Solar batter charger noise

not so grey nomads · Veteran Member

Solar batter charger noise

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Is batteries fully charged ? Our solar reg has done that at times . I assume its restricting charge ? Is it free standing and not vibrating on anything ?

not so grey nomads · Veteran Member

Thanks for the reply, it seems to make the noise most of the time during the day, no its fixed under the bed which is why the noise is so annoying and I would like to know if it means anything. I is defiantly an electronic noise not a vibration.

Thanks

Jaahn · Guru

not so grey nomads wrote:
I have a projecta solar battery charger in my new caravan, it is making a noise like an electronic bomb dropping in a children's video game, can anyone tell me what this means.
Thanks again for all your help

Hi smile

If you gave us some more information on your charger, the model etc, we could look up the owners manual etc for some answers. Also has it always made this noise or did it just start it or what ? Did you read the manual ? Some times restting it by disconnecting the solar and battery will fix some problems.

Jaahn

PeterD · Guru

Those devices are supposed to be silent, perhaps just a little fan noise if they have a fan (we would know if a fan was involved if you had provided the details of the charger.) Looks like there is a problem in it.

Bagmaker · Senior Member

Ask projecta directly, they build pretty good gear, there may be other issues

woofta and precious · Senior Member

Hi NSGN,
I have had similar problems at times, particularly with lower voltage charging. Hopefully this will explain it?
www.howtogeek.com/200466/why-do-some-ac-adapters-and-power-supplies-make-a-whining-noise/
Regards,
Brian

not so grey nomads · Veteran Member

Thanks guys, it sound like a specific intentional noise not a constant or vibration type noise. Some of the instructions have not been supplied with the new caravan (I don't feel I should call it a new caravan I think I would be hard pressed to find a second hand Van with so many issues) The instruction I can find on line don't mention anything about this, I will try to find a phone number for the company and call them in the new year.
I don't need to set an alarm to wake in the morning, as soon as the sun comes up the noise starts.

cheers

T1 Terry · Guru

not so grey nomads wrote:
Thanks guys, it sound like a specific intentional noise not a constant or vibration type noise. Some of the instructions have not been supplied with the new caravan (I don't feel I should call it a new caravan I think I would be hard pressed to find a second hand Van with so many issues) The instruction I can find on line don't mention anything about this, I will try to find a phone number for the company and call them in the new year.
I don't need to set an alarm to wake in the morning, as soon as the sun comes up the noise starts.

cheers

Sadly the finishing quality of RV's in general is getting worse not better, there seems to be no quality assurance or qualified operator over site these days. It might pay to run a screw driver over the connection, just to make sure they have actually done them up and the problem isn't just a poor connection. The other crazy thing I've seen a lot more of lately is 24v solar panels connected to a12v PWM controller and/or too much solar for the capacity of the regulator fitted. How many soar panels are on the roof?

T1 Terry

not so grey nomads · Veteran Member

Thanks Terry, I will check the connections i'm just starting to realize I should check everything. There are two panells on the roof I am told they are 120 watts each but I am starting to wonder about everything I am being told by the manufacture.
Thanks for your help

Jaahn · Guru

not so grey nomads wrote:
Thanks guys, it sound like a specific intentional noise not a constant or vibration type noise. Some of the instructions have not been supplied with the new caravan (I don't feel I should call it a new caravan I think I would be hard pressed to find a second hand Van with so many issues) The instruction I can find on line don't mention anything about this, I will try to find a phone number for the company and call them in the new year.
I don't need to set an alarm to wake in the morning, as soon as the sun comes up the noise starts.

cheers

Hi smile

You have still not given any details of the model you have so here is a shot in the dark. If your Projector controller is also fitted with a Solar Charge Remote Control Meter unit , then that has a audible alarm fitted. Look at the manual on page 5. Alarm Fault audible alarm, could be activated or deactivated https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5939e22ac534a5226114de77/t/59c0553c9f745604cff28085/1505777009040/SC300D-Instruction-manual.pdf

It so it is showing that there is a fault. If the fault is when the sun comes up then perhaps the solar is wrongly connected or over voltage, perhaps. Check everthing. hmm You might be lucky and the default parameters in the controller are just too low and could need to be reset higher. Go through them in the correct order in the manual and see what they are. confuse

Jaahn

not so grey nomads · Veteran Member

Hi Jaahn, sorry some more info would help the only thing written on it is 12V 25A DC 3-Stage I think I found the instructions www.projecta.com.au/dual-battery-systems-accessories-1/25-a-3-stage-intelli-charge-9-32v-deep-cycle-dual-battery-charger but I can't find anything about an audible alarm. In the afternoon when the charge is high the alarm doesn't seem to sound. I just checked the connections and one terminal connection was a bit loose I will be interested to see in the morning if the sound is back now that I have tightened it.
I would appreciate any other info

