I need HELP!!!: batteries/solar charge controller

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batteries/solar charge controller

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Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
Forum Discription: Perplexed/need help with a problem - ask here
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14289
Printed Date: 27 May 2025 at 4:18pm
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Topic: batteries/solar charge controller

Posted By: EchoGale
Subject: batteries/solar charge controller
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2020 at 11:24am

Hi folks,

I have the renogy 100 watt suitcase setup wiht the built-in voyager controller and I'm still learning this stuff. I have two 12 volt batteries.

On my last trip after a couple of days I measured the battery voltage at 12.3. I hooked up the renogy and its controller insisted that the batteries were fully charged and so it wouldn't turn on. I'm inclined to believe the volt meter over the controller because I had been using the batteries some. I do use very little power though, as I have independently powered lights and radio and all that stuff.

I'm stumped, anyone have any thoughts?

Julie

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Julie

Replies:

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2020 at 12:08pm

Let's check out a few things. What battery type is the controller set to? How long and what size (wire gauge) are the wires between the batteries and the controller? Are you going through the Zamp conector or directly to the battery? What does the controller think the battery voltage is? What does it think the temperature is?

Also, measure the battery voltage at the controller output terminals and compare that to what you measure at the batteries themselves.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2020 at 12:27pm

Thanks Offgrid. I'm not at the camper and of course now that I am home and have had it plugged in the batteries are fully charged. It is now parked with the batteries disconnected. I do have some answers:

The controller initially says 12.7 V for the "battery type" setting and it looks like its charging for a few seconds and then switches to indicate that the battery is full and it stops sending current. I am using the wires that come with it from renogy (10' but I don't know gauge) and connecting directly to the batteries with the provided alligator clips. (I have purchased the adapter for the zamp outlet but wanted to get this all sorted out before adding another potential variable.)

Maybe I need to turn to batteries back on and deliberately drain them some so I can check further.

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Julie

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2020 at 1:08pm

Good idea not to use the Zamp connector yet. You do need a fuse at the battery though if the system didn't come with one. If the wire is only 10 ft then you probably don't need to worry about the gauge right now, I was just checking if your problem could have been a long wire run which would make the voltage go up at the controller while you're charging. 10 feet is short so its not a problem.

The battery type should be SEL, GEL, FLD, or Li, you get that display by holding down the batt type button for a few seconds. Make sure it matches the battery type you have. Also check the connections are good at all the controller terminals and at the batteries and the solar module.

When you get a chance compare the voltage you get with your meter connected to the controller terminals to what the controller thinks it is and with the voltage at the battery. Also check the temp and the PV voltage and current as the controller cycles through the screens. Obviously, you should do this with the solar module unshaded, pointed at the sun, on a sunny day.

It won't hurt to discharge the batteries a little but it also shouldn't be necessary, the controller should be bringing them up to 13.8V or higher depending on what mode its in, assuming that you have good sun and no loads on the batteries. To be clear, if the battery icon is not flashing that means its not charging, but that would be normal if there is no solar output.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2020 at 1:11pm

The renogy set up is "plug and play" and it has a fuse also.

I don't think those are my choices for battery type but I will verify. I don't remember ever seeing the temperature there. I'll gather ore information and check back. thanks for your hep. The questions are at least a good place to start. :)

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Julie

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2020 at 1:15pm

Could be my bad, I was looking at this manual. Might be you have a different controller? http://www.renogy.com/content/RCC20VOYP-G1/VOYP1020-Manual.pdf - http://www.renogy.com/content/RCC20VOYP-G1/VOYP1020-Manual.pdf

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: Colt
Date Posted: 14 Dec 2020 at 11:37pm

Be sure to check/change the batteries in your voltmeter. My cheap one will read 3 volts off if its battery is low.

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John
'16 R-Pod 180