|
|
Post by Buce15 on Sept 17, 2019 16:34:45 GMT
First time poster, hoping to get some advice on my Renogy 20a DC to DC charger installation in my 2016 Honda Pilot EX-L. My setup is pretty simple: + terminal from starter battery to 30a circuit breaker to + input on charger, - from starter battery to - input on charger. Charger then connects to two 12V 35aH solar AGM batteries from harbor freight (in parallel) which then connects to 400W inverter. All seems to be working well, except last night I spent my first night on a long road trip and left the inverter on and woke up to a dead starter battery. Interior and exterior lights were off, doors were locked, I really don't think there was any drain off the starter battery, I think the culprit was this secondary battery set up. No volt or watt meters connected to the circuit but I do have a volt meter handy. Any advice or help troubleshooting would be greatly appreciated!
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 18, 2019 16:48:39 GMT
First time poster, hoping to get some advice on my Renogy 20a DC to DC charger installation in my 2016 Honda Pilot EX-L. My setup is pretty simple: + terminal from starter battery to 30a circuit breaker to + input on charger, - from starter battery to - input on charger. Charger then connects to two 12V 35aH solar AGM batteries from harbor freight (in parallel) which then connects to 400W inverter. All seems to be working well, except last night I spent my first night on a long road trip and left the inverter on and woke up to a dead starter battery. Interior and exterior lights were off, doors were locked, I really don't think there was any drain off the starter battery, I think the culprit was this secondary battery set up. No volt or watt meters connected to the circuit but I do have a volt meter handy. Any advice or help troubleshooting would be greatly appreciated! Did you connect a D+ signal wire to the starter battery positive line? Did you observe the DCDC turning on when everything was connected? -Renogy Team |
|
|
|
Post by Buce15 on Sept 18, 2019 22:02:45 GMT
Hello,
I did connect the D+ signal wire to the ACC fuse in my vehicle using a fuse tap. When the vehicle is off, there is no green light on the DCDC charger, and when the vehicle is on, the green light is on. I noticed a red light earlier too, that seems alarming. I went outside to a dead car battery again today. I noticed that my inverter draws power via its USB outlets even when the inverter is off, but that should be irrelevant. I'm pretty desperate for solutions, I think I might add a manual switch to the DCDC charger to ensure that it doesn't draw power while the car is off, but that's the purpose of the charger in the first place. What can I do to prevent my car battery from draining again?
Thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Sept 18, 2019 23:55:08 GMT
Hello, I did connect the D+ signal wire to the ACC fuse in my vehicle using a fuse tap. When the vehicle is off, there is no green light on the DCDC charger, and when the vehicle is on, the green light is on. I noticed a red light earlier too, that seems alarming. I went outside to a dead car battery again today. I noticed that my inverter draws power via its USB outlets even when the inverter is off, but that should be irrelevant. I'm pretty desperate for solutions, I think I might add a manual switch to the DCDC charger to ensure that it doesn't draw power while the car is off, but that's the purpose of the charger in the first place. What can I do to prevent my car battery from draining again? Thanks! The red light will be on for low battery voltage or perhaps high temperature. How have you observed that the inverter draws even when it's off? We would recommend you get a multi-meter and check the input and the output of the DC terminals to see what is going on. Get the readings when the vehicle is on and when it's off.. |
|
|
|
Post by Buce15 on Sept 21, 2019 16:08:16 GMT
Ok... So it seems as though the charger isn't actually charging my batteries. I have no idea what drained my battery before - was it related or did I leave something on by accident, not sure. Wires are secure, D+ is connected to the ACC fuse via fuse tap. Green and red light are on on the charger (I think red means low voltage?). Something is up... Getting 14.1V on input and output shows 11.3, been running my car for the past hour or so and the 11.3 hasn't moved. Is my battery bad? Are the DIP switches wrong? They're all set to On per www.renogy.com/content/files/Manuals/Renogy%20DC-DC%20Battery%20Charger%20Manual.pdf. Using 2 12v 35aH batteries from harbor freight. Called mechanics and RV service shops and nobody thinks they can fix it. Any advice at all is appreciated! |
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Sept 21, 2019 16:19:19 GMT
Called mechanics and RV service shops and nobody thinks they can fix it. Any advice at all is appreciated! The first thing I would do is take the solar system out of the equation and start there...... |
|
|
|
Post by Buce15 on Sept 21, 2019 19:34:15 GMT
No solar system is connected at all - just the starter battery to DC charger to house battery
|
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Sept 21, 2019 20:19:03 GMT
No solar system is connected at all - just the starter battery to DC charger to house battery
What is a starter battery? Are you talking about a battery in the car?
You do know an inverter uses power when it's on? Also does the car have an alarm system?
I really don't understand what your attempting to do with out an external charging system....... Without one your going to have problems.....
|
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Sept 21, 2019 20:20:59 GMT
I just thought of something...... So your trying to charge a battery with a battery?
|
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Sept 21, 2019 20:23:13 GMT
just the starter battery to DC charger to house battery Ok then disconnect the DC charger from the house......... |
|
|
|
Post by bupkis on Sept 21, 2019 21:00:08 GMT
Buce15, you need to call tech support. I would assume the red light is for low input voltage!
In a couple of hrs this 20A DC>DC charger should have raised the voltage of you little batteries.
|
|
|
|
Post by Buce15 on Sept 21, 2019 23:58:18 GMT
I think I solved the problem. A use on another forum told me to disconnect the input cables (I also disconnected the output) and run a wire from + in to - in to short the memory and effectively reset the machine. I did this, and now we're charging! Maybe it's coincidence and there was a loose wire or something somewhere, but the process got me up and running again.
For those asking - for all intents and purposes this is an RV battery (house battery) to power a cooler, laptop, fans, lights etc. Yes, I understand an inverter uses power when it's on, but this one also uses power when it's off. There's a power switch on the inverter and when the switch is off, the USB ports on the inverter still charge my iPad. Get what you pay for I guess.
|
|
