40 replies to this topic

[pvstoy]

check voltage in and out of the connection to the truck / camper and for loose wires or weathered to eliminate losses at that connection.

[bajaphile]

Hi Vic, I believe the last time I ran the wire back to the camper, it was roughly 15ft. Based off 30A maximum, the chart I used said 8 gage for 3% voltage drop, so I just went ahead and used 6 ga. Hope it works...

 

pvstoy, the connectors were redone by me last year using Anderson powerpole connectors. (SB50). A few months back I checked and sure enough there was some corrosion as I live near the ocean. I had cleaned it up, but have not checked again since. Plan is to rewire from starter battery to camper batteries using the 6 gage wire. 

 

I am still a bit baffled that the voltage drop using 10ga wire is so great using this charger. I guess it is the same issue I was having last week with my Blue Seas ACR clicking on/off... The voltage drop it sensed from the charge source was great enough that it would stop charging the camper batteries. 

Edited by bajaphile, 10 November 2021 - 09:33 PM.

[Jon R]

6 awg Ancor marine type 3 is what I used with an SB50 connector, and it works fine with the Orion 12/12-30. No engine running test cycling. I have a 3500hd CCLB with the camper battery at the rear wall, so my wire run is long compared to most.

[Jon R]

Can't find anything with regards to current flow, ...

Sorry, you are correct. I was confusing the display with that of the MPPT. The Orion does not display current, at least in bulk mode. I didn’t check the other modes because I want to leave my battery partially charged for storage right now.

[bajaphile]

6 awg Ancor marine type 3 is what I used with an SB50 connector, and it works fine with the Orion 12/12-30. No engine running test cycling. I have a 3500hd CCLB with the camper battery at the rear wall, so my wire run is long compared to most.

 

Well that makes me feel better! That is what I purchased. Got some new SB50 crimp on conductors for the 6ga wire whenever it shows up. Will follow up if my old wiring was the issue or not. Probably is... 

[pvstoy]

...
 
pvstoy, the connectors were redone by me last year using Anderson powerpole connectors. (SB50). A few months back I checked and sure enough there was some corrosion as I live near the ocean. I had cleaned it up, but have not checked again since. Plan is to rewire from starter battery to camper batteries using the 6 gage wire. 
 
I am still a bit baffled that the voltage drop using 10ga wire is so great using this charger. I guess it is the same issue I was having last week with my Blue Seas ACR clicking on/off... The voltage drop it sensed from the charge source was great enough that it would stop charging the camper batteries.

Yea corrosion will show ok volts but your amps and volts are going to suffer under load if there is surface corrosion between contacts.

When you get all wired back up try using some die-electric grease on the Anderson connections.

[ntsqd]

Merely connecting-disconnecting-connecting the Anderson connector(s) should help quite a bit with the corrosion where it matters the most. Their contact's geometry is designed with a heavy wiping action intended to remove surface corrosion. This is a normal design element in any properly designed connector's contacts.

[Jon R]

If you use an in-line SB50 rather than a mounted connector, Anderson makes environmental boots that cost under $10 and work very well to protect the connectors from dirt and water whether they are connected or apart. They are made of a rubber that seems like it will last a long time.

[bajaphile]

Yes, I just installed those after I cleaned up the connectors! They are really nice. 

[bajaphile]

Well it's finally working. It was the 10ga wire apparently!

As I'm sitting here in my camper as the engine is running , I'm unfortunately smelling some off gassing from my batteries...seems weird. I think I added the correct data for the Trojan T 105 batteries.