My van has 160watt panel factory fitted on the roof. It's been sitting for 4 weeks unused with everything switched off. Weather has been wet and cloudy for most of that time. But I returned to stay the night this afternoon to find only 12.4 volts.
It only has one 110 battery. I don't recall what it was like when I left last but I would have expected it to be fully charged at about 13.6v.
Any suggestions what might be the cause?
peter_s said
11:06 PM Dec 8, 2017
signal booster on the winegard arial? we were surprised when our battery went down did a search through the van and discovered we had left the booster on (we don't have solar fitted yet) so the battery was well down
Aus-Kiwi said
08:23 AM Dec 9, 2017
Run a multi metter , check if anything is drawing off with solar disconnected ? Or disconnect any load while storing ?? I have an alarm on one of my cars I need to disconnect battery if I leave it parked at airport etc . If I DONT . When I get back after 4/5 days the battery is flat ! The car manu said I should drive it more !! Right !!
mr glassies said
08:27 AM Dec 9, 2017
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Run a multi metter , check if anything is drawing off with solar disconnected ? Or disconnect any load while storing ?? I have an alarm on one of my cars I need to disconnect battery if I leave it parked at airport etc . If I DONT . When I get back after 4/5 days the battery is flat ! The car manu said I should drive it more !! Right !!
Fair dinkum what sort of car
Dibs
Jaahn said
09:34 AM Dec 9, 2017
Hi
The light in the fridge ?
I have had that with all my vans and MHs. Only one way to find it is to disconnect everything and then measure the current when you reconnect then one by one. Lots of little current draw items in modern living. The radio. All those little red lights too. The volt meter itself draws power.
Good luck Jaahn
oldbloke said
09:36 AM Dec 9, 2017
I just came to the conclusion it's just a loose connection somewhere. Was 12.5 at 5.30 this morning. Very cloudy and was 13.6 at 9 am. Will check a few later today.
Aus-Kiwi said
09:42 AM Dec 9, 2017
2007 WRX Subaru . The alarm is fitted by Subaru Aust . Itâs been since changed !! A low battery saver installed . Voltage sensitive relay . Much the same as fitted between house and motor batteries !!
oldbloke said
03:51 PM Dec 9, 2017
I had a look around all connections seem OK. Volt meter indicates about 13.8, so fully charged. If I turn the TV on, 1.3amp out and 2.4 going in. So solar is charging OK.
Soooo, if I switch off the main switch at the door it indicates on the volt meter no power being drawn & nothing charging. Could it be that switch turns everything off & it also stops power from the panels charging?
That would explain after 4 week battery is down on charge due to natural slow discharge.
Tony Bev said
01:25 AM Dec 10, 2017
An easy way to check, oldbloke
(In sunshine), have the switch at the door OFF, (as you say with it off, nothing is showing going in or out of the battery)
Draw some power from the battery by using crocodile clips (a globe or 12 volt fan), direct to the battery for about one hour
After removing the load, (a globe or 12 volt fan), switch the switch ON
If you see the solar start charging the battery, at more than the usual amps, then you will know that the switch at the door, does isolate the solar from the battery
As you say, that would explain after 4 week battery is down on charge due to natural slow discharge
oldbloke said
07:40 AM Dec 10, 2017
Yes, good idea. Will try in a couple of weeks.
mr glassies said
10:00 AM Dec 10, 2017
Aus-Kiwi wrote:
2007 WRX Subaru . The alarm is fitted by Subaru Aust . Itâs been since changed !! A low battery saver installed . Voltage sensitive relay . Much the same as fitted between house and motor batteries !!
Wow my wrx used to site 3. 4 mths had a Subaru alarm never worried it a 2000 modle wonder if that was the difference
dibs
Rissole said
10:49 AM Mar 18, 2018
I have similar problem, 2 meters show no discharge. house batteries dropping about 0.3 volts per day? I just discovered, by reading the manual, that my solar controller uses 30 milliamps, could this be your problem? In my case my motorhome is parked under a roof, so no solar input to make this up. I just realised that I measured the current draw between the solar controller and the connected loads, thats why I didn't read the 30 mA.
My van has 160watt panel factory fitted on the roof. It's been sitting for 4 weeks unused with everything switched off. Weather has been wet and cloudy for most of that time. But I returned to stay the night this afternoon to find only 12.4 volts.
It only has one 110 battery. I don't recall what it was like when I left last but I would have expected it to be fully charged at about 13.6v.
Any suggestions what might be the cause?
signal booster on the winegard arial? we were surprised when our battery went down did a search through the van and discovered we had left the booster on (we don't have solar fitted yet) so the battery was well down
Fair dinkum what sort of car
Dibs
Hi
The light in the fridge ?
I have had that with all my vans and MHs. Only one way to find it is to disconnect everything and then measure the current when you reconnect then one by one. Lots of little current draw items in modern living. The radio. All those little red lights too. The volt meter itself draws power.
Good luck Jaahn
Soooo, if I switch off the main switch at the door it indicates on the volt meter no power being drawn & nothing charging. Could it be that switch turns everything off & it also stops power from the panels charging?
That would explain after 4 week battery is down on charge due to natural slow discharge.
(In sunshine), have the switch at the door OFF, (as you say with it off, nothing is showing going in or out of the battery)
Draw some power from the battery by using crocodile clips (a globe or 12 volt fan), direct to the battery for about one hour
After removing the load, (a globe or 12 volt fan), switch the switch ON
If you see the solar start charging the battery, at more than the usual amps, then you will know that the switch at the door, does isolate the solar from the battery
As you say, that would explain after 4 week battery is down on charge due to natural slow discharge
Wow my wrx used to site 3. 4 mths had a Subaru alarm never worried it a 2000 modle wonder if that was the difference
dibs