solar/battery issues.

[PSMw]

Hi all, newbie here, our van had solar when we purchased, The charge controller is Solar Technology International, there is a split charger to leisure and engine batteries. Not used much this year like most, but all was working until this Monday, went into van and although some sunshine no lights at all on controller. Turned key in ignition and Green light (solar panel) and two (batteries) flashed red, quickly followed by both flashing green, drove van half hour to shops all appeared good, back home locked van lights still flashing green, soon after back to solar (green) batteries (red) that evening no lights at all.
Since then same thing, no lights - turn ignition - Lights - lock van - lights - later lights all out. I have little knowledge in this field, but am hopeful of some help and a not too hard fix!

 

[David and Sally]

 

[Lenny HB]

Sounds like the solar regulator may have failed.
You need to check the voltage on your batteries with a multimeter with everything turned off for at least half an hour, also without any solar input either disconnect the panel from the regulator or cover the panels or do it when it's getting dark.
Then with the solar connected on a bright sunny day (keep hoping) the voltage should rise gradually if it does it would indicate the regulator is working.
At this time of year you will only get any useful solar output an hour or so either side of midday.

A guide to voltage and battery state without load.

Edit:
How much solar have you got?
Tuesday a bright sunny day on the south coast my 300 watts managed just over 4 amps for a couple of hours.

 

[vin0114]

Hi all, newbie here, our van had solar when we purchased, The charge controller is Solar Technology International, there is a split charger to leisure and engine batteries. Not used much this year like most, but all was working until this Monday, went into van and although some sunshine no lights at all on controller. Turned key in ignition and Green light (solar panel) and two (batteries) flashed red, quickly followed by both flashing green, drove van half hour to shops all appeared good, back home locked van lights still flashing green, soon after back to solar (green) batteries (red) that evening no lights at all.
Since then same thing, no lights - turn ignition - Lights - lock van - lights - later lights all out. I have little knowledge in this field, but am hopeful of some help and a not too hard fix!

At this time of year especially with the majority of days being miserable and dull your solar panel will not keep your batteries charged. You need mains hookup perodically to keep them charged. I have 2 hab bats as well as the cab bat and 2 solar panels and have had to top up with hookup several times in the last couple of months. This is normal for this time of the year and handy when your van is parked at home.

 

[Lenny HB]

At this time of year especially with the majority of days being miserable and dull your solar panel will not keep your batteries charged. You need mains hookup perodically to keep them charged. I have 2 hab bats as well as the cab bat and 2 solar panels and have had to top up with hookup several times in the last couple of months. This is normal for this time of the year and handy when your van is parked at home.

Never hook mine up to the mains I have 300 watts of solar, last van only 200 never hooked that up either. Living on the south coast may help.

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[vin0114]

Never hook mine up to the mains I have 300 watts of solar, last van only 200 never hooked that up either. Living on the south coast may help.

Yes, South coast is a big help. Today we have had low light and steady rain all day so very little going into my hab bats. I have 2x100w solars going into 2x100w good bats and they struggle at this time of year unless we have a good amount of sunlight for the few hours available at this time of year which we rarely get. EHU is essential in these conditions unless full timing - driving around or using a geny.

 

[autorouter]

The first thing to find out is whether the leisure battery is really a discharged as the solar controller indicates, or is there some bad connection/blown fuse/etc that is making it look like it's discharged. Do you have a multimeter so you can take a voltage reading directly from the battery terminals?

If you think the battery is flat, you need to charge it back to full ASAP, to avoid sulphation damage, or worse. It can take several hours to refill a very flat battery, so a quick half-hour drive won't put much charge back in, even if engine charging is working OK. If a mains hookup is available, now is the time to connect it up.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes, South coast is a big help. Today we have had low light and steady rain all day so very little going into my hab bats. I have 2x100w solars going into 2x100w good bats and they struggle at this time of year unless we have a good amount of sunlight for the few hours available at this time of year which we rarely get. EHU is essential in these conditions unless full timing - driving around or using a geny.

I was refering to when the van is parked up just to keep the batteries topped up, obviously impossible to use with just solar at this time of year.

 

[vin0114]

I was refering to when the van is parked up just to keep the batteries topped up, obviously impossible to use with just solar at this time of year.

That's what I said and what the OP questioned.