User Tag List
Thanks: 0
Results 1 to 4 of 4
-
01-10-2019, 07:19 PM #1
- Join Date
- Mar 2018
- Location
- Somerset, WI
- Posts
- 354
- Mentioned
- 6 Post(s)
- Tagged
- 0 Thread(s)
Leaving batteries unattended while being charged by solar. Charge controller failure.
I screwed up.
I installed solar in the spring and camped all summer and fall with great solar results. Batteries stayed charged all season. Loved it.
I live in Minnesota and haven't retired, so come Oct-Nov, I put the RV in storage for the winter. Left the solar charging and main battery disconnect switch ON.
Well, I went to check on the RV in late December. All battery monitors dead. Assume my 800 amp/hour battery-bank is dead, too. (Stay tuned as I investigate the damage.)
My guess is the Chinese EPEVER/Tracer 4210A charge controller failed and the parasitic loads in the RV (CO2 monitor, microwave, etc.) drained the battery.
Initial lesson learned. Don't leave a connected-to-load battery unattended for an extended period. I always disconnected batteries during storage in the past. I now believe that's the least-risk approach.
Another lesson: I bought the EPEVER charge controller from AliExpress -- straight from China. 2 year warranty. They won't talk to me. Warranty is useless. I'm finding other users posting on the web are having the same problems: unit failed (seems like a trend) and EPEVER not honoring warranty.
I've got a Honda EU2000i generator. Pulled it out, but it won't start. Assuming I have to overhaul the carb from ethanol buildup before I can use it.
I just ordered a Victron charge controller. I'm planning to install it this weekend -- Right now, it's my only hope for recovering a $1500 investment in batteries.
I'll post an update when I get more data.
-SteveSteve and Renee
2018 Solitude 310GK, disc brakes, Morryde SRE4000/XFactor with heavy duty shackles
2012 Ram 3500 SRW 6.7 Diesel, air bags
18k B&W Companion, non-slider
640 watts solar, 400 amp-hour Lion Safari UT 1300 battery bank
Aims 1500 watt inverter/charger with ATS
Somerset, WI
-
06-12-2019, 09:18 PM #2
- Join Date
- Mar 2018
- Location
- Somerset, WI
- Posts
- 354
- Mentioned
- 6 Post(s)
- Tagged
- 0 Thread(s)
Update:
Installed the Victron solar charge controller with Blue Tooth connectivity in January. Love it. Baby-sat the solar charge cycles for a couple of months -- disconnected the battery during nights and cloudy/snowy/rainy days. Tried out the Equalize charge setting -- that seemed to help the steady state voltage.
Then I bought a NOCO Genius UltraSafe Battery Charger/Trickle Charger/Desulfator/Engine Starter — 12/24 Volt, 26 Amp, Model# G26000. $199.95. It has a recovery mode that I applied to each of the 2 6x2 bank pairs separately. (Manual suggested the capacity of the charger was around 400 AHrs; I have 800 AHrs.) Charger finally reported batteries were recovered -- after about 12-14 hours of charging.
Anyway, I don't think I lost my battery bank, and I seem to be back in business. . .
Cheers.
-SteveSteve and Renee
2018 Solitude 310GK, disc brakes, Morryde SRE4000/XFactor with heavy duty shackles
2012 Ram 3500 SRW 6.7 Diesel, air bags
18k B&W Companion, non-slider
640 watts solar, 400 amp-hour Lion Safari UT 1300 battery bank
Aims 1500 watt inverter/charger with ATS
Somerset, WI
-
08-03-2019, 09:22 AM #3
- Join Date
- Aug 2018
- Location
- Columbia, SC
- Posts
- 13
- Mentioned
- 0 Post(s)
- Tagged
- 0 Thread(s)
You might look into the victron battery protect. It allows you to program load cutoff at a user programmed voltage and also cuts off the charging at a specific programmable voltage
-
08-04-2019, 12:35 PM #4
- Join Date
- Mar 2018
- Location
- Somerset, WI
- Posts
- 354
- Mentioned
- 6 Post(s)
- Tagged
- 0 Thread(s)
Steve and Renee
2018 Solitude 310GK, disc brakes, Morryde SRE4000/XFactor with heavy duty shackles
2012 Ram 3500 SRW 6.7 Diesel, air bags
18k B&W Companion, non-slider
640 watts solar, 400 amp-hour Lion Safari UT 1300 battery bank
Aims 1500 watt inverter/charger with ATS
Somerset, WI
Do you consume anything on long...
Today, 02:44 PM in General Discussion