New Solar Setup - What am I missing?
Put in 4 new 6v Interstate batteries and added another 100 watt panel and a controller. Getting ready for some light dry camping.
Background - I have no info on the original solar panel. I knew it was overcharging the batteries and I assumed it was because there was no controller. I figured the voltage on the DC bus was high because the steps would not extend until I turned on the salesman switch and some interior lights.
Switch to the new setup with a second panel and a controller with the old panel connected on the roof. The controller says under no load there is 16.9 v on the DC bus. The steps will still not extend unless putting a load on the DC side. The actual battery voltage is 13.4-13.8 if the coach is sitting in the sun. It is not actually charging the batteries because the charge cutoff on the controller is set at 13.8. This is verified by seeing no charge amperage.
The local RV shop owner says there is no high voltage cutoff on the Kwikee steps. I can't figure out what's going on. I plan to cover the old panel with a rug and see if the issue goes away, but I don't understand why a high output voltage on a solar panel drives the DC bus voltage high if the controller isn't charging. I have access to the original wiring diagrams but it doesn't show any panels charging the house batteries.
Any ideas from the gurus here?
Background - I have no info on the original solar panel. I knew it was overcharging the batteries and I assumed it was because there was no controller. I figured the voltage on the DC bus was high because the steps would not extend until I turned on the salesman switch and some interior lights.
Switch to the new setup with a second panel and a controller with the old panel connected on the roof. The controller says under no load there is 16.9 v on the DC bus. The steps will still not extend unless putting a load on the DC side. The actual battery voltage is 13.4-13.8 if the coach is sitting in the sun. It is not actually charging the batteries because the charge cutoff on the controller is set at 13.8. This is verified by seeing no charge amperage.
The local RV shop owner says there is no high voltage cutoff on the Kwikee steps. I can't figure out what's going on. I plan to cover the old panel with a rug and see if the issue goes away, but I don't understand why a high output voltage on a solar panel drives the DC bus voltage high if the controller isn't charging. I have access to the original wiring diagrams but it doesn't show any panels charging the house batteries.
Any ideas from the gurus here?
