Electrical Problems

Brian Mckenna · Member

Electrical Problems

rgren2 · Guru

Bit far from Melbourne, but they may know someone there.
exploringoffthegrid.com/

Corndoggy · Senior Member

Does the monitor have a setting to sync it to the batteries and set it to fully charged battery setting? You need to have fully charged batteries when doing this.

Brian Mckenna · Member

Thanks Corndoggy
I did exactly that an hour after I posted worked correctly, I still have a couple of other issues but feel they may be loose wiring, 2 different people wired it and I don't think either of them really knew what they were doing as I still had problems after they left.
Thanks for your input mate

Radar · Guru

Hi Brian.

I have installed in our caravan a LiFePo4 battery and a new solar controller and failed at my first attempt but now the caravan is ready to go on the road again.

First thing read and reread your manual for the solar controller and then read it again taking note of the directions to wiring it up in the right order.

Somewhere you will read how to mate the controller to your battery type

Wiring up the controller to the solar panels and batteries in the right order is most important.

The other thing I have noted is making sure the LiFePo4 batteries are charged or near charged to their recommended amount.

Now reread the controllers Manual. I did take page photos and black out information not needed and fun there was 2 pages worth keeping.

How set the battery type and connection order.

I have no real experience in electrical things but the salesmen said it is a straight drop in change over. Yeh right.

Joda · Senior Member

Have a talk with Wesdan auto electricians in Admiral St. Footscray, used them in the past, John

Brian Mckenna · Member

Thanks Guru

I fitted out an entire campervan a few years ago and never had a problem as I did all the electric's myself but I'm 70 now and to lighten the load I had others do the electrics, mistake, I do have trouble understanding some of the manuals.

Thanks for your thoughts

Ondway2grey · Veteran Member

Hi Brian,

Brand / model number of battery monitor?
Where is the shunt located?
Your capacity reference is this a/h or volts?
Picture of battery monitor wiring?

nomadz · Veteran Member

You could try Darren at Retrolooms. (03) 85213021 42 Renver Rd, Clayton, 3168 - info@retrolooms.com.au
Regards,
Ian

TimTim · Guru

Hi Brian,

Im sure we will be able to work it out for you.

Is the remote monitor a Renogy model or can you tell the make and model number then we can find the manual. Or is it an APP for battery BMS?

Also I hope that you connected your solar controller to the battery first before connecting up the solar panels But this will probably not have anything to do with your problem.

To attach photos, click Attach Files below the typing window then click photo library. If the size of the file is too big you will have to crop them on your phone.

Tim

TimTim · Guru

Taking a punt here

smile

If you have a Renogy monitor this is your manual.

https://au.renogy.com/content/manual/RBM500.Manual.pdf

On Page 6 follow the instructions under 3. Capacity Homing. Part B.

Fully charge your battery then press and hold the ^ button to set the capacity at 100%.

then you are all set smile .

Tim

-- Edited by TimTim on Tuesday 26th of March 2024 12:14:06 AM

TimTim · Guru

Hi Brian,

It was late when I posted Brian and should have clarified something when posting. At least I hadnt been drinking as well biggrin .

When you say the capacity is wrong Im guessing you have set the capacity as per the instructions but the state of charge (SOC) is wrong. This is common as your shunt does not read the SOC when first connected up. As per the instruction you have to charge to 100% and then set it. Why Renogy state the alternative method of draining your battery and then setting it to 0% has me stumped.

Tim

Brian Mckenna · Member

Thanks Guys,

Tim Tim I have reset the monitor to 400Ah's pressed the up button for 3 sec and it is now reading correctly. You were right it was the SOC that was not reading correctly. I really don't remember in what order I connected things. I'll get someone to check the components to see if I have done any damage.

Thanks again

Brian Mckenna · Member

Forgot to paste picture of the outside

Cheers Brian

TimTim · Guru

Great news Brian as I have come across this issue a few times especially people that have the Renogy shunts.

If there is any damage,only issue will be with your solar controller and nothing else. There is no need to get anyone to look at it as there are many that would not even know what they are looking for. No all solar controllers are damaged when not connected in the correct procedure.

Just simply take a look at the screen and see whether it is charging and that the charging voltage is not jumping significantly and rapidly. If it shows that your battery is charging, that is provided it isnt full then you are all good. If your battery is full then simply turn on some 12V appliances so that the solar kicks in.

Your van looks like a very neat job. Hope you enjoy smile

Good luck

Tim

Brian Mckenna · Member

All is good I ran some tools this morning to drain the battery enough for the solar to kick in and everything seems to be functioning as it should.

Thanks again Brian

Oka374 · Veteran Member

We have a 400ah lithium and 1100w of solar and have never ever charged the batteries from the vehicle except for once to see if it worked correctly. We use a 130L 12v compressor fridge, 12v lighting lots of USB sockets to charge the toys, 12v fans and everything else is 240v, induction cooktop, microwave, breadmaker, 1L jug, toaster, plus all the chargers for tools, laptop etc. HWS is excess solar or diesel, heating is diesel and we have a diesel cooktop which seems to get used less these days.
You might find that the solar is more than capable of keeping up with demand.