Help with resetting a system

[pesti]

I'm a 70 yr old lady that needs some basic info on a solar system that belongs to my little sister. Her husband passed away in Sept 2024 and he handled all the details for everything. They live off grid in a rural town in oregon. Over the past months after he died the system shut down and she had neither the knowledge to fix it or the money to hire someone to address it. If she can't get this corrected she will be forced to give up her home and have to live elseware. I have come here to help her. I am fairly handy with home and building maintenance, electrical, plumbing, woodwork, drywall..but I have never worked with solar. I understand basic wiring components, how to install and how they work, ie fuses, converters etc .but a lot of solar components are brand build specific and unless I can get my hands on a user manual I can get lost. I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS....lol in regards to resetting the system so far I've learned that I need too first shut down the connection between the batteries and the controller. Then the panels from the batteries, then the connection between the controller and the inverter. Wait at least 15 min and then reconnect first the batteries to the controller, then the panels, then the inverter. The connection at the panels has an HA 4Way it looks like it has a breaker switch but when I tried to activate it, it doesn't move...also none of the components are lit up at all everything connected to the system is off...so I'm kinda lost
Thank you for reading this. Long post.

 

[HighDesertOffgrid]

Please provide as much information about the equipment as possible. Make, model of Charge controllers, batteries, inverter, solar panels, etc. Pictures if possible.
Picture of the malfunctioning breaker as well.

 

[houseofancients]

I'm a 70 yr old lady that needs some basic info on a solar system that belongs to my little sister. Her husband passed away in Sept 2024 and he handled all the details for everything. They live off grid in a rural town in oregon. Over the past months after he died the system shut down and she had neither the knowledge to fix it or the money to hire someone to address it. If she can't get this corrected she will be forced to give up her home and have to live elseware. I have come here to help her. I am fairly handy with home and building maintenance, electrical, plumbing, woodwork, drywall..but I have never worked with solar. I understand basic wiring components, how to install and how they work, ie fuses, converters etc .but a lot of solar components are brand build specific and unless I can get my hands on a user manual I can get lost. I HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS....lol in regards to resetting the system so far I've learned that I need too first shut down the connection between the batteries and the controller. Then the panels from the batteries, then the connection between the controller and the inverter. Wait at least 15 min and then reconnect first the batteries to the controller, then the panels, then the inverter. The connection at the panels has an HA 4Way it looks like it has a breaker switch but when I tried to activate it, it doesn't move...also none of the components are lit up at all everything connected to the system is off...so I'm kinda lost
Thank you for reading this. Long post.

Please take some pictures of all equipment and connections.
Would make it possible to give more sensible tips, tricks and advice

 

[DIYrich]

Measuring voltage of battery, and panels will be helpful information.

 

[frankrudis65]

Good briefhow much we can still learn from our grannies So much confidence and willingness to sort any problems .That's the spirit we all should aim for If I wasn't so far away,I would immediately jump over to help....No one near by who can help this wonderful woman
? I help supporting with some beers Cheers Frank

 

[littleharbor2]

As mentioned above, the more model numbers photographs information you can pass on the better.

So this sounds like an off grid system containing batteries I would start with checking the fluid level in the batteries they may have gone dry. As far as your shutdown and startup information you're a little bit crossed up. Typically, the first thing you do is shut down the solar and then shut down the batteries to the inverter. It's helpful if there are breakers in line. It's possible that the stuck breaker isn't intended for DC and has welded itself shut or open.

 

[wpns]

As mentioned above, the more model numbers photographs information you can pass on the better.

This

So this sounds like an off grid system containing batteries I would start with checking the fluid level in the batteries they may have gone dry. As far as your shutdown and startup information you're a little bit crossed up. Typically, the first thing you do is shut down the solar and then shut down the batteries to the inverter. It's helpful if there are breakers in line. It's possible that the stuck breaker isn't intended for DC and has welded itself shut or open.

Not yet time for this, until we know a lot more about the system 'shotgun' repairs could very well make things worse.

@pesti let's figure out what you have first, and then some of the clever folks here might be able to help.

 

[littleharbor2]

Shotgun repairs? I don't understand, the only thing I suggested that they do is check the electrolyte level in the batteries. As far as the shutdown sequence that's just common procedure which I suggested to prevent any possible damage to the charge controller.

 

[45North]

Easiest would be to just connect to the grid. How far away is it and what would it cost?
This would be the best route for 2 women on their own unfamiliar with the intricacies of off-grid solar.
This is a good example for everyone to think about: what's your succession plan if something happens and you're not around to run your system?

 

[Mattb4]

I applaud the OP willingness to dive in and try to help her younger sister with a Solar setup that is not operating. As a bystander, and possible advice giver, there is not much I can do based on almost no information about the system involved. It could be something as simple as a switch that needs thrown, breaker reset, fuse replaced or more complex like batteries that have failed.

I suspect the OP needs a in house inspection by a person familiar with off grid solar and electricity. Hopefully there is a local DIY solar member living close enough with extra time that they can stop by. Barring that, and perhaps even with a fix, it may be for the best for her Sister to move to a place where electricity is supplied by a utility.

 

[HighDesertOffgrid]

I applaud the OP willingness to dive in and try to help her younger sister with a Solar setup that is not operating. As a bystander, and possible advice giver, there is not much I can do based on almost no information about the system involved. It could be something as simple as a switch that needs thrown, breaker reset, fuse replaced or more complex like batteries that have failed.

I suspect the OP needs a in house inspection by a person familiar with off grid solar and electricity. Hopefully there is a local DIY solar member living close enough with extra time that they can stop by. Barring that, and perhaps even with a fix, it may be for the best for her Sister to move to a place where electricity is supplied by a utility.

Maybe OP figured it out. She logged out of the forums within 5 minutes of posting and hasn't returned. She probably didn't see my reply at the same time.

 

[robbob2112]

Maybe OP figured it out. She logged out of the forums within 5 minutes of posting and hasn't returned. She probably didn't see my reply at the same time.

Give her time, she isn't a photon addict....yet

 

[wpns]

Shotgun repairs?

Instead of shooting at the exact problem, use a shotgun to shoot at all the problems at once. Instead of figuring out what the OP has, check the electrolyte without knowing what battery chemistry it is, debug the shutdown/startup procedures without knowing what equipment is involved and what's correct for _that_ equipment, check the breakers without knowing if there _are_ breakers, etc.

And we chased her away before she even read any responses, that's gotta be a new record even for us!

 

[HighDesertOffgrid]

And we chased her away before she even read any responses, that's gotta be a new record even for us!

Waiting for the new post: WITHOUT POWER FOR 6 DAYS! PLEASE HELP!! (I will feel bad for my humor if she ever returns).