Need some help on a solar issue

[Mattyd]

So we have a new 2016 AF 990. Ordered the factory 100 watt solar option. I keep the camper on my truck and store in a pole barn. So yesterday I had the unit out of storage to clean and load. All went went. When I took back to the barn last night I heard a shrill whistle sound and dismissed this due to the high wind figuring it was an edge of barn siding causing the noise.
So today I bring it home to work on some more. When I take it back, I hear the same shrill whistle again, but no wind. So I walk around and the unit and for sure it is coming from the AF. Drivers side, about midway from front to back. I then decide to open the back door and for sure...it is coming from inside. So I move the slide out and it is coming from the Zamp Solard Charge Controller. I messed around wit this and that and nothing changed. I pulled the truck back out of the barn and the noise quits. I figured this as I didn't hear it all day as I worked around it.
So only when inside the barn does this sound go off. Suggestions on what to do next? We are to go camping this weekend but if it does this at night, there is no way we will be able to tolerate the alarm sound.
Thanks in advance for your input.

[Mattyd]

Nope fpoole, right at the connection to the battery.

[fpoole]

under the sink?

[Mattyd]

Ding Ding Ding....we have a winner....Almot guessed it right! Thanks!!
So it was loose wire from solar to battery. Actually it was a bad crimp so the wire pulled out. Now the other good news is my batterys are not drained down. They were fully charged. I do have a battery indicator separate from the solar control. I appreciate everyone's help.

[Almot]

Mattyd wrote:
1) my batteries are not being charged by the shore power and/or 2) there is a pretty good drawn going on.

3) Bad connection btw battery and solar controller.

With that basic controller you should at least have an independent voltmeter for battery. Tell your friend electrician to install $13 battery monitor. It tells you amps, volts and AH drawn from the battery.

And, while he is at it, ask him to install a loads Off switch as well. In some rigs there is already such a switch. You don't want any loads when camper is in storage.

[fpoole]

Well make sure you check out the wiring below the sink. Pull on them just to be sure. That was my problem. Zamp checked out okay after thinking that was the problem. Good luck.

[westend]

Have you looked at the battery connections to make sure they aren't all oxidized?

[Mattyd]

Thanks everyone. I failed to mention that I have had the camper plugged in to 30 amp shore power while in the barn the whole time. So maybe since the only battery charge level indicator is with the Zamp unit, my problem is not with my solar at all but rather 1) my batteries are not being charged by the shore power and/or 2) there is a pretty good drawn going on. I hope to get down and mess around with it more tomorrow night. I have a friend who is an electrician going to stop past. I did check the Zamp manual but it was not much help. Any more suggestions - send them on. Thanks.

[Almot]

What 9-er said.

And plug the battery into some 120V maintainer if storage is 2 months or longer.

[NinerBikes]

pull it out of the barn for a few days and into direct sunlight and let the solar panel do it's job and recharge your battery fully.

If you are going to pull into the barn, you are going to need to disconnect the solar panel first from the controller, and then the battery completely in a fully charged state, or install cut off switches for both. What you hear sounds more like a low battery alarm.

When it doubt, read the owners manual for the Zamp charge controller.

[doughere]

Just as a start; I'd disconnect the battery and solar panel. Check the battery voltage, if OK, reconnect battery and then panel. Maybe the controller has somehow set itself up for a 24 volt battery.

Doug

[fpoole]

I dunno, are you able to plug (110v) it in to charge the batteries...
It sounds like it trying to charge the batteries, but being in the barn can't and the batteries are critical Low...? Something might be draining them? or, as it says, not connected, but shouldn't be causing the alarm to go off. Panels stop charging when night comes and the alarms don't go off..

If that makes any sense...
Just rambling here, trying to remember what mine was.. but my controller was going knutts... reading 12.5 on moment and then not the next... it was a loose connection so maybe that's it..

Loose connection under the sink... the wire kept making contact, then wouldn't...

Take it in...

[Mattyd]

I don't know if this helps ...about an hour later I returned to the barn. The alarm is still going off. So I pull it out of the barn, the alarm stops. The screen on the controller is flashing 601. The Charing Status light is constantantly on and the Low Battery light is flashing which according to the manual indicates "Solar Power Present - No Battery Conneted".

[corvettekent]

deltabravo wrote:
If you can't get it fixed prior to your trip, a solution for the short term is to pull the positive solar charge wire off the battery.

Always disconnect the solar panel from the controller before you disconnect the battery.

[RJsfishin]

If the alarm is sounding, the digital display should be flashing telling what the problem is.