I went in the motorhome today and discovered the link 2000 panel dead. No lights no nothing. Pulled he data cable and fuse and reinstalled. Inverter does work but don't know about the charging. The panel is dead. No lights and the screen is off. This is a 1997 U320.time for a new panel?
When I bought my 98 U320 the link 2000 was dead and I was clueless about battery management. I used the coach for two years without understanding the importance of knowing the battery charging status. I looked for a link 2000 to replace the inoperable one. I never found one for sale.
I ended up replacing the inverter charger with a Magnum MS2812 and a monitor panel. I did it mostly to make sure the aging charger didn't fail and take out my other electronics. I added a little solar at the time to take advantage of the solar tax credit on the panels as well as the charger/inverter and new batteries.
They invert, and charge without a panel. I have had a few in rigs, I used that way. Were given to me because of that. Just get a voltage meter to plug into the cigarette lighter, to monitor the volts.
Of coarse replacing the inverter would be best.
To answer your question, it is time for a new panel, that is a new panel that comes with a new inverter-charger.
Thanks
Any recommendation for new inverter?
Replaced the Heart freedom 25 with a magnum ms-2812. USA made. UL listed. Parts available. 55 pound unit.
Magnum me-rc remote panel is easy to use. You need the me-Bts to add the units ability to charge the batteries correctly for the temps at the battery terminal.
If you want extras that they offer you a me-arc advanced panel which can alter the std programming that's in the me-rc.
options are a me-ags-n auto gen start which can include temp start in the coach and a newer option of a me-BMS.
It learns the batteries and fine tunes the charging profile.
Highly recommend putting in a blue sea ACR. Replaces the isolator with an auto battery bank combiner.
All new coaches use a combiner anymore.
Less power loss.
The magnum and the remote panel use your existing cable. Plug in.
It may be time for a new inveetee. Check recent threads here and you'll find lots of information (and some childish insults) about the various brands.We've had a Magnum 2812 for the past 6+ years and have been pleased, while others have been pleased with Victron inverters.
If buying Magnum we recommend the ME-ARC advanced remote panel, which cost about $40 more. It allows for more future expansions, without adding any complexity to operation. The system is not cheap and saving $40 is in our opinion not a good choice. The lower cost remote that we don't recommend is ME-RC.
I agree about the arc but it's not very user friendly.
But it does allow you to reprogram the std on the rc units setting that restarts the charger at 80% SOC.
So plugged in the charger cycles the batteries with the rc unit.
The arc can be set to start the charging from very low SOC to 99%
Less cycles of the battery banks.
Plus the arc can be set to start in bulk charge every time versus float.
I have a rc in our coach now. And have a arc and a ags-n and a BMS and a pt100 to install coming up.
BMS first.