You have to be kidding me

[pappawheely]

Dig out the specs for your panels and see how your charge currents match up to the specs..

How have you wired the batteries ,,,,?


if your charging at 24V the batteries will need to be in series

not in parallel, like most vehicle second battery circuits......


Some controllers have a dip switch or "settings" for diferent types of batteries, and voltages

Insure you have the right voltage set for the wiring of your batteries.

We are not infallible, I once set up and tested a solar panel system for a desert job

Told the workshop guys to pack up the gear and go and install it

They took the assembled but untested unit rather than the one I had rigged up and tested
as it was closer to the door.....

I had'nt changed the dip switch from the factory 12 to the batteries at 24 on that system

it took 3 site visits to find that little error !

I don't know of any solar system that won't work with deep cycle lead acid batteries, unless the controller is specifically designed for AGM,s which have a different charging voltage and regime

All those issues have been addressed. The unit is configured correctly. I am no expert but I read where if the batteries are low the controller will not "see" them. It was said to connect a good battery to the low batteries and hopefully the charge process will begin. Anyone done this before?

 

[pappawheely]

if you did use a credit card, there might be some recourse with the dealer in the event he is blowing off your concerns.

I already installed the controller three times. Each time I had to take my interior apart, route the cables, zip tie everything together. I am only interested in getting it to work.

 

[Stumpalump]

All those issues have been addressed. The unit is configured correctly. I am no expert but I read where if the batteries are low the controller will not "see" them. It was said to connect a good battery to the low batteries and hopefully the charge process will begin. Anyone done this before?

How low are they? My regular home charger will turn off and say bad battery if they are too low. If your batts are below 12.3 then get them back up any way you can. It's really hard on a battery to let it sit while discharged. The first thing I noticed with the full sized panel on my van roof was how little it actually puts out. It won't even run an ARB fridge after a few days. It's more of a battery maintainer than a full charger in my opinion. Charge those batts with a charger right away.

 

[pappawheely]

How low are they? My regular home charger will turn off and say bad battery if they are too low. If your batts are below 12.3 then get them back up any way you can. It's really hard on a battery to let it sit while discharged. The first thing I noticed with the full sized panel on my van roof was how little it actually puts out. It won't even run an ARB fridge after a few days. It's more of a battery maintainer than a full charger in my opinion. Charge those batts with a charger right away.

That's the plan

 

[Evil Patrick]

Call Northern Arizona Wind & Sun. They're in Flag. Great people. Highly knowledgeable. Well respected.

 

[goodtimes]

The whole thing sounds like you're being blown off.

I've only had one transaction with N AZ Wind & Sun, but they were easy to work with & quite knowledgeable. They may be able to point you in the right direction with regards to troubleshooting.

 

[pappawheely]

The whole thing sounds like you're being blown off.

I've only had one transaction with N AZ Wind & Sun, but they were easy to work with & quite knowledgeable. They may be able to point you in the right direction with regards to troubleshooting.

Exactly! They called me yesterday, when I answered they hung up?

 

[4RunAmok]

What is your location, pappawheely?

 

[unseenone]

It would be nice to know how all this turned out.

 

[pappawheely]

I have been discussing the issue with the people who make the Xantrex unit that Solar Blvd sold to me because I was using it in a mobile application. The problem is that the Xantrex unit is not made for a mobile application. Solar Blvd is completely ignorant about the products they sell and are of no help at all when something does not function. I will try one more time to sort it out with them.

 

[4x4mike]

I have a small stand alone solar setup and thought I'd add some things I've learned.

First, there are many types of batteries and some work better than others being charged by a panel. Part of it is your intended load use as well as charging method. There are also many different charge controllers on the market. Some of the nifty PMW ones have a setting for different types of batteries. Have to do with the sequence and duration of bulk charge/float, etc.

I popped an internal fuse on my controller...twice. Prior to popping the fuse I was having another issue and it boiled down to how I connected the controller to the system. My controller needs to be hooked up to the battery first. Like was mentioned above, take note with 12 and 24v systems. After the battery is hooked up you hook up the panel. The controller is also positive ground. If it wasn't right the controller wouldn't work.

Part of the controller working also has to do with the condition and state of the battery. My controller goes through a learning phase to check where the voltage is and what the loads are and chargers accordingly. Are you batteries all the same size and type? If not I could see this causing problems.

Can you verify if the panels are putting voltage into the controller? Verify battery voltage through the controller? I you aren't able to you might have a blown controller fuse.

 

[ersatzknarf]

Pappa,

Read this !

http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com/

It's very, very, very helpful.

It also will clarify a lot of what has happened to you and likely make you a bit upset, but it will help you in the end.

Read the whole thing.

It really helps put solar in perspective and identifies what you have now found out the hard way

I have been discussing the issue with the people who make the Xantrex unit that Solar Blvd sold to me because I was using it in a mobile application. The problem is that the Xantrex unit is not made for a mobile application. Solar Blvd is completely ignorant about the products they sell and are of no help at all when something does not function. I will try one more time to sort it out with them.

 

[pappawheely]

Thanks for the info and support. I never knew this solar stuff was akin to voodoo. I have talked to a ton of people who have told me contradicting statements about how this works (or doesn't).

 

[ersatzknarf]

Pappa,
You are very welcome.
It is not voodoo, but you are absolutely correct that there are a lot of folks out there peddling stuff and have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.
I hope very much you can get this resolved or get your money back and put together something that actually works for you.
I would be livid ! ! !

 

[unseenone]

I am in the market for an Inverter, to use with non-vehicle solar for example. I've read contradicting statements all over the place. I would note however, that I did notice a substantial number of "factory refurbished" units on the market, which makes me very suspicious of high failure rates. I don't know how Magnum will ultimately stack up.

I personally want gear that is well made, not prone to failure, and American when possible. Fortunately Morningstar for example is a great product, which I bought, but their customer skills stink. Nonetheless I bought the product, because I know everyone raves about it.

Not to sidetrack your thread, but I'm also looking to add solar to charge a 2nd battery. From what I have seen so far, it seems like you need to buy your own components in order to end up with a quality product. I am trying to figure out what I want for panels, controller will be a Morningstar almost certainly.

I've considered laminate type, to mount on the glass roof, between the sun roofs, but I also have a roof rack, and there will most certainly be shadows, which means it might not work very well.

I might also do a small panel(s) on the roof rack front section, as long as I could remove them in the event I needed the load space.

I certainly hope the companies in question step up and refund or make right. I never understood why companies have such a disregard or disdain for the people that keep them in business, it really makes you wonder why anyone would spend a dime with them. Worse still, what damage one unhappy person can do to the business far outweighs the cost to correct it, even if the customer is wrong. Not that I am implying your are wrong, make them famous if they don't make it right.