Dead battery / unknown reason

[Ron in BC]

That should work just fine. But as has been the topic several times, not all cigarette lighter sockets are exactly the same fit. Some are a struggle to push in etc. Hopefully yours are compatible.

Ron

[Brian B-P]

Also, "lighter" sockets make poor contact. It's only a few amps, but I would avoid putting that bad a connector in the circuit.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Brian B-P

Also, "lighter" sockets make poor contact. It's only a few amps, but I would avoid putting that bad a connector in the circuit.

Well, that issue is moot. They didn't include that accessory with my new panel, nor did they include the bare wire connector.
I've got both panels connected to their own controller and to the battery with alligator clips. Nothing but blue sky here.

[gbaglo]

Voltmeter was reading 12.30 this morning after using the furnace all evening and night. At 1:30pm with two panels in full sun, voltmeter is reading 13.46.

[thoer]

Glenn, I think that those controllers that come with the Coleman might be simple on/off units - they look like they are maybe the same as this one except with a Coleman label: Sunforce 7 amp controller

If that is the case then, as far as I can tell, there should be no problem with each panels on separate controllers. Those controllers will just shut off the current flow to the battery when voltage reads 14.2 volts on the battery side to prevent overcharging.

In the future, if you find you use the solar a lot and want something to charge and maintain the battery more like the built in system in the trailer (with the 3 charging cycles), there are lots of them to choose from for not a lot of cash (or lots of cash if you want the really sophisticated ones.)

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by thoer

If that is the case then, as far as I can tell, there should be no problem with each panels on separate controllers. Those controllers will just shut off the current flow to the battery when voltage reads 14.2 volts on the battery side to prevent overcharging.

Paralleling the chargers with multiple panels is what Coleman recommends with these units.

[gbaglo]

Yesterday after the sun went down, I was getting 12.64. In the morning I had 12.27. Furnace did run from 7pm to 9am.
Obviously, I wouldn't be able to do more than one day without charging this battery. Perhaps this 3 year old battery is toast?

[Ron in BC]

Well I wouldn't give up on it just yet. Those numbers aren't a total disaster.

One thing you might want to look at to tweak the results is orientation of the panels to the sun. Don't know if you've just been leaving them in one place or shifting them a couple of times of day to maximize the output.

Ron

[Jubal]

Befrore you replace the battery have it fully charged and tested by a business that specializes in batteries, ideally where you bought it. With a known good battery you can establish a base line for testing other charging and discharging components.
Diagnosis begins with a fully charged good battery. Other strategies are guessing. Weiji board diagnostics !

[gbaglo]

This is not fun.
After being on solar panels all day with good sun exposure, I unplugged the panels and volt meter read 12.34. It's 8:45pm now and I've turned off the furnace which ran occasionally in the past hour. I'm down to 12.02.
Tomorrow I'll fire up the genset. Meantime, furnace is off and have one LED light running.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

I unplugged the panels and volt meter read 12.34.

That's lower than expected. What was the charging voltage in the middle of the day?

Ron

[thoer]

It's never fun to wake up to a dead battery. Our first night out on our first trip after we bought our Scamp we discovered we had a bad brand new battery. Went to bed with it fully charged and woke up with it under 12v. Called Scamp - they told us it was the battery company's problem to deal with. Luckily the company, Northern Battery, agreed to reimburse us for a new one that we bought at the nearest NAPA.

[Ron in BC]

Originally Posted by thoer

IOur first night out on our first trip after we bought our Scamp we discovered we had a bad brand new battery.

I put in a second battery before we headed off South. The new battery lost a cell in Colorado a week later Don't laugh but it was a Wally deep cycle. I've had several Wally batteries and always got good service from them. So there I was, a long way from home and no receipt. I took the battery in wanting to confirm for sure that it was toast. I fully expected to have to buy a new battery. They load tested it (Glenn, I think that's where you're headed). It took about 45 min. Yep, new battery time they said. I was happily surprised that even though it was bought in Canada, no problem, off I went with a new battery. Great service.

Ron

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

That's lower than expected. What was the charging voltage in the middle of the day?

Ron

Had 13.64 two days ago in full sun. Had 12.64 yesterday.

[Jim Bennett]

Do you think the issue could be with one of the charge controllers. They are not exactly top of the line.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

Do you think the issue could be with one of the charge controllers. They are not exactly top of the line.

Or, maybe my voltmeters. Or maybe my eyes...

I'm getting the genset out this morning and afternoon when allowed.

[thoer]

Glenn - how did the battery do after charging with your generator?

[gbaglo]

Ran genset from 9:30 AM to 11 AM and again for an hour and a half in the evening. Voltmeter was reading 13.83. As I recall, it dropped to 12.84 when off charge.
Furnace ran all night ( ask me how I know ), but this morning voltmeter indicated 12.40. Trailer monitor reads "green" / "good".

[thoer]

Glad you were able to keep warm last night anyway. Sound like the solar panels either didn't put out enough to fully charge the battery during the day or as Jim said one of the controllers is not working correctly.

[Seef]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

Furnace ran all night ( ask me how I know ),

OK,i'll take one for the team.

How did you know the furnace run all night?

have fun!

Severinus and Yvonne