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Post by bighatnohorse on Sept 7, 2018 20:49:24 GMT
I posted a problem about a Wanderer 30amp controller "over-charging" on the old forum. The controller was still within the one year warranty and I was instructed to send it back for testing.
I sent it back. In the meantime I used a Wind n Sea controller which performed as advertised (but it doesn't have the automated features of the Wanderer).
After I got the Wanderer back from repair it seemed to work okay but still charged a little on the high side.
I left the solar panels switched off for a month and it resumed charging at 15.5 volts
I now find that it is "waking up" in each morning and will charge up to 15.5 volts. This afternoon I checked it again and it was charging at 15.6 to 15.7 volts.
If I disconnect the solar panels and run the on-board generator, it will charge at 14.4 volts as expected.
Am I cooking my batteries (lead acid) with this Wanderer? Should I turn off the solar panels or just continue as is and not worry about?
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Post by tattoo on Sept 7, 2018 21:07:27 GMT
How are your batteries? What's the resting voltage with no load??? Have you checked the water in the battery lately???
If the above checks out ok then..... I would say the Wanderer isn't fixed. I wouldn't just turn off the panels that's why you have them to use them..... It sounds like it's stuck in Eq if it's capable to do so... If I were you I'd send it back for a different one.... But wait until you hear back from Renogy here on the forum.... This would be the best place to resolve your problem... |
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Post by bighatnohorse on Sept 7, 2018 22:39:09 GMT
Batteries are two years old. Water level is still good. Resting voltage is 12.9 twenty-four hours after disconnecting panels. The system has four 100-watt Renogy panels.
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Post by tattoo on Sept 7, 2018 22:50:52 GMT
With those readings I say it's the CC... I would up grade to a 40a CC but lets see what Renogy has to say.... They have the last word in a return...
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Post by Admin on Sept 8, 2018 0:55:47 GMT
I posted a problem about a Wanderer 30amp controller "over-charging" on the old forum. The controller was still within the one year warranty and I was instructed to send it back for testing. I sent it back. In the meantime I used a Wind n Sea controller which performed as advertised (but it doesn't have the automated features of the Wanderer). After I got the Wanderer back from repair it seemed to work okay but still charged a little on the high side. I left the solar panels switched off for a month and it resumed charging at 15.5 volts I now find that it is "waking up" in each morning and will charge up to 15.5 volts. This afternoon I checked it again and it was charging at 15.6 to 15.7 volts. If I disconnect the solar panels and run the on-board generator, it will charge at 14.4 volts as expected. Am I cooking my batteries (lead acid) with this Wanderer? Should I turn off the solar panels or just continue as is and not worry about? Attached is the charging profile for the Wanderer. If your battery light is set to flooded is looks as though your Wanderer is equalizing. Any reading on the amperage? Also, how many hours was it potentially equalizing for? What type of batteries are you using (Assuming Flooded and what Ah?) In terms of sending the controller in and receiving a repair, what commentary was provided for you in terms of the repair? Do you have anything else connected on the line that is active besides the Wanderer to your batteries? -Renogy Team Attachments:
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Post by bupkis on Sept 8, 2018 0:56:23 GMT
12v BATTERY voltage @ 15.5 daily? not something I'd want.
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Post by tattoo on Sept 8, 2018 1:13:23 GMT
12v BATTERY voltage @ 15.5 daily? not something I'd want. You got that right.... Not everyday for sure, Hell I don't want that but once every 6 months from what I've read... |
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Post by tattoo on Sept 8, 2018 1:14:52 GMT
Yep like I said above it seems like it's stuck in Eq.....
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Post by bupkis on Sept 8, 2018 1:35:38 GMT
12v BATTERY voltage @ 15.5 daily? not something I'd want. You got that right.... Not everyday for sure, Hell I don't want that but once every 6 months from what I've read... he'd be using lots of water if much power (volts and amps) was going to the batteries, lots of bubbles! I wonder where he is measuring this voltage! |
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Post by tattoo on Sept 8, 2018 1:57:36 GMT
he'd be using lots of water if much power (volts and amps) was going to the batteries, lots of bubbles! I wonder where he is measuring this voltage! Yep that would use a lot of water for sure.....
It makes you wonder where he is checking for sure.... I don't know much about a Wanderer so it might show it up on the screen...
Hope he tells us...
