Xplorer Solar system Thermal shutdown??

[toshu]

110* and sunny here in Arizona today. My 2021 Xplorer 30fw has been away for service for about 2 months.
Was planning on putting the slide out so I checked the battery voltage and it was low, and the solar system was not charging to any extent.
Is there a thermal shutdown in the system?
My house solar panels reduce their output this time of year but don't shut completely off...

[bclemens]

disconnect?

[TitanMike]

Check the "Float" LED on the MPPT controller. If it's blinking the controller is too hot.

Should reset when cooler but if not check manual for reset procedure. Involves stopping input from panels and disconnecting from batteries.

Might need more circulation around controller to accommodate high ambient temps.

[bclemens]

Is the voltage low? It looks like the voltage is 13.29 on the batteries???

[toshu]

Originally Posted by bclemens

Is the voltage low? It looks like the voltage is 13.29 on the batteries???

As soon as I plugged in and turned on shore power the batteries started to charge rapidly.
Its 7;30am here and on shore power, with the residential refer running, the batteries are nicely charged and floating at 13.8V. I will observe and record more info over the next day or 2 after disconnecting shore power.

[toshu]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Check the "Float" LED on the MPPT controller. If it's blinking the controller is too hot.

Should reset when cooler but if not check manual for reset procedure. Involves stopping input from panels and disconnecting from batteries.

Might need more circulation around controller to accommodate high ambient temps.

I will check it out later today and see whats going with the MPPT.
Thanks

[toshu]

Checked this morning while still plugged into Shore power and the MPPR controllers both had an amber light on Absorbtion blinking ever 3 or 4 seconds.
Will disconnect shore power and see what happens.

[toshu]

Yesterday I disconnected shore power after opening the slide around noon. I checked on the system and there was no appreciable charging (300W total for the whole day) and batteries were steadily declining. (85% or 13.26V at 9pm)

Got up this morning 7am, and the system is effectively not charging ~30W.
Battery is at 65% and 13.11V

Victron MPPT charge controllers both have blinking lights.
Turned off the red battery disconnect in the electrical bay, then turned off the red solar disconnect as well. MPPT is still energized and had blue blinking light.
Turned both disconnects back on after 15min and there was no noticeable change.

Rereading the MPPT controller manual, the float blinking light should be an Overtemp fault that should reset but hasnt over night. It appears from searching on line that the controllers can be reset if they are powered down. Safest way appears to be to Remove the in line fuse that should be in the wiring between the controller and the battery bank.
Does anyone know if that fuse (actually 2 fuses?) is installed near the controllers or at the battery bank??
Also, it seems that any attempt to disconnect the fuse should be done after dark to ensure that the solar panels are deenergized.....

[Flybob]

Solar panels do not shut down due to temp, but rather the output is reduced simply because the cells are less efficient when hot. The controller can shut down if it gets hot.

[toshu]

I was able to take this picture of the only small fuse that's connected to the battery bank. 5amo fuse in foreground, leading to and through connection block on side wall.

My wife looked in the electrical bay for me and didn't see any obvious fuses for the MPPT charge controllers....

[toshu]

Update... It "Seems" that after turning off the main battery disconnect and Solar disconnect, the system "rebooted" and appears to be charging properly in bulk mode, although both MPPT controllers have their Blue Bulk LEDs blinking.

I will provide more info later tonight or in the morning.

I would like to better understand all the wiring components in the electrical bay if anyone has more wisdom that I....

[vlamgat]

Originally Posted by toshu

Update... It "Seems" that after turning off the main battery disconnect and Solar disconnect, the system "rebooted" and appears to be charging properly in bulk mode, although both MPPT controllers have their Blue Bulk LEDs blinking.

I will provide more info later tonight or in the morning.

I would like to better understand all the wiring components in the electrical bay if anyone has more wisdom that I....

Trying to get a sense of the procedure you followed: Earlier you wrote "Victron MPPT charge controllers both have blinking lights.
Turned off the red battery disconnect in the electrical bay, then turned off the red solar disconnect as well. MPPT is still energized and had blue blinking light.
Turned both disconnects back on after 15min and there was no noticeable change."

Was this the reset you refer to above? How soon after you performed that Power Reset did you see the charge start? Should have been immediate -right?