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10-03-2013, 08:35 PM
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#1
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Harrisburg, PA
Posts: 44
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Solar charging panel not working
My 2012 Ellipse has a solar charging panel on the roof. There is a LED in the Controls cabinet that used to light up when the sun was out. It has not lit for a long time. I would like to know that the solar panel is charging the batteries when not in use. The owners manual gives little in the line of assistance to troubleshoot. Anyone know of a way to troubleshoot the system? There should be a control system somewhere that works with the solar panel.
__________________
Bob & Deb K.
2012 Itasca Ellipse QD 'Elli'
2010 Buick Enclave AWD Toad 'Ginny'
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10-03-2013, 10:05 PM
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#2
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 30
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I don't know the Ellipse, but I know solar.
Roughly:
Panel -> Regulator -> Battery
Can you find the input into the regulator/solar controller?
Check voltage there...
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10-03-2013, 11:03 PM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: N. Palm Springs CA (in winter)
Posts: 61
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Your solar controls and monitor should still be under manufacturer warrantee. What is the brand name and model of the controls?
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10-03-2013, 11:41 PM
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#4
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Union City, Ca.
Posts: 19
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How to check your Solor Panels light.
I have 114 WATS on my M.H. roof it has a voltage meter in the over head compartment and one day I notice that the light that lets me know when it is charging my battery's was not working I ask one of my buddy about it because he has soler panels on his M.H. roof also.
He told me to turn something on and wait a few minuets to see if the light would come on and after I turn on a light it was about 30 seconds low and behold it came on.
The Morrow of this story is that if the batteries are up the solar panels will not send electric to the battery's their for the light will not come on.
Just a thought.
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10-03-2013, 11:51 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2008
Location: N. Palm Springs CA (in winter)
Posts: 61
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry Walter
The Morrow of this story is that if the batteries are up the solar panels will not send electric to the battery's their for the light will not come on.
Just a thought.
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That is called "FLOAT" Mode. It prevents the batteries from being boiled.
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10-04-2013, 12:22 AM
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#6
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Winnebago Camper
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Union City, Ca.
Posts: 19
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One of the things I forgot to say that there was a time when the light would not come on and it was the voltage regular that was bad and I had to replace it.
Sorry about that.
Just a thought.
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10-04-2013, 06:32 AM
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#7
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 1,037
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That is probably the 15 watt panel and doesn't have a charge controller. The schematic should be in electrical diagram. Just an LED and diode and possibly a fuse.
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C Handicap Equipped
F53/V10
1999 Jeep Cherokee & 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade
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11-21-2013, 09:52 AM
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#8
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Winnebago Owner
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Commerce Twp, MI
Posts: 91
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bertman
My 2012 Ellipse has a solar charging panel on the roof. There is a LED in the Controls cabinet that used to light up when the sun was out. It has not lit for a long time. I would like to know that the solar panel is charging the batteries when not in use. The owners manual gives little in the line of assistance to troubleshoot. Anyone know of a way to troubleshoot the system? There should be a control system somewhere that works with the solar panel.
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Yep, I have the same question. Although when in storage, my house batteries are shutoff. So I put the batteries on a charger and they were "full". My guess is that the LED doesn't light up when the batteries are full or disconnected. I'll put a load on the battery this weekend and then see if the charger LED will light up.
__________________
2012 Winnebago Adventurer 35P, Roadmaster F+R sway bars, Blue Ox Tiger Trac, 06 HHR toad
past:2003 Itasca Suncruiser 38G
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11-22-2013, 12:16 PM
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#9
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Full-timer/volunteer w/SOWERS
Posts: 2,734
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That little panel on the roof doesn't do much. There is a circuit breaker for it in one of the outside DC panels. You might check there. I have never seen mine lit. I think if the batteries are charged it is satisfied. I thought I read that a while back in one of the manuals. Check your wiring diagram. On a quick look I couldn't see the wiring for it.
Try checking it when dry docking. When the batteries get down a bit see if it lights.
Don't you just love the Auto Start feature of the generator? Ours has kept us up and running, when needed, just fine.
Happy trails,
Rick
__________________
Rick & Melissa Young & Dawson (RIP), 2011 Meridian 40U, FL XCL, ISL 380HP/DEF, Al 3000 MH, 2014 Honda CR-V, SMI AF1, Blue Ox TruCenter & tow equip.,EEZTire TPMS.
Servants On Wheels Ever Ready. Best job we ever paid to do . (full time volunteers)
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11-23-2013, 09:41 AM
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#10
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Winnebago Watcher
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Posts: 2
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I've had three motorhomes with solar panels............I still wonder if they actually do anything besides light up the little red light on my control panel?
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11-23-2013, 10:28 AM
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#11
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Winnebago Master
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 1,037
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kingixolib
I've had three motorhomes with solar panels............I still wonder if they actually do anything besides light up the little red light on my control panel?
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Probably not if they were the 15 amp or less type.
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C Handicap Equipped
F53/V10
1999 Jeep Cherokee & 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade
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