Solar panals

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Renae,

Is there a main battery disconnect switch?

I think your on to something. :)

Hi Renae,

It is called a "buss bar" and is very desirable.

Make sure the disconnect switch is in the "on" or "use" position.

reddfox77 wrote:
What is this for?



http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/renaefoxr/media/044_zps1e7df63d.jpg.html

To connect the wires. Better than wire nuts :)

What pianotuna was trying to tell is that the battery main switch might be in Off position. No juice gets out (or in).

What is this for?



http://s1278.photobucket.com/user/renaefoxr/media/044_zps1e7df63d.jpg.html

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Renae,

Is there a main battery disconnect switch?

Yes there is..

Hi Renae,

Is there a main battery disconnect switch?

reddfox77 wrote:
... every thing is getting the proper volts....how ever nothing comes on unless the ignition is on...

"Proper voltage" on controller cables near battery when disconnected from the battery is 15V-18V. What voltage do you have?

Again, if the installer screwed up big time and installed 24V nominal panel with PWM controller, then even with 15V output you will get very little amps, not enough to charge the battery. Hopefully this isn't the case.

I meant fuses for all the loads - radio, lights, fridge etc. Without loads you will see what voltage and current are coming from controller. Or disconnect the loads on the battery, leaving just controller cables on. Post photo of the meter with toggle in "volts" and "amps".

Also, without loads (and without controller input) you will see if the battery is alive. For that, you have to disconnect everything from the battery and preferably give it 24 hours rest.

Almot wrote:

Tom_M wrote:
The photo of the Power Guard is displaying volts and reads about 11.6 volts which is low.

Right! That small switch is in Volts, I didn't notice. He should check the current and voltage on the same meter in absence of loads. Pull out all the fuses. Measuring the output with multimeter near the battery would be my preference though. Also, measuring the battery voltage at rest.

There are no fuses in the lines going to the power guard and from the power guard...

westend wrote:
I would guess that the toggle interrupts current from the roof mounted panel and the auxiliary input from the exterior mounted module. This may have been installed so that the combination of both modules does not overcome the capacity of the solar controller.
As was posted, you will need to measure the voltage at the output wires of the solar controller to see if power is being delivered to the batteries. For this (and other sundry electrical items), you will need an inexpensive meter and learn how to use it.

Did what you said and every thing is getting the proper volts....how ever nothing comes on unless the ignition is on...