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Post by bighatnohorse on Sept 8, 2018 2:46:00 GMT
I posted a problem about a Wanderer 30amp controller "over-charging" on the old forum. The controller was still within the one year warranty and I was instructed to send it back for testing. I sent it back. In the meantime I used a Wind n Sea controller which performed as advertised (but it doesn't have the automated features of the Wanderer). After I got the Wanderer back from repair it seemed to work okay but still charged a little on the high side. I left the solar panels switched off for a month and it resumed charging at 15.5 volts I now find that it is "waking up" in each morning and will charge up to 15.5 volts. This afternoon I checked it again and it was charging at 15.6 to 15.7 volts. If I disconnect the solar panels and run the on-board generator, it will charge at 14.4 volts as expected. Am I cooking my batteries (lead acid) with this Wanderer? Should I turn off the solar panels or just continue as is and not worry about? Attached is the charging profile for the Wanderer. If your battery light is set to flooded is looks as though your Wanderer is equalizing. Any reading on the amperage? Also, how many hours was it potentially equalizing for? What type of batteries are you using (Assuming Flooded and what Ah?) In terms of sending the controller in and receiving a repair, what commentary was provided for you in terms of the repair? Do you have anything else connected on the line that is active besides the Wanderer to your batteries? -Renogy Team I don't have an amp meter attachment. The batteries are flooded lead acid group 29 Interstate deep cycle (I don't remember their amp capacity). Only two items draw any current; 1) the camper's propane/co detector 2) the LED wall mounted voltmeter. I had to pull the fuse on the propane/co detector because it was going into alarm mode from (I believe) the over-voltage condition. Everything else is off. I use two different handheld VOM meters and check voltage at the Wanderer terminals. Both meter readings are identical and match the wall mounted LED volt meter. That is three voltmeters with identical readings. When returned the Wanderer to Renogy for evaluation they had it for a month before I called them to see when if I could get it back. I was given a verbal apology over the phone for their taking so long. But no explanation of what was done. At that point they promptly returned the unit. I reinstalled the Wanderer and it was working better although it seemed to be 1 volt more than previous. 13.2 volts is the normal float charge an it would charge at 13.3 volts At any rate, it is back to it's old tricks of high voltage charging and I'm concerned because it does it everyday. |
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Post by tattoo on Sept 8, 2018 3:10:50 GMT
At any rate, it is back to it's old tricks of high voltage charging and I'm concerned because it does it everyday. At any rate I believe your Wanderer is bad.... Don't use it again as it will ruin your batteries...
It could cause a fire since the voltage keeps going up...
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Post by bupkis on Sept 8, 2018 11:26:37 GMT
bighatnohorse, in the short term you could try setting battery type to GEL (no EQ) or SEALED (lower eq) and see if the voltage comes down.
In the long term you do not want to store your RV with the battery topping off daily @ 15.5, not the end of the world but the lead plates will erode faster and shortenbattery life.
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Post by Admin on Sept 9, 2018 12:50:17 GMT
Attached is the charging profile for the Wanderer. If your battery light is set to flooded is looks as though your Wanderer is equalizing. Any reading on the amperage? Also, how many hours was it potentially equalizing for? What type of batteries are you using (Assuming Flooded and what Ah?) In terms of sending the controller in and receiving a repair, what commentary was provided for you in terms of the repair? Do you have anything else connected on the line that is active besides the Wanderer to your batteries? -Renogy Team I don't have an amp meter attachment. The batteries are flooded lead acid group 29 Interstate deep cycle (I don't remember their amp capacity). Only two items draw any current; 1) the camper's propane/co detector 2) the LED wall mounted voltmeter. I had to pull the fuse on the propane/co detector because it was going into alarm mode from (I believe) the over-voltage condition. Everything else is off. I use two different handheld VOM meters and check voltage at the Wanderer terminals. Both meter readings are identical and match the wall mounted LED volt meter. That is three voltmeters with identical readings. When returned the Wanderer to Renogy for evaluation they had it for a month before I called them to see when if I could get it back. I was given a verbal apology over the phone for their taking so long. But no explanation of what was done. At that point they promptly returned the unit. I reinstalled the Wanderer and it was working better although it seemed to be 1 volt more than previous. 13.2 volts is the normal float charge an it would charge at 13.3 volts At any rate, it is back to it's old tricks of high voltage charging and I'm concerned because it does it everyday. We would recommend talking to Tech Support again and request any notes that have been put in place regarding your case. The controller performance sounds abnormal. -Renogy Team |
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Post by tattoo on Sept 9, 2018 13:26:21 GMT
OP Be sure and let us know if you send it back so others that might have the same problem know what to do...
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