Community Forums

tbbg II · 08-17-2015, 05:32 AM

I replaced the indicator light a couple years ago. Those three little electrical components are diodes. Each has a small voltage drop, so when the voltage of the solar panel is a volt or two (depending on type of diode) more than the battery voltage, the LED indicator light illuminates and some amount of current is going to the battery. It's not worth much peace of mind, but it's something. In retrospect, I could have changed the faulty component and saved several dollars.

If the light doesn't work, it could be the panel - it also doesn't last forever. I replaced it, too. Now I get a warm fuzzy feeling every time the sun comes out and I see the little red LED glowing. I then confirmed that the new panel did not totally compensate for the parasitic draw on the chassis batteries (ouch). I now disconnect same if the coach sits anywhere unpowered for extended periods of time.

Depending on how it was wired, the volmeters will give an indication of battery voltage. I imagine it reads a similar value to the voltmeter in the dash. It may or may not tell if the solar panel is charging the batteries.

I don't recall the gage of the wire coming from the panel, but it was pretty small. It's a fairly long run from my panel to the batteries, so I would be hesitant to use them with a beefier panel.

Dutch Star Don · 08-17-2015, 11:51 AM

"tbbg II".....I just looked at the small board I removed and what I thought were resistors, are probably diodes. In 15 months, the LED has burned out twice. After the second time I put a voltmeter to it and the board was still working, just another LED burnout.

Somewhere on here is another post where they discuss the poor quality of this indicator and that Newmar has something new, but is not compatible. On mine, it's wired to read what the panel is putting out, not coach voltage. As the sun sets or I cover part of the panel, the voltage drops. I'm happy with what mine's reporting.

Pexring · 08-17-2015, 11:02 PM

I too wired mine to only read the voltage from the panel. When the panel doesn't get any sun or light, the meter is off so I assume there should be no voltage draw from the battery.

gsdutch · 03-05-2021, 12:14 PM

My LED burned out on the circuit board. I measured the voltage across the LED terminals and found that it was 2.4 volts. The specs on red and green LEDs show the forward voltage (the voltage where they start producing light and drawing current) is around 1.6 volts. This means that the current through a red or green LED can become quite high at 2.4 volts, and over time could account for the burnout. I have yellow LEDs that I tested with a lab supply and find that they light at a beginning voltage of 2.1 to 2.2 volts and then I checked the current draw at 2.4 volts and it was around 0.05 amps. This is the recommended operating current for these LEDs. The diodes are rated for 1 amp continuous current. Simple calculations suggest that the panel is producing a charging current of 0.4 to 0.5 amps to the chassis batteries.

Just a suggestion if you want to stay with the original device.

clawsonbob · 03-08-2021, 10:31 AM

Great idea Don, thanks for sharing.

Plus it serves as a rough meteorological instrument. When DW asks “What’s the weather like outside today?” A quick glance at the dash & you can reply -“Pretty nice out, it’s already up to 22 volts! ”

gsdutch · 03-09-2021, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clawsonbob

Great idea Don, thanks for sharing.

Plus it serves as a rough meteorological instrument. When DW asks “What’s the weather like outside today?” A quick glance at the dash & you can reply -“Pretty nice out, it’s already up to 22 volts! ”

LOL, maybe I should replace the LED with a voltmeter so I too can say that to my wife!