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Strange switch any thoughts

May 20, 2017, 05:52:27 pm

Ok have 500 watts of solar it all works well with plenty of power. Have been looking at this switch and never new what it did. So today messing with the latch on the kitchen cabinets I turned it on and my amps on my monitor jumped up see pictures. Any guess on what could be happening when I turn if off it goes back to normal turn it on and up she goes. Trying to trace the wires to see where it goes. Thanks  Andy

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Re: Strange switch any thoughts

Reply #1 – May 20, 2017, 06:18:43 pm

Looks to me that you have your switch set on solar charging amps, so I'm guessing when the other switch is on it's showing charging amps to batteries. Just a WAG!

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Re: Strange switch any thoughts

Reply #2 – May 20, 2017, 06:22:57 pm

That looks just like my water pump switch.

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Re: Strange switch any thoughts

Reply #3 – May 20, 2017, 06:27:59 pm

Water pump switch is further to the right,this switch sure makes a difference in the amps coming in.the Po has passed so.i can't ask him.iam wondering if maybe he put a switch in to control other panels ?. Doesn't make much sense to me.

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Re: Strange switch any thoughts

Reply #4 – May 20, 2017, 08:32:45 pm

I have the same Heliotrope solar controller (put it in 8 years ago) so I can answer from that side.
 If you ever see 14 amps of charging without the mystery switch on, I'm guessing that it switches an
additional DC load on somewhere, and the Heliotrope just starts charging more to compensate.  If you never see 14 amps without it on, then maybe it switches an additional solar panel in (but why???)

Might be a connection to charge the engine batteries when on, but the Heliotrope has a separate low current charge line going to the engine batteries.  (If that line was connected, when you put the right hand slide switch on "engine battery volts" you should see 12.8 to 13.1 volts charge status on a sunny day.)  You could watch the engine volts (sunny day) and turn the mystery switch on and off to see if there's a difference.  Also try watching the coach battery volts while doing the same thing.

Maybe do the same voltage checks at night if you suspect the mystery switch is switching a load on.

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Re: Strange switch any thoughts

Reply #5 – May 20, 2017, 09:03:23 pm

Thanks Dave, your thoughts pointed me in the right direction, I discovered that I have two switches for the insta hot on the sink one is 110 and one is 12 vdc. My bad need to look further then the end of my nose. Thank to all

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