Help

[Sue coulson]

My motor has worked really well by solar charging both batteries. However, yesterdsy because weather been poor. Batteries very low. Charged overnight and both read 3/4 full. But ..... today been glorious and both batteries on solar have reduced to half? Advice please
Regards
Sue

 

[movan]

My motor has worked really well by solar charging both batteries. However, yesterdsy because weather been poor. Batteries very low. Charged overnight and both read 3/4 full. But ..... today been glorious and both batteries on solar have reduced to half? Advice please
Regards
Sue

Sue, if you cange your heading to HELP RE SOLAR PANELS you may get a better response as people sometimes have specific areas of expertise.

 

[Sue coulson]

Oh didn't think it was my solar panels but my batteries??

 

[Figaro]

Are you in the UK and how / what are you measuring ?
Sun is very low in the sky atm and so not much solar input

 

[scotzsue]

May be either or both, have you checked fuses between the solar power and your batteries? How old are the batteries, how much solar do you have?
What is the actual voltage, do you know? can you check directly from the battry rather than your control panel reading?

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[Sue coulson]

Yes at home in uk. Only measure I have for batteries is on the console. Up is van battery and down is leisure. We had 3- 4 days bad weather and reading low. So plugged in the main overnight. Nxt day 75%. So unplugged as v sunny. By the end of the day reading were both 50%

 

[Sue coulson]

Hi my solar panel fitted last year is 150. How do you measure actual battery is there a tool for that??

 

[Richard n Ann]

Hi my solar panel fitted last year is 150. How do you measure actual battery is there a tool for that??

Yes a multimeter

 

[Figaro]

So plugged in the main overnight. Nxt day 75%. So unplugged as v sunny. By the end of the day reading were both 50%

Sounds like a drain on the batteries, was anything turned on ?
I`d be inclined to put it on electric hook up for 24 hours and get them fully charged then see what happens.
The best way to measure is with a multimeter on the battery terminals

 

[mitzimad]

looking at the voltage just after they have been on charge doesnt give a true reading you need to check them an hour after you remove the charger

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[Sue coulson]

Only power on is the solar panel

 

[Sue coulson]

I did charge on main and they both went up to 3/4 full but lost 1/4 during a v sunny day?

 

[gus-lopez]

I did charge on main and they both went up to 3/4 full but lost 1/4 during a v sunny day?

Do you have anything switched on ? water heater , etc?

 

[Sue coulson]

No only power on is solar switch

 

[scotzsue]

No only power on is solar switch

You will have used lights are they LED, did you use a heater even gas but blown air. sounding as though your battery may be kaput, especially if the solar has being keeping it going up till now. //keep it on hook up for at least 24 hours, and get yourself a multimeter, even I can use one Best of luck hope you get sorted ok

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[Sue coulson]

Do u know what the battery should read?

 

[TerryL]

Charging overnight won't top the batteries up, you need AT LEAST 24 hours, more if they are well down. I'd guess the reading you took was misleading because, as already said, you need to let them "rest" for an hour before taking a reading after charging.
Don't know if it's possible in your case but I'd leave the mains on for as long as you can, it shouldn't hurt anything. Solar not very effective at this time of year and a boost will do it a world of good.

 

[flatpackchicken]

Do u know what the battery should read?

Full should read about 12.8 ok when no charge coming in either ehu or solar after dark

 

[flatpackchicken]

Full should read about 12.8 ok when no charge coming in either ehu or solar after dark

Hope this helps

 

[flatpackchicken]

If batteries are failing after charging, then 1 battery may have failed and dragging second battery down !!!! Suggest fully charge for at least 24hrs on ehu then leave for 1 hour to settle and then check batteries on panel but after dark as solar will still be charging to so you may not get proper read out. If you find one batttery is faulty then it may be better to replace both batteries as older battery will drain new battery ok. Good luck

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[the1andonly]

As Terry says charge each battery for at least 48hrs.
Can you drive it?
Find a local auto shop (even Halfords) and offer to buy a multimeter (no more than £20 nearer 10) if they show you how to read your batteries. The actual batteries in the van (dont buy any batteries even if they say are knackered) then come back here with answers. Youll also have a clue how to use it when questions are asked here.
This is a technique ive had to use in the past (different circumstances) What a 20 stone bloke that needs showing how to use a sledge hammer!