Cheers

T1 Terry · Guru

Try looking at the LED's on the charger when it starts making the noise. I suspect it is the charger dropping in and out of solar charging mode because the solar output current isn't enough to keep the "MPPT" part alive. If this is the case you will see the charge and solar lights flicking on and off that sort of matches the frequency of noise generated. If you have a multimeter you could check the incoming solar voltage to make sure it is under 23v as this could also be causing the unit to shut down and reset to protect itself. I put the MPPT part in brackets because it specifies the max input voltage is 23v, that makes it more a PWM controller than an MPPT because a 12v panel will have an open circuit voltage of up to 22v or so, that doesn't leave much room for an MPPT type controller to do any thing that would beat the output of a PWM controller. On the flip side, with a turn on solar voltage of 9v, it would work well with those 16v open circuit panels that flooded Evil Bay a while back and were sold off cheap as chips to clear them when the error in manufacture was identified

T1 Terry

not so grey nomads · Veteran Member

Thanks Terry I have tightening the loose wires this didn't fix it, the lights flashing on the unit when compared to the chart in the instructions is quit normal bulk charge, float charge etc. I havn't checked to see what faze of charging it is in when making the noise that may give me a clue, I will check the incoming charge with my multi meter although it makes the noise when the sun first comes up (you would imagine a lover charge from panels) and will make the noise at mid day (higher charge) I think I'll give up bugging you guys and give the company a call I will post what I find out
Thanks for your help.

Jaahn · Guru

Hi smile

Hmm we posted at the same time aww !!! I think that I am shooting in the dark. Without more information I cannot help. The manual you referenced is for a dual battery controller. That may be correct but who knows. Perhaps you should determine from the supplier what they gave to you. hmm

Good luck, Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 1st of January 2019 04:51:35 PM

-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 1st of January 2019 04:53:18 PM

not so grey nomads · Veteran Member

Thanks hoping the supplier with sort out the other 30 plus issues there are about 10 that rank above this one.
I think I bought a brand new lemon on wheels.

Thanks

Baz421 · Guru

Maybe off the mark but here goes.

Had a PWM solar controller in van for 11 years. Also had a noise in radio and electrical "interference",,,, "experts" tried to fit filters to wiring etc etc.

Changed to MPPT solar controller this year,,, no noise.

Accidental solution.

Maybe supplier can OR van manufacturer can plug in a new unit and see it solves the problem.

Good luck

not so grey nomads · Veteran Member

Thanks Baz

Baz421 · Guru

not so grey nomads wrote:
Thanks hoping the supplier with sort out the other 30 plus issues there are about 10 that rank above this one.
I think I bought a brand new lemon on wheels.

Thanks

I hope it's not a lemon,,,, don't be disillusioned,,,, it happens to many buyers.

Keep good records of what you "say" to dealer/manufacturer and use emails 100% of the time,,,, even after talking to them and state,,,,,, from our conversation on xxxx date my understanding is we agreed on xxxxxx (and state each thing you agreed on or what is promised.

A good practice is to solve the easiest first, that wa y you see progress, as does dealer. Doesn't mean you don't follow up on harder issues, but progress will be good for your soul.

Good luck.

Cheers Baz

PS What make model is it. PM me if you don't it public.

not so grey nomads · Veteran Member

Thanks Baz good advice and heartening, the hard thing for my lady and I is that we have sold up and bought this caravan to live in and travel we can't really afford to hang around. I will be making the make very public if I don't get a quick resolution.

I really enjoy this site you guys are so informative and supportive.

cheers

T1 Terry · Guru

Baz421 wrote:
Maybe off the mark but here goes.
Had a PWM solar controller in van for 11 years. Also had a noise in radio and electrical "interference",,,, "experts" tried to fit filters to wiring etc etc.
Changed to MPPT solar controller this year,,, no noise.
Accidental solution.
Maybe supplier can OR van manufacturer can plug in a new unit and see it solves the problem.
Good luck

There are a number of reasons for this, but the idea does have merit. Separate the solar to its own controller and leave the Projecta to be a DC to DC charger only. Depending on what voltage you see from the solar cables when you disconnect them from the Projecta DC to DC charger, and just how thick the conductors are in that cable, will determine if a PWM or quality MPPT controller is the better choice. There are good quality 60 amp MPPT controllers out there now that can actually work together with other charging sources, yet aren't over the top expensive. PM me if you want brand names so I don't fall foul of the keyboard warriors wink

T1 Terry

not so grey nomads · Veteran Member

To finish off this conversation guys I got onto Projecta and the alarm is a low input voltage alarm that sounds between 5 and 9 volts and they confirmed that it is not in there manual. (although that doesn't make sense the guy was very helpful) this answers one question and creates many more. As I have 2x120 watt solar panels he did say a bad battery could also cause the alarm, Ill get my multi meter and see what I can find, how many volts should my solar panels put out on a sunny day?

cheers

T1 Terry · Guru

As they start up the MPPT controller will try to load them up and get what ever it can out of them. If there is not enough sun on the panels this will pull the solar voltage down below the turn on point and this is probably the alarm you can hear. A fix could be to fit a circuit breaker switch into the solar input cables so you can turn the solar off at night and back on when you get out of bed. That way you get to choose when you wake up rather than the alarm waking you up.
Personally I'd fit a separate solar controller that has adjustable parameters for bulk voltage, absorption voltage and time, float voltage, return to boost voltage and frequency in days. You should also look for a controller that has separate battery voltage sensing wires because this will get the battery charged faster and closer to 100% SOC than ones that sense the battery voltage through the same leads they use for charging the battery.

With a separate solar control you get the benefit of both DC to DC charging and solar charging while you drive.

T1 Terry