Solar Panel RV Question? - 08/15/22
Had a newly installed and expensive lithium battery go tits up in our travel trailer. Manufacturer shipped us a new one (12V - 200 amp hr) at no cost).
In an effort to detect potential cause/effect for battery failure on our end, I did voltage checks at my battery terminals with every conceivable combination of electrical input with and without the battery installed.
Step one was linking my three 100-watt solar panels and checking their pooled voltage at the common plug. Reads a constant 19.4 volts.
Next, that plug is connected to the trailer with no battery installed. Voltage measured at the battery cables pulsed between 13 and 16 volts at about 1/2 second intervals with the power passing through the trailer's onboard solar controller. Similarly, an LED dome light inside the trailer also cycled on/off at the same frequency.
Pulsing vanished with the panels plugged in and the battery connected with 13.32 Volts at terminals.
Shore power with battery installed and no panels also reads 13.32 Volts at battery terminals.
Shore power plus solar panels with battery installed reads 13.48 Volts at terminals.
My question: Is this pulsing from my solar panels typical, or do I have a solar panel controller issue?
Living in a 1-horse town here with no local expertise for a face-to-face discussion. Informed input is greatly appreciated.
In an effort to detect potential cause/effect for battery failure on our end, I did voltage checks at my battery terminals with every conceivable combination of electrical input with and without the battery installed.
Step one was linking my three 100-watt solar panels and checking their pooled voltage at the common plug. Reads a constant 19.4 volts.
Next, that plug is connected to the trailer with no battery installed. Voltage measured at the battery cables pulsed between 13 and 16 volts at about 1/2 second intervals with the power passing through the trailer's onboard solar controller. Similarly, an LED dome light inside the trailer also cycled on/off at the same frequency.
Pulsing vanished with the panels plugged in and the battery connected with 13.32 Volts at terminals.
Shore power with battery installed and no panels also reads 13.32 Volts at battery terminals.
Shore power plus solar panels with battery installed reads 13.48 Volts at terminals.
My question: Is this pulsing from my solar panels typical, or do I have a solar panel controller issue?
Living in a 1-horse town here with no local expertise for a face-to-face discussion. Informed input is greatly appreciated.