5 replies to this topic

[Wango]

Hi All,

Hoping someone may be able to help, in a bit of a rush.

Solar panel on ATC 150-160 watt renogy

basic solar controller

Bought similar panel from atc with pig tail in late fall

Hooked up, but camper not used much this winter

Getting ready for upcoming trip 4/15

noticed plug/outlet on roof was loose, upon inspection, noticed male end broken and small amount of water in plug. New one ordered and installed.

Nothing, checked fuses, around controller. After speaking with boys at atc, replaced 15 amp with 20amp

kept blowing fuses.

Suspected controller issues. Struggled to find exactly the right size, 320 w panels on roof, 150 portable panel also for high demand days. 

Went with a victron smart solar 100 50, thinking maybe overkill, but wanted to be able to upgrade in the future.

Tested panels with volt meter both at 21v, but new plug from panel has polarity reversed, suspect plug roof flange will have same isssue.

Charge controller reading zero volts, from either and both panels.

Will go change plug wires to fix polarity issue.

Otherwise, anyone have a clue?

Have gone through solar thread, youtube, hoping for a hail mary, wife has plans for me today and i leave for Mantana tomorrow early.

[ckent323]

Wango,

 

You reported finding a broken wire and fixed it and the panels are putting out 21V.

You connected a Victron 100/50 and got no output but discovered the panel wirepolarity is reversed.

Is there still an issue after the polarity reversal has been fixed?

Have you done the troubleshooting that can be found in the Victron Manual (you can download it from the Victron website if you don't have it).

Do you have a BVM-712 Battery Monitor (or equivalent) on the battery?  Is the Battery OK?

 

 
An excerpt from the following site - this is for Victron 100/30 model but I think it also applies to the 100/50:

https://community.vi...tsolar-100.html

 

"There is a non-replacable fuse inside. Contact your distributor and see what they can do for you.
In reverse battery polarity conditions, the active components will short circuit long before a fuse has a chance to react. The fuse is to prevent current from flowing through damaged components and making a fire."

of note Victron replied to that comment:

"(Victron Energy) ♦♦

mvader (Victron Energy) avatar imagemvader (Victron Energy)

 

Hi @SChan, sorry to hear about the broken charger!

 

Please ask your dealer to lodge it to us as an RMA. Indeed our formal wording denies reverse polarity claims; but where possible we are easy and helpful with warranty and/or can help with a discounted unit sometimes. Note that I cant promise whats going to happen in this case; but please do make sure the unit is lodged to repair. (RMA).

 

With regards to such basic protection to be in the charger or not: it can be done, but adds cost, and we believe that its better to not increase the cost of all units by adding such protection.

 

Ps: since the light is still blinking and such; do go through basic troubleshooting (for example fuses and pv array voltage) to make sure its really broken."

 

 

I hope this is of some help.

 

Regards,
 

Craig

Edited by ckent323, 11 April 2021 - 05:10 PM.

[Wango]

Craig,

Thanks, for the record, am changing/checking polarity on cables from panels, will check polarity on roof flange/plug. Batteries are of proper polarity. Unit was purchased from amazon, only way to get one around here.

Will start all over again to see where i am after.

[Vic Harder]

Wango, before connecting the wires to the MPPT, confirm that the 21v continues to be present at every accessible junction, including just before the MPPT, with the right polarity.  Are you wiring them all in parallel?  Then you should see that 21V all the way through.

 

Do you have another controller you can test with?  

[Wango]

Vic,

Problem was solved. Polarity issues with plugs. 

System had work fine before, encountered a bad plug. Replaced both ends of connectors, one from panel and one for roof.

Upon testing, found the plugs had reverse polarity. Switched the wires on both, tested. Re-connected old controller, worked. Connected new controller and it also worked. Will use the new smartsolar one and keep the other as a backup.

Odd, that the wires were backward, but i had heard of this before. 

Thanks guys.

[Jon R]

For clarity: The manual for the Victron MPPT chargers says they can handle reverse voltage from the panels without damage, although they will heat up if left connected that way. They blow the internal fuse and apparently can suffer other damage if the battery polarity is reversed.