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Topic: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery? (Read 756 times) previous topic - next topic

Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

I have a Renogy Tracer charge controller and the 40 am breaker between the controller and my bank of six 6 volt batteries has tripped several times in the last 2 days. Obviously something is wrong.
Can anyone suggest the best way to troubleshoot this problem?
I have a spare breaker (somewhere) but I can't find it. My batteries and the controller are 6 years old.
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #1 –
How many watts of solar do you have?
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #2 –
From what I understand breakers get weaker with each fault, so you may need a new breaker.

You may have exceeded the 40 amps rating on the breaker.  As Chuck asked how many watts of solar do you have on the roof?  Even though you may not have exceeded the 40 amps previously, if you are borderline on current, the summer sun may have pushed you  over the rating of the breaker, especially if it was borderline to start.
1998 U320 40'
2005 GMC Yukon
MC# 17609

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #3 –
Quote from: craneman –
How many watts of solar do you have?
500 watts
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Dakota Slim –
500 watts

That shouldn't trip a 40 amp breaker unless it has weakened significantly.  500/12=41 amps. 

I would change the breaker and see if it continues, before doing anything more expensive. 

I don't think your battery would contribute.  I am not an expert, but have a decent feel for solar.
1998 U320 40'
2005 GMC Yukon
MC# 17609

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #5 –
Here's an update. I am in extreme heat in AZ, My battery voltage is dropping much faster than usual right now. Now I'm thinking one of the six is bad.
I have usually started the day at 12.3 volts or better (after running fans behind the reefer all night) and this morning they were at 12.1. They didn't get a full charge yesterday so I thought that might have been part of the problem but right now they are still getting a 1.4 amp charge and are already down to 12.6. Ordinarily they would be at 12.8+ at this time of day.
I wouldn't think that a bad battery could draw extra amps (ie more amps than the charge controller puts out) but maybe it can.
Any thoughts?
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #6 –
BUT, any contact between wiring "above" the breaker and any chassis metal would be a DEAD SHORT.

Worth a check of the wiring.

Sorry, we posted at the same time.  Yes, the lower the battery voltage, the higher the amps (Mr. Watts law).
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #7 –
Quote from: stevec22 –
That shouldn't trip a 40 amp breaker unless it has weakened significantly.  500/12=41 amps. 

I would change the breaker and see if it continues, before doing anything more expensive. 

I don't think your battery would contribute.  I am not an expert, but have a decent feel for solar.
I can't find the spare breaker that I know is in this coach somewhere but I can easily switch the breaker (same thing) that's between the panels and the controller and see if the problem still exists.
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #8 –
That breaker was under-sized. Breakers are thermal-activated devices. Add a hot day to an under-sized breaker and you have a problem. Buy a 50 amp breaker. It will still protect your system.
1997 U270 34FT Build 5140 Cummins 8.3 Allison 3060R
Solar 1920Watts, 14KWH lithium. Orion BMS.

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Tim –
That breaker was under-sized. Breakers are thermal-activated devices. Add a hot day to an under-sized breaker and you have a problem. Buy a 50 amp breaker. It will still protect your system.

Good answer IF (repeat IF) the wire is sized for 50 amps.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #10 –
I have 850 watts of solar and rarely ever see 40+ amps. I may be wrong, but with 500 watts I don't see how you could get 40 amps to the batteries. I would suspect bad breaker or a short.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #11 –
I switched out the 40 amp breaker with a 50 amp and will see what happens today.
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #12 –
Update: The new breaker solved the problem.
Thanks for the help!
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #13 –
I forgot to update this issue. As it turned out, one of my six 6 volt house batteries went bad and apparently caused the breaker issue. I ended up pulling two out (2 x 6 - 12) and am limping along with the other four until I can get a good deal on new house batteries. 
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird
 

Re: Problem with: Solar Charger? 40 Am Breaker? or Battery?

Reply #14 –
If you rotate the batteries regularly the end ones last longer
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4