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rjsurfer's avatar
rjsurfer
Explorer
Dec 20, 2014

Solar controller output question

A quick question on my EP Solar charge controller and its output voltage.

I just noticed that I'm seeing an output from the battery "out" connection on the controller with my batteries disconnected. It looks like the output from the panels is being directed to that connection.

The problem that creates for me is that I have the output of the controller tied to the "output" lug of my A/B/Both selector switch. So that means that voltage is passed to the main distribution panel (inverter/converter), that doesn't seem right.

Any ideas? Am I doing something wrong?

Ron W.

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  • BFL13's avatar
    BFL13
    Explorer II
    Dec 20, 2014
    You want a switch on one of the two wires going into the controller from the array. Some controllers don't like running a load while the battery is disconnected.

    Also you can then "turn off" the solar to see what any other 12v sources are doing or to see what the solar itself is doing by comparing when it is off or on.

    If you can get your meter across the array side of that switch and the other wire's terminal at the controller, you can measure array Voc and Isc with the switch open without having to go to the panel and disconnect that to measure there.

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