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Solar panel not switching over from AC power to DC when traveling

SKYSKIOC

Well-known member
We have a 2024 Avenue 32RLS and are having problems with the solar panels. When we disconnect from AC power and travel down the road, the unit is not charging from the panels to the controller. We’re only getting discharge from the battery to the power inside the trailer. The charge controller in the compartment down below shows a moon symbol and it should be showing a sun. I’m assuming there are no trees no clouds nothing covering my panels at all. Everything is wide open in the sunshine and it does not switch over from the nighttime moon mode to the daytime and I don’t know how to check and see if the panels are working. Any help is greatly appreciated.
 

BryanValRox

Well-known member
We have a 2024 Avenue 32RLS and are having problems with the solar panels. When we disconnect from AC power and travel down the road, the unit is not charging from the panels to the controller. We’re only getting discharge from the battery to the power inside the trailer. The charge controller in the compartment down below shows a moon symbol and it should be showing a sun. I’m assuming there are no trees no clouds nothing covering my panels at all. Everything is wide open in the sunshine and it does not switch over from the nighttime moon mode to the daytime and I don’t know how to check and see if the panels are working. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Not sure what system you have, but if it is Renogy attached is a link to a controller manual.

Basically the moon indicates that voltage from the panel or panels is less than 10 volts.
My guess, assuming you have no obvious panel damage on the roof, would be you have a loose or open connection between the panel and the controller.
You could have loose roof pass through, blown fuse in the PV lines or loose connections at the controller. A VOM would help you narrow this down.
 

SKYSKIOC

Well-known member
problem solved. got some great help from Steve jankevicius, who was able to walk me through everything and we found out I have a blown solar fuse on the roof of my trailer. he advised me to disconnect it, remove the fuse and reconnect without a fuse and see if that solved the problem and it did. thank you so much Steve! this group is wonderful
 

BryanValRox

Well-known member
problem solved. got some great help from Steve jankevicius, who was able to walk me through everything and we found out I have a blown solar fuse on the roof of my trailer. he advised me to disconnect it, remove the fuse and reconnect without a fuse and see if that solved the problem and it did. thank you so much Steve! this group is wonderful
I will ask the obvious question here with all due respect, you will be replacing that fuse won’t you?..
Fuse are really designed to protect the wiring from over current situations.
The fuse blew for a reason, I would suggest you track that down. Loose connections, rubbed wire, someone disconnecting or reconnecting while hot or experiencing a short while doing so.
One blown event could be considered an anomaly, but if it happens again, root cause would need to be investigated.
I am concerned that you could be exposed to a safety risk without it.
Respectfully,
Bryan
 

SKYSKIOC

Well-known member
I will ask the obvious question here with all due respect, you will be replacing that fuse won’t you?..
Fuse are really designed to protect the wiring from over current situations.
The fuse blew for a reason, I would suggest you track that down. Loose connections, rubbed wire, someone disconnecting or reconnecting while hot or experiencing a short while doing so.
One blown event could be considered an anomaly, but if it happens again, root cause would need to be investigated.
I am concerned that you could be exposed to a safety risk without it.
Respectfully,
Bryan
thanks Bryan for the input and yes i will be replacing the fuse. i want to be sure there are no issues with the system. i thought about this and the possible problem with it. i think the fuse blew prior to delivery when we got the unit and never checked to see if it was working. thanks again. ordering a fuse now from Amazon.
 
Last edited:

Oregon_Camper

Forum Admin
Staff member
thanks Bryan for the input and yes i will be replacing the fuse. i want to be sure there are no issues with the system. i thought about this and the possible problem with it. i think the fuse blew prior to delivery when we got the unit and never checked to see if it was working. thanks again. ordering a fuse now from Amazon.
Can you post a picture of the area where Alliance installed the solar panel fuse? Might help the next person locate the possible failure.
 

SKYSKIOC

Well-known member
absolutely! I'll take a picture post it and like you said, hopefully it will help somebody in the future. should be receiving my new fuse from Amazon tomorrow
 

SKYSKIOC

Well-known member
Here are some photos of the roof solar panel fuse I replaced. Hope this can help someone else if they have any issues.
 

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