Hello. I am hoping to get some advise on my solar system and wiring. I recently installed the solar system displayed in the attached diagram in my travel trailer. This is the first time I have worked on such a system. I did purchase and read Will Prowse’s solar power book and Explorist.Life Solar Wiring Diagram, and used many online sources, including this forum, to educate myself as much as possible and design what I believe to be an appropriate system for my needs. It has been a challenge!
Initially everything ran as expected on and off shore power while stationary, but after travelling from Washington State to Colorado I began experiencing shutdowns of the Big Battery 24V HSKY Elite. Some seemed to be caused by low temperatures (25oF to 33oF ambient in Wyoming and Colorado), others possibly a combination of low temps and vibration while driving, others when a large load (electric teapot, 64A/1575W) was applied to the battery, but only when it was cold outside (35oF and below). The same teapot would work mid-day when it was 65oF to 70oF using the inverter. Voltage was always good, 26 to 27+V. At first I could get the battery to ‘wake up’ using the charger I purchased from BB and running it off my trucks inverter. Then it would take multiple attempts with the charger. Three times I woke it up by giving it a firm slap. I believed I had multiple issues: bad temp sensor and/or BMS settings, and loose connections.
I have been in contact with Big Battery and Growatt tech support for the last two weeks trying to determine the cause for the shutdowns. Eventually BB tech support, which has been very helpful, and I determined the shutdowns were the fault of the battery itself. Since I am full time living in my trailer I travelled to BB in LA to have the battery repaired. They found the only issue was a possible faulty temperature sensor causing the shutdowns at higher than normal temperatures. They replaced the temp sensor and checked all connections in the battery. They found no loose connections. They also tested the new temp sensor down to 13oF and shook the battery, pretty aggressively by their description, and deemed it good to go. I reinstalled it today and have been load testing it with a microwave (1100W), electric teapot (1500W), Furrion AC Unit (1650W w/ soft start), and my wife’s hair dryer (1100W). Both with and without being connected to shore power. No shutdowns so far. Ambient temps are in the 80’s to 90oF. I have not travelled with the trailer yet.
I would like to ask the many experts here to look over my system just to make sure that I have no other issues that may have caused the shutdowns. I am camped in an area with no cell service so I can only post once or twice a day, but I will attempt to answer any questions or supply more data if requested.
Thanks ahead,
David
Initially everything ran as expected on and off shore power while stationary, but after travelling from Washington State to Colorado I began experiencing shutdowns of the Big Battery 24V HSKY Elite. Some seemed to be caused by low temperatures (25oF to 33oF ambient in Wyoming and Colorado), others possibly a combination of low temps and vibration while driving, others when a large load (electric teapot, 64A/1575W) was applied to the battery, but only when it was cold outside (35oF and below). The same teapot would work mid-day when it was 65oF to 70oF using the inverter. Voltage was always good, 26 to 27+V. At first I could get the battery to ‘wake up’ using the charger I purchased from BB and running it off my trucks inverter. Then it would take multiple attempts with the charger. Three times I woke it up by giving it a firm slap. I believed I had multiple issues: bad temp sensor and/or BMS settings, and loose connections.
I have been in contact with Big Battery and Growatt tech support for the last two weeks trying to determine the cause for the shutdowns. Eventually BB tech support, which has been very helpful, and I determined the shutdowns were the fault of the battery itself. Since I am full time living in my trailer I travelled to BB in LA to have the battery repaired. They found the only issue was a possible faulty temperature sensor causing the shutdowns at higher than normal temperatures. They replaced the temp sensor and checked all connections in the battery. They found no loose connections. They also tested the new temp sensor down to 13oF and shook the battery, pretty aggressively by their description, and deemed it good to go. I reinstalled it today and have been load testing it with a microwave (1100W), electric teapot (1500W), Furrion AC Unit (1650W w/ soft start), and my wife’s hair dryer (1100W). Both with and without being connected to shore power. No shutdowns so far. Ambient temps are in the 80’s to 90oF. I have not travelled with the trailer yet.
I would like to ask the many experts here to look over my system just to make sure that I have no other issues that may have caused the shutdowns. I am camped in an area with no cell service so I can only post once or twice a day, but I will attempt to answer any questions or supply more data if requested.
Thanks ahead,
David