solar charge controller test

[Hondacanoe]

I installed a 100 amp solar panel and charge controller package on my 2008 camper, and shortly thereafter my converter went bad. Ive replaced the converter, but am unsure about hooking up my solar controller because I dont know if it could have been responsible for my converter going in the first place. Is there a good way to test my solar controller. it is a coleman (cheap) controller.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[pianotuna]

For a 1983, I suspect a battery is needed.

[time2roll]

Redhanded73 wrote:
I have a 1983 Lance 580 truck camper. It has no battery on board. I am looking for any help I can get with coming up with a plan for power without using my truck. Thank you all in advance.

Use the main cord to plug into 120vac.

[Redhanded73]

I have a 1983 Lance 580 truck camper. It has no battery on board. I am looking for any help I can get with coming up with a plan for power without using my truck. Thank you all in advance.

[2oldman]

Hondacanoe wrote:
Why not connect panel to controller without controller connected to battery?

The owner's manual likely says not to.

[Almot]

Hondacanoe wrote:

Why not connect panel to controller without controller connected to battery?

If you drink a 6-pack and there is no washroom to go - you blow up. Controller is passing energy from panel to battery, it may go up in smoke when there is nowhere to pass it. I would install a switch on Pos wire btw panel and controller. 100W panel is a low 6A current, any switch will do.

[time2roll]

There are some controllers that can/will sustain permanent damage if they are powered by the solar and no battery attached.
Not all but enough do call it out in the manual. Check the manual or post the controller model for best answers.
Otherwise it is just a generic precaution.

[Hondacanoe]

Thanks.
Why not connect panel to controller without controller connected to battery? I remove truck camper battery’s for winter and never thought to disconnect panel as well.
I have a outdoors rv with factory installed zamp system and do nothing but remove battery as well.

[Almot]

Hondacanoe wrote:

Is there a way to test polarity from solar panel?

Take multimeter, set it to 100V DC, hold panel to the sun, connect probes to the panel - without battery or controller.
If it reads ~18V, then red probe is on the Pos wire of the panel. If it reads negative voltage, then red probe is on the negative wire of the panel. That is, if you plugged red/black leads into voltmeter correctly. Some voltmeters have leads permanently attached.

As noted, never connect controller to panel when controller is not connected to battery.

[BFL13]

Some solar controllers have no reverse polarity protection. Just observe proper polarity.

A. With the array not connected to the controller (take out one of the two wires from the "array" terminals. Then--not before--

B. Take out one of the two wires from the battery to the controller "battery" terminals ( both still on the battery posts).

With voltmeter, put the red probe on the red wire and the black probe on the black wire from the battery (probe to the controller terminal for the wire that is still connected there) The voltmeter should read 12.x if correct (no minus sign) but - 12.x if the wires from the battery are reversed polarity.

[Hondacanoe]

I had checked all fuses and breakers. The problem was that the 12v lights didn’t work with only shore power, so I replaced converter with a progressive dynamics intellipower 4600 and all worked. I had wanted this upgrade and the perfect excuse was given 😉
Is there a way to test polarity from solar panel?

[BFL13]

Hondacanoe wrote:
Yes 100 watt. When plugged in the outlets didn’t work.
Thanks for the answer. Makes sense. Easy test. I’ll post results when finished.
Are the reverse polarity fuses on the controller or the converter?
Thanks

Ok that is new important info! The outlets and the converter are 120v things you power from shore power, generator, or inverter (not supposed to run the converter off the inverter though).

Your converter can't work if you have no 120v as indicated by the outlets not working either.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the solar. So need to start over and get your 120v working. Look for a GFCI popped (rain or washing hose in outside receptacle? ("outlet" in newspeak)? Snap the main 30a breaker in RV back and forth. If on shore power from the house, check the breaker for that house receptacle in the house's breaker panel.

The RP fuses are on the deck mount converter itself or with a hardwired Parallax 7xxx they can be on the DC fuse panel close by the converter --all in the power centre with the converter being the "lower portion"

[time2roll]

Controller might overcharge the battery if defective. Otherwise no harm to the converter. Voltmeter would verify proper operation.
You may as well post the converter model number so you can get a proper replacement.

Also when you service or disconnect the battery it is best to disconnect the panels from the controller first.

[Hondacanoe]

Yes 100 watt. When plugged in the outlets and lights didn’t work when battery was disconnected.
Thanks for the answer. Makes sense. Easy test. I’ll post results when finished.
Are the reverse polarity fuses on the controller or the converter?
Thanks

[pianotuna]

The fuses are on the converter.