2 van build
Exp
Since 2016
Nothing connected to the panel wires can tell what size it is. It could 50W in blazing sunshine or 100W in fog fall the voltage will tel.

If you expect 100W on the panel I would guess you have to tell it that.
Thanks that explains it , as it's been and will be cloudy all day here, I've checked each panels voltage again , and each panel is showing just above 20v when uncovered , and all positives are correct, so I'll connect all up , then uncover and see what it's like tomorrow when the sun is to. Make an appearance :D
 
OP
OP
Bart

Bart

Free Member
Jun 4, 2016
3,188
1,396
Northern Ireland
Funster No
43,436
MH
Boxer L4H2 van build
Exp
Since 2016
Andy I'll try loading the batteries as well , but the bank is down to 12.2v any ways
 

hilldweller

LIFE MEMBER
Dec 5, 2008
605
36,106
Macclesfield
Funster No
5,089
MH
Zilch Mk1
Exp
From Aug 2007
and each panel is showing just above 20v when uncovered

I would expect an amp out of them, you don't need sun, just light.

So with 20V showing across the solar connectors you have zero amps ? That does seem right to me unless the controller is doing something very clever like pulsing on for a fraction of a second, sees the voltage drop to 12v or so and decides to turn off. You might not catch this on your meter.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
OP
OP
Bart

Bart

Free Member
Jun 4, 2016
3,188
1,396
Northern Ireland
Funster No
43,436
MH
Boxer L4H2 van build
Exp
Since 2016
I would expect an amp out of them, you don't need sun, just light.

So with 20V showing across the solar connectors you have zero amps ? That does seem right to me unless the controller is doing something very clever like pulsing on for a fraction of a second, sees the voltage drop to 12v or so and decides to turn off. You might not catch this on your meter.
Yip the above pic was with one panel installed , once all 3 panels were connected nothing changed.
 
Jan 8, 2013
8,469
11,502
Dronfield - Derbyshire
Funster No
24,202
MH
Burstner Lyseo 690G
Exp
Happy FLT since 2011

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Funsters who are viewing this thread

Back
Top