Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-23-2017, 01:55 PM   #1
Member
 
OLDNAVY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Argyle Tx
Posts: 90
solar panel to controller

I just purchased a 10watt solar panel and a small controller for my TT battery charger. When I hook my panel up to the controller, nothing shows on the LCD screen when I place it in the sun. I have even switched my wires going to the controller thinking maybe I had reverse polarity or something.
What am I missing?
OLDNAVY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2017, 02:25 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Kenny kustom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3,464
Is it also hooked to the battery?
__________________
2017 Dynamax Isata 4
Kenny kustom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2017, 03:40 PM   #3
Member
 
OLDNAVY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Argyle Tx
Posts: 90
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenny kustom View Post
Is it also hooked to the battery?
No. I was testing solar panel to controller. No battery but I thought controller would read energy from the panel
OLDNAVY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2017, 04:47 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Kenny kustom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3,464
Needs a battery too.
__________________
2017 Dynamax Isata 4
Kenny kustom is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2017, 05:03 PM   #5
Member
 
OLDNAVY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Argyle Tx
Posts: 90
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenny kustom View Post
Needs a battery too.
OK. It just doesn't make sense to me since all I want to see at this stage is the panel output. But, i'm stupid on this stuff....
Thanks
OLDNAVY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2017, 05:11 PM   #6
Site Team
 
Flybob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 15,266
Many controllers state the following in the directions.
Connect battery to controller 1st then connect the load then the panel to the controller. Disconnect in the opposite direction. Many controllers will not start until they are connected to a battery. I think you will find 10W a little low as the parasitic draws in the TT will eat any output. I normally suggest a min of a 40W panel
__________________

2015 Freedom Express 248RBS
TV 2015 Silverado HD2500 Duramax
TST Tire Monitors
Honda 2000I + Companion
2 100W solar panels
Flybob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2017, 07:17 PM   #7
Member
 
OLDNAVY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Argyle Tx
Posts: 90
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flybob View Post
Many controllers state the following in the directions.
Connect battery to controller 1st then connect the load then the panel to the controller. Disconnect in the opposite direction. Many controllers will not start until they are connected to a battery. I think you will find 10W a little low as the parasitic draws in the TT will eat any output. I normally suggest a min of a 40W panel
Thanks. I guess i"ll see when I hook it up
OLDNAVY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2017, 07:24 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 316
Well it depends on the controller. The basic Zamp ZS-8 I have shows "fault" when not connected to a battery. Which controller are we talking about here ?
TheGerman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2017, 09:41 PM   #9
Member
 
OLDNAVY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Argyle Tx
Posts: 90
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheGerman View Post
Well it depends on the controller. The basic Zamp ZS-8 I have shows "fault" when not connected to a battery. Which controller are we talking about here ?
Just says PWM RTD 10A
OLDNAVY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2017, 09:52 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Millcreek UT
Posts: 341
Battery first

I have several panels that range from 50 watts to 160 watts. I have three different types of controllers and all of them require the battery to be connected first as was previously mentioned. The reason for this is that the controller has to know if it is attached to a 12V or 24V system before it can do anything.

Also note that most solar panels will lose most of their capacity if any part of the panel is in a shadow. For example: Today I had my 160 Watt panel connected to my TT and after a short time the corner of the panel had a shadow on it. It dropped from 8 Amps of charge to a fraction of one Amp charging. They need to be in the clear. This is also why I don't mount my panels on the TT roof. I like camping in the trees.

During the non-winter months my panels will recharge from the previous night's use of furnace, pump, and lights in a couple of hours. I have a generator in case of several days of cloudy conditions.

Have fun.
UT_Grandpa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-23-2017, 11:33 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 316
Quote:
Originally Posted by OLDNAVY View Post
Just says PWM RTD 10A
That appears to be some generic chinese controller. In the manual it says under troubleshooting: Power off - Battery too low/reverse. Sounds this controller needs some power from the battery to operate.
TheGerman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2017, 02:51 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Mid Michigan
Posts: 1,098
I was under the impression that 10 watt or less needs no controller.
markb422 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-24-2017, 04:29 PM   #13
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 97
Yup. Got to have a battery. 10 Watts are barely going to register.
Less is More is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
controller, solar, solar panel

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:32 AM.