Good solar supplier (1 Viewer)

[Techno]

If I've got it wrong I'll have to re-do the internal cables as it won't look right with red cable connected to the -ve and vice versa!

Or change the ends at the Y connectors (female on the red)

 

[Munchie]

If I've got it wrong I'll have to re-do the internal cables as it won't look right with red cable connected to the -ve and vice versa!

Just strip the insulation back 4 or 6 inches and swap it over on the bare wires.

 

[Steve]

cant you check it with a volt meter? it will show + or -. just a thought.

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[Abacist]

cant you check it with a volt meter? it will show + or -. just a thought.

I checked it at the panels with the volt meter and it showed 18 volts from each panel but further back near the regulator the readings were Zero!

 

[Techno]

I checked it at the panels with the volt meter and it showed 18 volts from each panel but further back near the regulator the readings were Zero!

Did you DISCONNECT them from the regulator to test the voltage?

 

[Terry and Jan]

Auto Additions, speak to Tyronne he will sort you out.

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[Techno]

It is well within Roberts own ability I'm sure.

 

[Abacist]

Did you DISCONNECT them from the regulator to test the voltage?

Yes - at the MC4 connectors on the panel

 

[Techno]

Yes - at the MC4 connectors on the panel

No I mean at the regulator end

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[Abacist]

But if I disconnected both positive and negative MC4 connector wherever there would be no connection to the regulator, just unconnected cables?

 

[Techno]

Yes but you are looking for continuity all the way to the regulator not half way

 

[Abacist]

I assumed that I had a bad connection somewhere along the way, not reversed polarity which the regulator is supposed to highlight with a warning light, so I thought I'd check for power at each set of MC4 connectors but the sun was hard to come by today! I'm not sure what I'm supposed to get in daylight without sun but overcast so gave it up as being a lack of sunlight so wait until another day.

Tomorrow afternoon I'll try reversing the cables at the regulator to check for reversed polarity but the regulator instructions say this should light a warning light but they are all dead other than the green when I switch it on with the button!

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[Techno]

It is unlikely that the branch connectors are faulty and MC4 is a standard fitment regardless of who makes them.

Do not reverse the cables. Disconnect them and put a voltmeter on them

 

[DanielFord]

I'm sitting here doing my Clarkson smug face thinking, this is why I got someone else to fit my panels! But then I realise this input isn't strictly helpful.

 

[Abacist]

OK - will do and will report back.

Many thanks @Techno for your advice - as ever!

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[Abacist]

I'm sitting here doing my Clarkson smug face thinking, this is why I got someone else to fit my panels! But then I realise this input isn't strictly helpful.

Yes but this is just a minor glitch! The satisfaction in getting this far has been.
Immense. I couldn't/wouldn't pay for what I've achieved and this is the first glitch.

I've installed a B2B charger, an extra battery bank with 2 batteries, a NASA battery monitor, an inverter and now I'm putting on 3 solar panels, 2 to feed the new battery bank and one more to supplement the existing battery bank with 2 controllers and then I'll put in a switch to connect both battery banks.

With no labour charges! That will add to our holiday spends in September as we won't need a hookup and having done a Gasit instal I'll only be paying a third for my gas.

I enjoy a DIY challenge. I once rebuilt an entire mini. Down to bare shell and re-spray myself, engine rebuild, gearbox rebuild, hotter cam, twin carbs, polished combustion chambers and when I sold it the buyer rallied it. It was the wife's first car after she passed her UK driving test having a Canadian test which was on an auto.

 

[Allanm]

Suns out here today, hopefully it is where you are so you can get on and sort your panels out.
I just bought a new 120w panel and connectors to add to my other panel. My MC4 connectors have the polarity stamped on them and the plugs are a simple crimp fit, no tool required.
As Andy says, the Y connectors are unlikely to be faulty, but I would check them anyway with a continuity meter before you do anything else.

 

[Techno]

Yes they are stamped EDIT (actually non of mine are, only the conductor is marked with a label) but you come off a positive branch connector with a female negative end

Pictures say more than words

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[Techno]

Another thing to check is that after crimping the pin on the cable that you have pushed the pin ALL THE WAY home in the housing before tightening the gland nut. It only needs one like that and you lose the circuit.

 

[Abacist]

Well I'm home again and pulled the MoHo out into the sun on the front drive, disconnected both solar cables at the regulator and put the voltmeter on them.

Zero with the cables the right way around but if I reverse the cables on the multimeter I get 20 volts from 2 100 watt panels and its probably cloudy with sunny blue patches.

So despite being careful along the way it looks as if I've got the cables the wrong way around at the regulator!

Thanks for all your help and advice! At least I can draw some satisfaction that all my MC4 connections were well made!

 

[Abacist]

OK so cables now re-wired and I have the blue solar power light lit and I've got just under 2 amps going in to the batteries on a cloudy day! Success!

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[Techno]

Well done mate

 

[DanielFord]

Yes but this is just a minor glitch! The satisfaction in getting this far has been.
Immense. I couldn't/wouldn't pay for what I've achieved and this is the first glitch.

Totally know where you are coming from, wish I had the time to do that, but I don't

 

[Techno]

OK so cables now re-wired and I have the blue solar power light lit and I've got just under 2 amps going in to the batteries on a cloudy day! Success!

Tuesday is mega summer day so take a picture around midday but remember to switch plenty of load on to pull the amps from the regulator I'll do mine too

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[Abacist]

That sounds interesting!

Do you think that our regulators have protection against high voltage? When I wire up my other panel to the AutoTrail hab batteries should I include a switch to cut it off from the Sargent high voltage charger when that it is on? eg in the winter?

 

[Techno]

What do you mean by high voltage

 

[premiere99]

What do you mean by high voltage

Sargent think that putting 18+ v dc into the battery makes their charger "intelligent", and are arrogant enough to tell you not to wire anything else to the battery.
That is why I now have a CTEK MXS 25 to replace it which IS intelligent.

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[Techno]

Yes I use the CTEK 25 also but it is unlikely that such a voltage will harm the regulator. It will simply stop charging when it sees that voltage

 

[Abacist]

Here is a photo of the roof of the van now just about in full sun with the shadow from the house in the bottom right hand corner.

The panels were actually bigger than advertised. I imagine that the dimensions given were for the actual size of the solar panels excluding the frame and surround as I have had to put one panel laterally as it would not fit in the slot longitudinally in front of the bathroom roof light and it was too wide to squeeze beside the heki.

@Techno I realise the aerial is pointing the wrong way but if I put it round the other way it obscures the corner of the original solar panel! Pity the original dealer who fitted it didn't realise that!

 

[premiere99]

Yes I use the CTEK 25 also but it is unlikely that such a voltage will harm the regulator. It will simply stop charging when it sees that voltage

Agreed but what is it doing to the batteries which at max should only receive 15.5v which will give a 100% charge on Lead-Acid batteries so no need for 18v.

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