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Post by skip12 on Jun 29, 2024 15:35:33 GMT -5
I have a 2020 sonic and I connected the solar to the rear solar connection But how do I know its charging?
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Post by WrkrBee on Jun 29, 2024 19:22:46 GMT -5
Unplug the solar panel and check the battery voltage. Plug the panel back in and check the voltage. If the battery voltage increases, with the panel plugged in, it's charging.
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bobw
Weekender RV’er
Posts: 98
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Post by bobw on Jul 1, 2024 12:00:59 GMT -5
Unplug the solar panel and check the battery voltage. Plug the panel back in and check the voltage. If the battery voltage increases, with the panel plugged in, it's charging. Of course you need to do this during the daylight hours...  |
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andyinoregon
Newbie RV’er
Hmmm... Moving to Sonic group on FB. Will check back here periodically.
Posts: 6
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Post by andyinoregon on Jul 3, 2024 19:18:41 GMT -5
I just posted myself about a solar question so i don't have a lot of experience but did your RV come with a solar controller? For our model, we have a solar controller that shows how many amps are flowing into the battery.
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Post by tallguyvr on Jul 3, 2024 19:21:46 GMT -5
Ours came with a 100 watt panel and a solar controller. Get ready to be disappointed with the dismal charge rate…
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andyinoregon
Newbie RV’er
Hmmm... Moving to Sonic group on FB. Will check back here periodically.
Posts: 6
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Post by andyinoregon on Jul 3, 2024 20:11:15 GMT -5
Ours came with a 100 watt panel and a solar controller. Get ready to be disappointed with the dismal charge rate… Well, I'm not sure what to do expect but it did work somewhat well the first time. I do want to try to add another solar panel, though. Problem is, my model doesn't have a jack for an additional panel (see my other post). Andy |
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Post by tallguyvr on Jul 3, 2024 21:58:54 GMT -5
I looked into that and was told that you can connect several panels with one connection as long as you don’t exceed the solar controller’s capacity.
my problem is the lack of space on the roof and the expense for what is a pretty dismal return in charging level. Better to invest in better batteries and a generator.
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andyinoregon
Newbie RV’er
Hmmm... Moving to Sonic group on FB. Will check back here periodically.
Posts: 6
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Post by andyinoregon on Jul 4, 2024 13:12:03 GMT -5
Yeah, I'm definitely going to add a battery, though I've heard if you're really serious about batteries you convert completely to 6-volt. I don't want to mess with a roof installation, I just want to a portable panel on a 20' line that I can tap into the existing controller. At least with the portable panel (I prematurely bought the Harbor Freight 100W portable panel, thinking I'd just "plug it in").
I did check, it seems like I can double my inputs into the controller and it handles two batteries so the simplest approach for me is to add one battery and augment the existing panel.
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Post by skip12 on Jul 14, 2024 7:50:10 GMT -5
I just posted myself about a solar question so i don't have a lot of experience but did your RV come with a solar controller? For our model, we have a solar controller that shows how many amps are flowing into the battery. Thank you everyone who replied I had a few health problems so I wasnt able to reply sooner. Mine is the 2020 200VLM it doesnt have anything showing a charge But I did do a test by doing what Wrkrbee suggested and it is charging but like tallguyvr said it sure is slow.. |
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