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Topic: Experience with van solar panels anyone?

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gasmansteve

17/3/2016 at 7:58pm
Location: North Yorks
Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545

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Hi guys
Had my Coachman 520 VIP for a year now and delighted with the van but the solar panel/charging is doing my head in somewhat!!. Been backwards and forwards to our dealer as the panel does not seem to keep the battery topped up for any length of time. They have changed the alarm saying it was using charge, said the new battery (110amp bought with the van) was ok etc etc. This battery was found to be faulty last December they changed it for another new one and I thought all the charging problems sorted!!. Well put it back in storage end December went to check the van yesterday and new battery completely flat

Now perhaps I`m being unreasonable to expect the 80watt panel to keep the battery topped up but if thats the case then whats it for? The dealer said all seemed ok last check but that was after a stint away and so had a full mains charge on it. A phone call to Coachman earlier last year said the panel should be able to keep the battery topped up for months. Do others find your panel keeps the battery topped up ok while in storage?.
My van is kept outside with a clear view to the sky but I`m running out of options to try other than insisting Coachman sort it but these manufacturers just tell you to go back to the dealer who doesn`t exactly fill me with confidence as their `caravan engineer` was the guy who previously sold us fruit and veg in Asda! I leave nothing on when storing it and even disable the alarm now.
cheers
Steve

Paul_B

17/3/2016 at 8:58pm
Location: Yorkshire
Outfit: Car & Caravan

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Has anyone removed the solar panel fuse when checking or replacing your battery or when servicing the caravan.

My 50w roof mounted panel kept my battery topped up through the winter.

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gasmansteve

17/3/2016 at 9:20pm
Location: North Yorks
Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545

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Hi Paul
No it seems ok, its just a blade type inline to the charging unit. When we last used the van the green light was flashing indicating that the unit was receiving a charge from the panel. I know we haven`t been getting much intense sunlight but I thought the panel would still charge with normal daylight. I suppose it could be another duff battery. Its booked in for its first service in a few weeks so will start the process again

cheers
Steve

jaiash

17/3/2016 at 9:48pm
Location: nr Derby
Outfit: Phoenix 440+

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Our previous van had a 40 watt panel (Truma) fitted and it kept the battery 110amp charged through the winter -October to February.
Are you absolutely sure you have nothing left on - ours did go flat once the previous year - we had left the front on the cd player and the main 12v button on. Do you have an aerial booster on?

-------------
Grahame

gasmansteve

17/3/2016 at 11:13pm
Location: North Yorks
Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545

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No I don`t think so Grahame I`ve checked and double checked stuff as I say even to the point of disabling the alarm. I think maybe the main panel above the door indicating the battery charge, porch light,pump etc. might use a trickle but not sure how to isolate that, aerial booster is off. You sort of rely on the experts,(??) the dealers even though they initially said the battery was ok it turned out it wasn`t or it may just have gone caput by being discharged for so long!
Steve

gasmansteve

18/3/2016 at 12:37am
Location: North Yorks
Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545

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Further looking around the various forums the problem with solar panels/charging seems to pretty common at least with the newer Coachmans which they put down to faulty solar panel regulators I`ll mention that on its service. Guess what will happen then ??"Sorry sir its only guaranteed a year" ........
Steve

nanashirley

18/3/2016 at 10:51am
Location: Shrewsbury
Outfit: Berghaus Air 6.1

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Quote: Originally posted by gasmansteve on 18/3/2016
Further looking around the various forums the problem with solar panels/charging seems to pretty common at least with the newer Coachmans which they put down to faulty solar panel regulators I`ll mention that on its service. Guess what will happen then ??"Sorry sir its only guaranteed a year" ........
Steve

It may be the regulator is not working, we had this problem with a folding panel, changed the regulator and now working fine. As you have already made the dealers aware about the solar panel problems within one year then it should be guaranteed.

navver

18/3/2016 at 7:29pm
Location: West country
Outfit: Mondeo

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Our Bailey van came with a Truma 100W solar panel and controller fitted and has a 5 year warranty.

80W should be charging that battery with no problems at all. There may be some settings in the controller for battery type etc. As you supplied the battery, the dealer may not have set them correctly. Not sure whether that will make much difference.

