MPPT controller

jmcows · 07-15-2015, 08:35 PM

l have a solar set up that was already installed on our used TT. The indicator is no longer lit up. How do I find out if the controller is working?

thank you

Happy Vibe · 07-15-2015, 08:57 PM

Can you please tell use what controller you have. A picture may help as well.

jmcows · 07-15-2015, 09:01 PM

MPPT Solar Charger Controller 12V/24V. The solar panel is a 175 watt. I do not have a good picture to attach.

Happy Vibe · 07-16-2015, 08:08 AM

So is it the whole screen that is not lighting up? You are hooked up to your battery and solar panels? you need to make sure that you never have just the solar panels hooked up without the battery as this can damage the controller.

RPAspey · 07-16-2015, 11:42 AM

My MPPT won't work without batteries hooked up. I just get a blank screen.

jmcows · 07-16-2015, 12:43 PM

We did find that one connector bolt was loose on one of the battery terminals. Would this have fried the controller?

Happy Vibe · 07-16-2015, 09:40 PM

It is possible, can you disconnect the solar panels then the battery , then reconnect just the battery and see if you get a display. If not your controller may be toast.

Blackhat6mike · 07-16-2015, 09:53 PM

The controller MUST be connected to the batteries BEFORE the panels are connected to the controller. The ''loose connection'' at your battery could well have fried your controller.
What amp is your controller?

jmcows · 07-17-2015, 11:03 AM

My apologies for not responding sooner. I got stuck at work for 16 hours yesterday and couldn't do anything when I got home after 11pm last night. So this morning I started to do some unwiring and investigating, but as of yet have no answers. I did unwire everything and then wire everything back up to the battery terminals, still no lights.

I am including 4 pictures because of the questions asked.

Happy Vibe - you asked if the screen isn't lighting up - there are no indicator lights lighting up.

We haven't done anything with the solar panel connections. Everything has been working properly.

You also asked if there was a way I could only connect the controller to the battery. Reference the one picture of where all the wires go into the controller, everything is sealed. How would I disconnect the solar panels (2 middle wires)? There are splices where everything was connected, but these are all sealed. Should I unseal the splices?

Blackhat6mike - you asked what amp my controller is - I believe it is a 15A. Reference the one picture I included.

Is there a way to see if the solar panel is charging?

fr1rd831 · 07-17-2015, 11:15 AM

I would suggest using a voltage meter to see if you are getting power from the panels to the controller, etc. Check the batteries as well. Also check for fuses, I'd expect you would have a fuse between the controller and batter.

jmcows · 07-17-2015, 11:24 AM

I checked the volts across the battery this am before disconnecting and it was 12.56. I don't know how to check from the solar panel to the battery. Could you explain how I can do that?

Thank you.

Happy Vibe · 07-17-2015, 11:50 AM

Because everything is sealed like that it makes it harder to trouble shoot. Is this controllers mounted outside? The the display on the end should be lighting up when hooked up to the battery, you should then be able to push a button to scroll through the different readings. If you can't get at the wire then you can try to push a pin into the wire and take a voltage measurement from the pin. If you do get voltage at the controller then I would say you need a new controller. The controller you have is very low end and I'm not even sure it is a true MPPT controller. If it was mounted outside it may have got water into it and had permanent damage.

jmcows · 07-17-2015, 12:16 PM

Ok. Well I am thinking it is the controller. I am going to try reading the output of the solar panel too ence my dh gets home. Can you point me in the direction of a good MPPT controller ti replace this one?
Thank you for the info and assistance.

Happy Vibe · 07-17-2015, 04:14 PM

I have a tracer controller, I have had it for about a year and it works well. You would need the 20 amp model. Morningstar is a high end controller but you will pay a lot more for it. You can look on Amazon or eBay to find them.

jmcows · 07-17-2015, 04:30 PM

Thank you. On the hunt now. Have been trying to find something that fits the budget and will keep us charged up. Thank you for all of your advice and willingness to share.

Will post one we are up and charging again.

jmcows · 07-29-2015, 09:25 PM

Greetings,
I have installed the new controller. Now I have more questions (why I thought I wouldn't was too hopeful). Apparently I need to know what AH my battery is, but there is no indication that I can find on the battery. Nor has searching the web worked. How do I figure this out? Also, how do I know if I have a sealed, gel or flooded. Lastly, is there a programming book for dummies? I dont know what I need to do next so that I know that it is on long enough , etc. Thanks.

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