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11-19-2018, 12:07 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Travis AFB
Posts: 3
California
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4 Trojan T-105's Dead with Solar
I'm an Air Force guy and deployed for a year. My wife has been starting the Voltage 3818 every month and running the generator. I have 4 Trojan T-105's which are less than a year old, 300 watts solar with a Blue Sky MPPT controller, and a Magnum inverter.
She started the trailer last month and ran the generator, and no problems. Things have been fine for 5 months. She starts it every month.
Today she went to start it and everything is totally dead. We did a FaceTime video and I verified the switch was on, and that it wasn't just the panel. The generator wouldn't start directly from the generator start either.
I'm guessing the kids might have left a light on, and because it's in Northern CA, the fires have obscured the sun. I still can't imagine lights killing 4 batteries that quickly with solar. And she is sure she turned the master switch off anyway, so nothing could stay on anyway.
Anyone have any ideas?
Grey
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11-19-2018, 11:23 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,051
Florida
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Quote:
Originally Posted by grey3818
I'm an Air Force guy and deployed for a year. My wife has been starting the Voltage 3818 every month and running the generator. I have 4 Trojan T-105's which are less than a year old, 300 watts solar with a Blue Sky MPPT controller, and a Magnum inverter.
She started the trailer last month and ran the generator, and no problems. Things have been fine for 5 months. She starts it every month.
Today she went to start it and everything is totally dead. We did a FaceTime video and I verified the switch was on, and that it wasn't just the panel. The generator wouldn't start directly from the generator start either.
I'm guessing the kids might have left a light on, and because it's in Northern CA, the fires have obscured the sun. I still can't imagine lights killing 4 batteries that quickly with solar. And she is sure she turned the master switch off anyway, so nothing could stay on anyway.
Anyone have any ideas?
Grey
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From one Air Force guy to another, thank you for your service. I installed a 100 watt solar panel and that pretty much takes care of keeping the batteries topped off and taking care of the vampire loads. I have only ONE battery and it seems to work just fine, even when I have run the slides in and out a couple of times it regens in a day or so. it's pretty difficult to troubleshoot something like that from a distance. Your solar, even with the fires, should have kept the batteries somewhat charged even with the lights left on. I would think that there may be something else, if the batteries ARE run to where they are dead. Leave everything off and they should have some charge after a day or so with the solar panels... Do you have a status indicator on your solar charger controller?
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11-19-2018, 01:09 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Tahlequah
Posts: 3,079
Oklahoma
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Have the batteries been checked for electrolyte levels?
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2013 Voltage 3800, 2012 Chevy 3500 HD
2010 Yamaha V Star 950
2009 Yamaha Raider
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity Caravanners
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11-20-2018, 07:39 PM
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#4
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New Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Travis AFB
Posts: 3
California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by franktafl
From one Air Force guy to another, thank you for your service. I installed a 100 watt solar panel and that pretty much takes care of keeping the batteries topped off and taking care of the vampire loads. I have only ONE battery and it seems to work just fine, even when I have run the slides in and out a couple of times it regens in a day or so. it's pretty difficult to troubleshoot something like that from a distance. Your solar, even with the fires, should have kept the batteries somewhat charged even with the lights left on. I would think that there may be something else, if the batteries ARE run to where they are dead. Leave everything off and they should have some charge after a day or so with the solar panels... Do you have a status indicator on your solar charger controller?
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Hey thanks! No the solar panel is completely off, and the Incommand is dead. Basically everything is dead. I also can't imagine anything killing them with 300 watts of MPPT solar. I guess I'll just have to look when I get back for Xmas. Hopefully it's nothing that got fried.
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11-20-2018, 07:41 PM
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#5
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New Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Travis AFB
Posts: 3
California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sundancer 87
Have the batteries been checked for electrolyte levels?
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I topped them off with distilled water right before I left, so that was July. Maybe in 5 months they got ran low because of the constant solar voltage? I'm just going to have to look when I get back for X-mas vacation.
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11-21-2018, 01:21 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Sprung Leak
Posts: 3,157
North Carolina
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How far from the fires were you? If you were close enough the solar panels might have gotten covered in ash?
I had a camper in the woods and had to watch for falling leaves in the fall, they would cover the panels after a good storm and I would lose power.
Aaron
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There is madness to my methods
2015 Coleman CM16FBS(traded) 2016 Concord 300DS
2015 Ford Fusion Hybrid following along
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11-22-2018, 02:33 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Tulsa
Posts: 97
Oklahoma
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1. Thanks for your service... USAF myself...
2. It is most likely to be a water issue with the battery... I have noticed since I went to a solar charger I have to add water every other month even with a battery conditioner in the system to keep everything at a 2 amp maintenance charge
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USAF; 1973-1988 SP & Disaster Preparedness
2015 Kodiak 291RESL
2015 Chevy S-2500 HD (Diesel)
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11-22-2018, 03:41 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Wesley Chapel
Posts: 3,051
Florida
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Badger
1. Thanks for your service... USAF myself...
2. It is most likely to be a water issue with the battery... I have noticed since I went to a solar charger I have to add water every other month even with a battery conditioner in the system to keep everything at a 2 amp maintenance charge
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That is a lot of charge. Does your system do trickle charge and shut off when the battery is fully charged?
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