2021 FR3 Solar Controller

[RVwino]

Our Merlin solar controller reads 0 Volts on the PV display. Is that normal or does it mean that our solar panel may not be generating electricity?

[Sistahazel]

Has it ever read anything other than that? Was the sun out? It may be disconnected in some fashion.

[RVwino]

So, I shouldn’t try reading it at night? 😉

Yes, it was in full sun. It’s a brand new mh and I’ve never seen the solar PV monitor read anything but 0V. When I cycle the monitor to batteries, it reads their voltage just fine.

Thank you for taking the time to reply!

[RVwino]

Looks like there’s a bad connection somewhere. Time to bring it in for service.

[HiTech]

Inline fuse near the battery?

[RVwino]

Thank you for that suggestion. Yesterday, I looked and I found several 5A fuses and a larger one (I think it was a 25A?) in the lines attached the battery. They looked OK.

[BShuttleworth]

Originally Posted by RVwino

Thank you for that suggestion. Yesterday, I looked and I found several 5A fuses and a larger one (I think it was a 25A?) in the lines attached the battery. They looked OK.

PM sent

[RVwino]

The Forest River dealer in Lockeford, CA solved the problem. The wires coming from the PV panel were reversed when they were connected to the Merlin solar controller. If they are reversed, the PV display reads 0 Volts. When corrected, it was reading 14 Volts on a partially cloudy day and the batteries were being charged.

Originally Posted by RVwino

Our Merlin solar controller reads 0 Volts on the PV display. Is that normal or does it mean that our solar panel may not be generating electricity?

[PDuB-IA2MI]

Even at night you should get a reading on your battery voltage.

In the pitch black Iowa winter night, I'm getting 13.3v right now on my cheap PWM controller.

[RVwino]

Yes, the batteries were reading fine. But the controller display cycles between providing a battery reading and the PV cell reading. It was the PV reading that was at 0 due to the wires being crossed.

Originally Posted by PDuB-IA2MI

Even at night you should get a reading on your battery voltage.

In the pitch black Iowa winter night, I'm getting 13.3v right now on my cheap PWM controller.

[leonards]

2021 30DS. Had the RV for about a year now and just noticed that the display reads PV 0 volts, PV 0.0A and all other readings are fine.
@RVwino I took the panel off and looked at the wiring and looks good +/- connections.
The battery icon is not blinking indicating that is charging according to the manual. Any thoughts on what to look for or do to check. I reversed the +/- on the PV side and still same readings from. Do I need to reset something? Once connections are reversed.

[RVwino]

Originally Posted by leonards

2021 30DS. Had the RV for about a year now and just noticed that the display reads PV 0 volts, PV 0.0A and all other readings are fine.

If it hasn’t always been that way:
1) Check the in-line fuses wired onto the battery posts.
2) Check the roof-top connections in case a tree branch snagged them.

Otherwise, it may be time to contact FR.

[BShuttleworth]

As Cliff stated above, I would recommend checking the connections at the battery along with the roof. It could be on the roof, that the two connections are reversed and the wires just need to be switched with one another.

If I can help further please let me know, our parts and warranty number is also 574-206-7600 if you would like to talk to them directly as well.

I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend,

Brent Shuttleworth
Forest River FR3

[leonards]

Checked the connections in the roof and to my surprise the connection was completely off and exposed to the weather. It seem to have been like that for a long time. I used contact cleaner on both ends. Once I reconnected both +/- the solar panel started displaying the PV volts and the battery icon started blinking indicating it’s charging the batteries. All back to normal. Thanks guys.

[BShuttleworth]

Originally Posted by leonards

Checked the connections in the roof and to my surprise the connection was completely off and exposed to the weather. It seem to have been like that for a long time. I used contact cleaner on both ends. Once I reconnected both +/- the solar panel started displaying the PV volts and the battery icon started blinking indicating it’s charging the batteries. All back to normal. Thanks guys.

I apologize for those being unhooked, but also thankful that you were able to take care of this. If I can help any further, please let me know.

Thanks a lot,

Brent Shuttleworth
Forest River FR3