2023 3124KB - Solar not working?

MichiganTM3124KB · 09-05-2023, 10:46 AM

Hi yall, new to the TM family and loving our camper. Definitely learning a ton..

I can't seem to figure out why my solar panels are not charging the battery. I have the rig set up outside and it is getting full sun, but still nothing is registering on the Go Power solar controller.

I took the battery out and charged it/re-installed. I was able to use the lights for maybe 5 minutes and there was a display on the solar controller but after the 5 minutes, it was back to blank displays and no power.

The battery has a stamp on it of 05/23. I bought the rig in May..

Any thoughts here on what I should do next to get the solar features working again!

Thank you!!

**rich2468** · 09-05-2023, 12:43 PM

Start with the basics-
Make sure that your battery polarity is correct. My dealer had installed my battery wrong on my 2021 2922KB with factory solar.

Your white wire on a TrailManor is for ground (negative grounded) and the black connects to the positive side of the battery.

Rich and Lynn
2021 2922KB

Shane826 · 09-05-2023, 01:30 PM

With or without solar, you should be able to run the lights for a whole lot more than 5 minutes on a fully charged battery. I’d start there. Take it to Advance Auto and have it load tested.

Wavery · 09-07-2023, 08:30 AM

Before you disconnect the battery, be sure to disconnect the solar panel from the charge controller. If you don't, you could damage the charge controller.

Always connect battery to the controller, then the solar panel to the charge controller.

**rich2468** · 09-07-2023, 03:15 PM

Good catch. That's an important detail, Wavery!

Rich and Lynn
2021 2922KB

**rickst29** · 09-11-2023, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wavery

Before you disconnect the battery, be sure to disconnect the solar panel from the charge controller. If you don't, you could damage the charge controller.

Always connect battery to the controller, then the solar panel to the charge controller.

Yep. Solar Charge Controllers generally depend on battery power to "wake up" and then (later) operated correctly after solar power is connected. A few can run internal circuitry and be configured from solar power alone, but most of the others will behave in one of two ways:

(a) the bad way - they will mishandle higher voltagae panel output and fry their guts); or
(b) the good way - they will shut down and refuse to come up until after solar has been disconnected. Then, battery power may be re-applied and the SCC can be configured for subsequent solar connections.
- - -
You may find out by doing this:

(1) Disconnect both Solar input ports (+ and -) from the go-power.

(2) Disconnect "Battery +" from the go-power.

(3) Wait 5 minutes, so that it can slowly "leak" any existing voltages out (into the still-connected "Battery -"). Then connect "Battery +" If the monitor works and it is configurable, then check setting before connecting "Solar -" first, and "Solar +" last.

If it did not come up within a few seconds of the battery "+" connection, it's
dead and needs to be replaced.

**rickst29** · 09-13-2023, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichiganTM3124KB

Hi yall, new to the TM family and loving our camper. Definitely learning a ton..

I can't seem to figure out why my solar panels are not charging the battery. I have the rig set up outside and it is getting full sun, but still nothing is registering on the Go Power solar controller.

I took the battery out and charged it/re-installed. I was able to use the lights for maybe 5 minutes and there was a display on the solar controller but after the 5 minutes, it was back to blank displays and no power.

Re-reading today, it is very strange that your "charged and re-installed" battery was able to run ceiling lights for only about 5 minutes.

The battery might be utterly failed for some reason, unable to both accept input power AND store it away for future use. If, by running the lights, your battery voltaqe fell below about 9 volts, even a "good" and working solar controller will be unable to work with the battery. Nearly all will disconnect the battery teminal (internally) when they grossly low battery voltage.

Do you basic a volt meter? (If not, you should get one). When the lights "go out", what is the voltage across the battery terminals?

Wavery · 09-13-2023, 06:43 PM

I'd take that battery back to whoever it was purchased from. It sounds like the battery may be defective. They may not have filled it with electrolyte (battery acid). On the other hand, if you left the camper plugged in for a long time and the converter/charger is acting up, it could have boiled all of the electrolyte out of the battery and shorted out the plates.