GoPower controller not working?

[emers382]

Picked up our new-to-us 5.0TA with the Escape installed solar panel and controller last Monday in Spokane. It had been in covered storage with high roof with panel catching the sun when lower in the winter. It had been monitored all winter by PO and was staying charged. We believe it was reading 72% when picked up but do not know whether it showed charging or not.

I camped my way home and first day cleaned off the dirty panel and checked connections at the roof. It was reading zero amps for charging on a nice sunny day. It has never changed since I've had it. With my driving the battery has charged and I also plugged trailer into 120v at home for a day last Saturday.

I had checked the manual for the controller to no avail, cannot figure why it is constantly showing night mode. So finally today having some time I hooked up my portable panel and in 15 minutes went from 76% to 90% and 12.5v to 12.9v.

Is this a problem with controller? If so is this covered by the Escape two year warranty which is still in effect until September. I have advised Escape of change of ownership.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give this new to solar newbie.

[skiman]

Originally Posted by emers382

Picked up our new-to-us 5.0TA with the Escape installed solar panel and controller last Monday in Spokane. It had been in covered storage with high roof with panel catching the sun when lower in the winter. It had been monitored all winter by PO and was staying charged. We believe it was reading 72% when picked up but do not know whether it showed charging or not.

I camped my way home and first day cleaned off the dirty panel and checked connections at the roof. It was reading zero amps for charging on a nice sunny day. It has never changed since I've had it. With my driving the battery has charged and I also plugged trailer into 120v at home for a day last Saturday.

I had checked the manual for the controller to no avail, cannot figure why it is constantly showing night mode. So finally today having some time I hooked up my portable panel and in 15 minutes went from 76% to 90% and 12.5v to 12.9v.

Is this a problem with controller? If so is this covered by the Escape two year warranty which is still in effect until September. I have advised Escape of change of ownership.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give this new to solar newbie.

Try holding A and B button for 30 seconds. If that doesn't help then try disconnecting for half hour then reconnect. Ours went squirly and that helped. Worth a try.
http://www.escapeforum.org/forums/f9...ile-10519.html

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by emers382

I had checked the manual for the controller to no avail, cannot figure why it is constantly showing night mode. So finally today having some time I hooked up my portable panel and in 15 minutes went from 76% to 90% and 12.5v to 12.9v.

Is this a problem with controller? If so is this covered by the Escape two year warranty which is still in effect until September. I have advised Escape of change of ownership.

The manual is pretty thin on troubleshooting Adrian, except for the obvious causes. I'd grab a multimeter and check the voltage coming from the roof panel at the controller end.

[emers382]

Thanks Carl for the suggestions. The A&B push didn't work so I undid the four screws on the faceplate pulled it out, looked at the back and thought, now what wires do I disconnect? Looked at the front again, and the sun icon showed instead of moon and it's charging at 8.0 amps. Guess I chased that squirrel away

Now back to washing off all that winter's and my trip's dirt.

[rbryan4]

Originally Posted by emers382

Thanks Carl for the suggestions. The A&B push didn't work so I undid the four screws on the faceplate pulled it out, looked at the back and thought, now what wires do I disconnect? Looked at the front again, and the sun icon showed instead of moon and it's charging at 8.0 amps. Guess I chased that squirrel away

Now back to washing off all that winter's and my trip's dirt.

Good to hear. Loose wire?

[Iowa Dave]

Adrian
Two times on our nineteen with the controller mounted in the cupboard, “stuff” hopped around and bumped the dip switches on the back of the controller. And I got a no output message. When I called the tech he told me how they should be set and when I did that it worked fine again. I made a note of the setting in my manual and when it happened again, did not have to call. But maybe the newer ones are different? Red Solo Cup, they’ll mess you up, let’s have a party, let’s have a party.
There not called dip switches for nothing.
Iowa Dave