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BakoRV's avatar
BakoRV
Explorer
Dec 27, 2015

Solar controller issue? Solar30 unit

We purchased an travel trailer with 2 solar panels, Solar30 controller and a trip lite 2000w inverter. On our last trip the main power cable into the battery somehow came loose and we have been having issues ever since.

Basically our controller shows no power from the battery and displays a sad face.
Where do I need to start with diagnosing this issue. The battery is charged.
I found the manual online but it does not show any troubleshooting and does not show any situation with a sad face.

http://s1382.photobucket.com

  • red31's avatar
    red31
    Explorer
    Dec 28, 2015
    after above troubleshooting, open the unit and look for a fuse
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Dec 28, 2015
    Disconnect the panels.

    Disconnect the battery.

    wait 5 minutes

    Reconnect the battery.

    Reconnect the solar panels.
  • 12thgenusa's avatar
    12thgenusa
    Explorer
    Dec 28, 2015
    Before you replace the controller try disconnecting all leads from the controller starting with the battery leads. Wait a few moments and then reconnect all leads starting with the battery, then the panels then the loads if you are using connections there. Most don't.

    It's possible the controller just needs a chance to reset itself after the fault detect.
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    Dec 28, 2015
    What Shadowcatcher said.
    Take a multimeter to it. When I look at the manual, there are many scenarios when sad face is displayed - basically it is just an Error message.

    But... I would replace this controller with something better, regardless of whether it works or not. Something where you could set the charging points according to battery manual. With this controller you can't adjust anything.
  • Shadow_Catcher's avatar
    Shadow_Catcher
    Explorer
    Dec 27, 2015
    A VOM/multimeter is your friend. Check voltage from the panel (with sun) and voltage from the battery. You have four screw heads on the controller that will let you do that easily. If the panels are putting out and the battery is connected then the problem is the controller.
    That controller is supposed to be protected from the aforementioned.
  • MrWizard's avatar
    MrWizard
    Moderator
    Dec 27, 2015
    the owners manual for most controllers
    say connect batteries first, then connect the solar panels
    doing it backwards will damage the controller

    when the cable came loose, this caused a NO LOAD condition , the panels were connected, but the power could not go anywhere, because the batteries were NOT connected

    the result is the controller is NOW damaged and needs to be replaced
  • Ed_Gee's avatar
    Ed_Gee
    Explorer II
    Dec 27, 2015
    BakoRV wrote:
    We purchased an travel trailer with 2 solar panels, Solar30 controller and a trip lite 2000w inverter. On our last trip the main power cable into the battery somehow came loose and we have been having issues ever since.

    Basically our controller shows no power from the battery and displays a sad face.
    Where do I need to start with diagnosing this issue. The battery is charged.
    I found the manual online but it does not show any troubleshooting and does not show any situation with a sad face.

    http://s1382.photobucket.com



    Your attachments do not work. Is this your controller? If so, troubleshooting info is here. Charge Controller manual

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