Hi, connected a 2nd solar and now system not working . Battery showing 12.5 v regulator shows 12.5 v but no charging symbol . Tested each solar one records 21v the other 24v . Connected in parallel but tried individually but still no charge. Tried battery disconnect but no difference. Beginning to suspect solar regulator? Doesn’t appear to have a reset button. Grateful any suggestions. Thanks H
Have you got a fuse between the panels and the charge controller? Has the rated output of the panels in Parallel exceeded the input specs of the controller. (Specs are normally on the panel label) You need to be looking at VOC and IMP which will give the open circuit volatge and the current when the output is at its greatest. You need to allow at least 5 - 10% safety margin.
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Hi, one panel is 150w VOC 29.7v IMP 7.5a
one panel is 120w VOC 21v. IMP 6.5a
I have fitted a fuse between each panel and the controller. Also have fuse between the battery and the controller. All fuses checked ok. The controller is 20 amp and called top cloud (see on Amazon site.). Don’t know the input spec of controller. Tried reducing to one panel but still no charge symbol.
I suspect that the controller has blown. I have had problems with cheap contollers not being able to take anything like their specs suggest. While the combined IMP value is below 20A I wonder if the controller can cope with 270W at 12V on the output(it will be less due to mix of panel specs). At least it hasn't fried your battery which is what happened when my last one failed after 18 months use. I don't like paying Victron prices but it is better than ruining a holiday due to a failed contoller and in my case a fried battery.
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Have you got a Sargent consumer unit. If so if you remove the cover you will find a Yellow 20 amp fuse inside on the solar panel input connector. Worth checking if this has blown.
Progress at last but not out of the woods. Discovered a number of the newly fitted solar push connectors were not making continuity! I therefore removed them all and resorted to plastic screw connectors. I now have the 120w panel charging as indicated by the controller. Will install the second battery then try the second panel cautiously. Will let you know progress. It’s a good job it’s working as it was only yesterday I mastic ‘d on the second solar!
Birdman 101 hi, thanks for your comment. I now have the panels charging individually but not together in parallel yet. Yet to cross that bridge. Yes I do have a Sargent consumer unit and carefully checked the fuse listing. No mention of solar input? Is it possible my 2012 van was too early or not high enough spec to warrant a solar?
Yes may be to early for the solar input but if it does it is in on connector P9 and just inside a yellow 20 amp fuse.Yours maybe goes direct to the Battery.
Still having problems with solar connectors however have now managed to use the 2 Y connectors and have both panels in parallel feeding 2 batteries in parallel . To protect I have a 15 amp fuse on both live solar wires, a 20 amp on the joint feed to the regulator, a 30 amp fuse to the battery and 20 amp between the batteries. Unfortunately couldn’t get the inline blocking diodes to work although I suspect it is the connectors again! System charging well so put some load on to see if it copes.
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Topic: Solar not charging
via mobile 31/5/2025 at 4:54pm
