Could be a bad join (cold solder joint) somewhere; you can measure voltage with no load, but as soon as a load is applied, it breaks down (open circuit).
Try disconnecting both the panel from the regulator and the regulator from the battery, then reconnect them, battery to regulator first, then panel to regulator.
If this doesn't work, try doing this again but only this time first reconnect the panel then the battery. Note however that some multi-voltage (12v/24v) regulators specify a sequence to connect, check the instructions with the regulator to check this before going ahead.
Checked it again this morning and found No Volts at all now. On closer inspection it appears as though water has somehow got in under the glass. I'm assuming that has shorted/fried things. Guess it's probably Cactus now?
Checked it again this morning and found No Volts at all now. On closer inspection it appears as though water has somehow got in under the glass. I'm assuming that has shorted/fried things. Guess it's probably Cactus now?
I recently bought a 100watt folding panel on Ebay for $151 delivered (auction) and found exactly the same fault when first used - emailed the seller and they said it was a faulty regulator and said they would put a new one in the mail - arrived a few days later and all is good. I noticed that the new regulator was slightly different internally to the failed one. Water under the glass should not affect things.
Just found 2 Burn Spots on the back of the Solar Panel. Looks like it fried. Probably from water getting in somewhere. Emailed the manufacturer to see if there is any chance of repairing it, but don't hold much hope.
Curl on the back of the panel they normaly have 2 bypass Diods (little black things) they can go bang and short your panel out, take them off and remember how they came off, one end has a band on it and when off then put a meter on your panel in the sun and see if still dead.
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"If you don't know where you are going, any road will get you there". Lewis Carroll
All this talk promps me to ask about a problem I may or may not have. I spoke with a sola guy today who says I dont have a problem but it just dosnt seem right to me. I have 2 x 300watt panels with a Red Ark regulator connected to 2 x 100aHr batteries, in full sun I only have 13v from panels to regulator and the same output from regulator. 15 amps showing as flowing to batterys. I have not yet checked open cuircut voltage from panels. After running Waceo Freezer and TV and LED lighting for only about 2hrs after dark battery voltage drops to approx. 12.3 V . Any Ideas?
PS : panels and regulator only about 3 mths old.
-- Edited by Scotty01 on Tuesday 23rd of October 2012 09:42:42 PM
If is showing 13V & there is 15Amps going in to the batterys, then i would sugest that the batterys are not fully charged. When the battery gets nearer to 14V the current should be lower. Doesnt sound like a panel problem.
If is showing 13V & there is 15Amps going in to the batterys, then i would sugest that the batterys are not fully charged. When the battery gets nearer to 14V the current should be lower. Doesnt sound like a panel problem.
Maybe the batteries themselves are the problem. If you're in a position to do so fully charge the batteries from another source (240v charger) and check the performance of the batteries then. You could also check the batteries individually but note that if one of them is on the way out you would be advised to replace both batteries if they have any age on them.
What exactly is the regulator you have? Can you give us a link to the actual model or full details of the regulator? I searched on "Red Ark regulator" and the models I found will not deliver much current.
Your panels should produce a peak power point current of around 35 A. If they are mounted flat on your van I would expect they are capable of delivering over 25 A in full sunlight. As far as I have seen it does not matter how much solar power you supply to a regulator it will not deliver any more than its maximum rated current. You are not getting the full potential current from your panels. Also the charging voltage of 13 V shows that you are starting the night with very little charge in your batteries. Disconnect your Waeco until you can get your charging voltage to above 14 V for some considerable time. If you have not achieved full charging voltages for a considerable time (a few weeks weeks) there is a chance you have killed your batteries.
Do you have a multi stage mains powered battery charger? You should have as there are times your solar charging will not be sufficient. Use this charger to recover your batteries before you go any further. You should run it until it goes right through its full cycle and is running on float charge.
For better advice can you supply details of your regulator as suggested above, the absorption charge voltage your regulator is set to and a full description of your batteries.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
