Wanderer Solar Controller

[jvannghi]

Hey Guys,

Got this recently hooked up with a 100w panel on the roof, I get 20V at the panel, at the panel input, but nothing coming out at all.

PV indicator is Green, Controller Status is green. Solar Volts at the screws is 20v, output nothing. I also disconnected all wires to do a hard reset, that didn't do anything.

Any ideas?

Also, manual has options for SEALED, GEL, FLOODED or Li. I have Interstate GC2 batteries. What would that fall under??? It's technically none of the available options.

Greatly appreciated!

[Jon_C]

Sounds like your controller is bad or the output wiring to batteries is open so nothing to charge or if it has a fuse it may be blown.

You need flooded setting for normal lead acid with caps on top or sealed if they are agm

[jvannghi]

thx for the reply.

shouldn't output be showing voltage whether connected to battery or not?

Originally Posted by Jon_C

Sounds like your controller is bad or the output wiring to batteries is open so nothing to charge

[twinboat]

Hook it to a battery and answer your own question.

[jvannghi]

It's BEEN hooked up to a battery and battery has NOT been maintained.

I disconnected to see if it would have any output. I see V in but no V out.

I assumed if I reconnect it, its' going to just measure ACTUAL voltage across the batteries, not necessarily the output.

How could I confirm that it's ACTUALLY charging the thing? Am I wrong to assume the output voltage across the output is the same as across the battery?

And just additional info, I swapped the renogy for a new one and it does the same.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by twinboat

Hook it to a battery and answer your own question.

[Jon_C]

Originally Posted by jvannghi

It's BEEN hooked up to a battery and battery has NOT been maintained.



I disconnected to see if it would have any output. I see V in but no V out.



I assumed if I reconnect it, its' going to just measure ACTUAL voltage across the batteries, not necessarily the output.



How could I confirm that it's ACTUALLY charging the thing? Am I wrong to assume the output voltage across the output is the same as across the battery?



And just additional info, I swapped the renogy for a new one and it does the same.



Thanks!

The output should be close to battery voltage, the wire will drop some tenths of volts when under load if properly sized, so it won’t be exact.

The way to tell if it’s charging is by voltage, if the battery voltage is over 13v it’s being charged, if below that its not.

With panels in sun there should be 13-14v on output and on battery. With no sun the output and battery voltage will drop to below 13v.

You can also check continuity of the output wiring with an ohm meter.

[nvs4602]

All the solar charge controllers I've looked at have to be connected to a battery to work. And say to connect to a battery before hooking up solar panels to them. The best thing to do is discharge the battery so you know it needs charged. Then use a clip on amp meter or install a shunt meter to see if you ate getting any current flow.

Here is a fairly inexpensive shunt meter, I installed on my class C. It takes the guess work out of battery charging and discharge.

https://a.co/cYTiZFx