RV 30D solar charge controller

[Jeff753]

Anyone have a users manual for this one. 2001 Model


Jeff

[BendOR]

Heliotrope is out of business. AMSolar.com has some support and some of the documents from the old company. Give them a call.

If you can not find a manual, here is the best you'll get:

RV-30DE Charge Controller

I believe the voltage setting of the dip switches are close to this:

Dip switch 1, 2, 3 settings (12VDC):

13.2v off off off
13.4v on off off
13.6v off on off
13.8v on on off
14.0v off off on
14.2v on off on
14.4v off on on
14.6v on on on
Dip switch #4 turns mode on/off


Good luck!

[Jeff753]

Thanks. I pulled my Rv30d to check the dip switches for my new lifeline AGM batteries. I set the dip switches and the 2002 manual says to move the jumper to float vs equalize. I could not find this jumper. When I asked am solar about it they said my circa 2000 Rv30d controller does not have the jumper. They said the 4th dip (mode) on mine does not provide a function. Seems odd they would put in this dip w no function. I need to pull it again and look closer for the jumper.
I was told by Mastertech that you can equalize their lifeline AGM but I'd rather not


Jeff

[BendOR]

It seems many of the circuit boards are generic and have options for many different RV-X models. The boards I have seen are well labeled near the components. Jumpers look like the vertical plastic rectangles near the temp comp connection (left of the dips, above the temp comp screw block).

My RV-30S has no jumper for mode and dip #4 does not connect to anything. So, your's is not unique. Also, my voltage has .4v changes depending on dip settings.

Here is mine:

[Jeff753]

Great. I thought I just missed the jumper for the mode. I found the temp sensor jumper and turned it off because i thought the temp sensor was missing. Interesting though. The rv 30d charge wire is fastened to the main positive cable with a flat piece of copper it looks like. Could this be a temp sensor? Thanks for the info. Here is my rv30d but it's a bit blurry. I'll take it out again and look closer.



Jeff

[BendOR]

Looks like the wiring is there for the temp sensor, temp block, thin reducing wires connected to lamp cord/wire. Trace out the lamp cord. It needs to terminate at the batts with both leads connected to a sensor that is covered in calking to be taped to a batt or within a terminal lug that is attached to a batt post. It does not matter, either pos or neg.

Terminal type, see the PDF also:

http://www.solarpanelstore.com/solar-power.large-charge-controllers.tristar.rem-temp-sensor.info.1.html

[BendOR]

Because dip #4 is not applicable and you have no mode jumper, I believe the default is the "Fixed" mode described in the RV-30DE link above:

C) With the "Fixed" Setting Activated - ("Bulk/Constant Voltage" Strategy)

As the sun rises and the solar panels reach a voltage that is slightly higher than the House battery voltage, the RV-30DE will deliver all available charging amperage to both the House and Engine batteries and the “Charging” LED will be illuminated. The House battery voltage will rise under this influence until it approaches whatever battery voltage setpoint you have selected. The Engine battery voltage will rise until it reaches 13.4 volts and then taper off the charging amperage going to it. The charging amperage that was being delivered to the Engine battery is then redirected and added to the charging amperage being delivered to the House battery.

At this point, the “Charged” LED will be illuminated and the RV-30DE will enter its Pulse Width Modulation “Taper” charge and deliver whatever charging amperage the House battery requires to maintain the selected battery voltage setpoint.

As the sunlight fades and evening approaches, the House and Engine battery's voltages will begin to fall from their respective setpoints to a lower point that is closer to their “at rest” voltage.

This cycle will be repeated the following morning.

You may have no bulk/abs/float stages. So set your setpoint voltage as desired and watch. I have mine set at 15v for flooded and the 6 year old batts are doing fine. Temp comp will raise the voltage when cold (below 77F) and decrease it when hot. I don't know if your engine batt is wired to charge also or if this even applies.