This is the indications for our Truma system

Display Cause/Rectification
LED flashes
Check connections from the device to the battery and solar module, ensure that they are connected to the right terminals. Test the fuse, solar module and
battery

LED flashes in longer intervals
Battery is fully charged

LED shines
The battery is being charged

LED flashes in short intervals
The battery is not being charged. If necessary, replace faulty battery

LED does not shine
Battery not connected or over-voltage

gasmansteve

18/3/2016 at 9:01pm
Location: North Yorks
Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545

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Thanks for the helpful replies folks!. I thought the panel should be adequate to keep it topped up. Just told the dealer today I want the regulator checking on its service.
Not sure if the second new battery will be knackered now after being stood with no charge for so long so the dealer will have to sort that too!. Noticed in my warranty the panel gteed for 5yrs and the regulator for 2yrs.
Steve

path20

20/3/2016 at 7:18pm
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: None Entered

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We had worries about our solar panel as it didn't seem to keep the battery topped up. Just found out we were not shutting the van down completely. There is a black switch on the main control panel which we were not switching off. Everything fine now.

Post last edited on 20/03/2016 19:25:34

PCCC

28/3/2016 at 7:44pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Coachman VIP 575 4 with BMW X3 3.0L

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I have a 12 month old Coachman VIP, the battery will not hold its charge for more than a week (from 13V to 12.3V in 7 days). The Master switch is off and the radio panel removed. The solar panel charging unit indicates green to say it is charging. The battery is brand new (135amp). The only thing I can see that is drawing current is the alarm but the solar panel should cope with this ok. I may have missed something if you say there is a black switch on the control panel. The only panel with switches would appear to be the one above the door. The fuse box under the front o/s bunker only has fuses & circuit breakers ..no switches as I can see.
Any help much appreciated
Thx

gasmansteve

28/3/2016 at 11:05pm
Location: North Yorks
Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545

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There isn't a black main switch anywhere I can see in our van just the little unit above the door. When we have been away in our van and its been hooked up to the mains all seems well when we put it back in storage, the charging unit flashing green indicating the panel is charging but go back in a month or less and nothing!!. It is looking like the regulator which I think they should have checked first!!. Seems quite a common fault with the newer Coachman's. Getting serviced on the 12th April will report back.
Steve

PCCC

29/3/2016 at 7:45am
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Coachman VIP 575 4 with BMW X3 3.0L

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Going away for a few days today to test out van before it goes in for its first service this Friday...likewise will report back after Friday as to any progress

PCCC

01/4/2016 at 5:41pm
Location: Worcestershire
Outfit: Coachman VIP 575 4 with BMW X3 3.0L

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Well the van is back form its service and investigation into battery discharge and no surprise ,the dealer says everything is fine ...they say no current/load being drawn on battery and solar panel is charging ok (although suspect that the solar panel and control unit has not been tested properly from what was said. So I now propose to test the caravan battery again with everything off (in theory) and see what happens now its been used for a few days plus checks by the dealer, I don't expect to see any change but you never know. Spoke to Coachman for any ideas and they come up blank referred me to Solar Technology. Next step if the battery discharge continues over the next week is to speak to Solar Technology in Gloucestershire. Will keep you posted.

gasmansteve

01/4/2016 at 5:47pm
Location: North Yorks
Outfit: Mazda CX5 AWD and Coachman VIP 545

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They do have you jumping through these ruddy hoops each time don't they. Shame they don't put as much effort into after sales as they do when selling these vans!
Good luck, taking mine in week on Tuesday will see what's said!.
Cheers
Steve

Bighed

02/4/2016 at 10:36am
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Quote: Originally posted by PCCC on 28/3/2016
I have a 12 month old Coachman VIP, the battery will not hold its charge for more than a week (from 13V to 12.3V in 7 days). The Master switch is off and the radio panel removed. The solar panel charging unit indicates green to say it is charging. The battery is brand new (135amp). The only thing I can see that is drawing current is the alarm but the solar panel should cope with this ok. I may have missed something if you say there is a black switch on the control panel. The only panel with switches would appear to be the one above the door. The fuse box under the front o/s bunker only has fuses & circuit breakers ..no switches as I can see.
Any help much appreciated
Thx

A 12v battery with a floating voltage of 12.3v is bang on in my eyes. Remove the battery, Fully charge it then see what it is after a few days. I bet it will be 12.2-3 with no current draw.

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