 |
09-30-2013, 07:54 PM
|
#1
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 73
|
solar panel
hi just purchased a 2004 mountain aire model 3501 it has a light on the dash for a solar light it is not lite I am told it is for the solar panel on the roof and it charges the coach batteries.is this true?? If so how do I check to see if it is working or not. love this coach and want everything to work as it should. great forum Ken
|
|
|
 |
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
|
10-01-2013, 10:08 AM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,138
|
Kejy.... I have a similar light for my 5w solar panel. In my case it was unplugged up top. I went up on roof and plugged the connectors together and light came on immediately as the panel was in the sun.
__________________
Craig Gosselin
1994 Fleetwood 33H
1995 Fleetwood 30H (parts vehicle)
|
|
|
|
|
10-01-2013, 11:11 AM
|
#3
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,500
|
 Similar system on my Dutch Star, also has a fuse, in the circuit, mine is in the front Newmar fuse panel, under the center of the dash. Actual fuse locations vary from year to year and floor plan to floor plan. Keep notes on where you find fuses, I'm at 12 locations and still looking. 
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
|
|
|
|
|
10-01-2013, 01:35 PM
|
#4
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 73
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skip426
Similar system on my Dutch Star, also has a fuse, in the circuit, mine is in the front Newmar fuse panel, under the center of the dash. Actual fuse locations vary from year to year and floor plan to floor plan. Keep notes on where you find fuses, I'm at 12 locations and still looking. |
I have looked at the fuse box under the hood nothing in there marked solar panel but will look under dash tonight thanks Ken
|
|
|
|
|
10-01-2013, 01:37 PM
|
#5
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 73
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gocoffeer
Kejy.... I have a similar light for my 5w solar panel. In my case it was unplugged up top. I went up on roof and plugged the connectors together and light came on immediately as the panel was in the sun.
|
my panel is tight to the roof so i would guess it is pluged in but thanks and I will keep looking for a fuse there must be one somewhere
|
|
|
|
|
10-01-2013, 02:36 PM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,138
|
Kejy.... you can troubleshoot the system with an ohmmeter .... the panel puts out 12V....DC and you can start at the first connector and unplug...and look for panel output there..... or start at the FUSE and look for output there (remove fuse first and go from hot side to ground as you test for voltage)......at some point you are going to find the issue.
__________________
Craig Gosselin
1994 Fleetwood 33H
1995 Fleetwood 30H (parts vehicle)
|
|
|
|
|
10-01-2013, 04:10 PM
|
#7
|
|
Moderator Emeritus
Nor'easters Club Workhorse Chassis Owner iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 30,785
|
Welcome to the forum and irv2 ,Ken.
Go to the end of this link will explain your solar panel operation.
Here is a link for your battery systems.
In my signature there are links for items in your coach.
Here is a Brochure and Owners Guide also.
Enjoy the forums.
|
|
|
|
|
10-01-2013, 06:01 PM
|
#8
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 73
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gocoffeer
Kejy.... you can troubleshoot the system with an ohmmeter .... the panel puts out 12V....DC and you can start at the first connector and unplug...and look for panel output there..... or start at the FUSE and look for output there (remove fuse first and go from hot side to ground as you test for voltage)......at some point you are going to find the issue.
|
good but where is the fuse located I can not find any fuse for it thanks ken
|
|
|
|
|
10-01-2013, 06:14 PM
|
#9
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 73
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by 007";1750659]Welcome to the forum and irv2 ,Ken.
Go to the [URL="http://comnet2.newmarcorp.com/instance1Env77NEWMAR/html/images/elect12v.pdf
end of this link[/URL] will explain your solar panel operation.
Here is a link for your battery systems.
In my signature there are links for items in your coach.
Here is a Brochure and Owners Guide also.
Enjoy the forums.
|
thank you for this info I see there is no fuse and I will check it out when the sun is out again ty Ken
|
|
|
|
|
10-01-2013, 10:32 PM
|
#10
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Madison, MS
Posts: 10,527
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by kejy
hi just purchased a 2004 mountain aire model 3501 it has a light on the dash for a solar light it is not lite I am told it is for the solar panel on the roof and it charges the coach batteries. is this true?? If so how do I check to see if it is working or not. love this coach and want everything to work as it should. great forum Ken
|
IF the solar panel is working (sunlight required), the red dash light should illuminate. I believe you will find the solar panel is provided to "trickle charge" your chassis (cranking) battery. It does not put out enough to maintain your coach (house) batteries.
|
|
|
|
|
10-02-2013, 06:53 AM
|
#11
|
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Wellington, Florida
Posts: 13,599
|
Hi kejy,
The roof mounted solar panel is for maintaining the chassis batteries only. The solar panel will maintain the chassis batteries in the state they were in when the ignition switch was tuned off. The red light is just a warm fuzzy for the owner. The unit can still work with or without the light. To test, remove the light from the dash. Take meter reading across the connector plug. If you get DC voltage, the batteries are being maintained.
__________________
Gary
2005 Newmar KSDP 3910 + GMC ENVOY XUV 37K lbs Moving Down The Road
The Avatar Is Many Times Around The USA
Nobody Knows Your Coach Like Somebody Who Owns One Just Like Yours
|
|
|
|
|
10-02-2013, 03:18 PM
|
#12
|
|
Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 73
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by kejy
hi just purchased a 2004 mountain aire model 3501 it has a light on the dash for a solar light it is not lite I am told it is for the solar panel on the roof and it charges the coach batteries.is this true?? If so how do I check to see if it is working or not. love this coach and want everything to work as it should. great forum Ken
|
Thank you for all the info. on this when i am not working this weekend and sunlight is out i will check it out thanks again. Ken
|
|
|
|
|
10-02-2013, 03:25 PM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: DFW
Posts: 1,473
|
On my 2005 Newmar that solar panel charges the engine battery, not the coach batteries. Also, the light on my dash didn't work for a while (bad connection to the light) but the solar panel was still working. You can tell if your batteries are being charged by checking the voltage. If, while in good sunlight, your batteries show something above 13V (assuming the batteries are in good shape) then you know they are being charged.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
