Roadtrek Zion SRT Solar not charging bateries

[Skipper]

2019 Roadtrek SRT Solar not charging the batteries. Monitor says panels are working but 0 watts going into the batteries. The Van has a epever MPPT controller from the factory. Is there a reset?

[Rlum]

Originally Posted by Skipper

2019 Roadtrek SRT Solar not charging the batteries. Monitor says panels are working but 0 watts going into the batteries. The Van has a epever MPPT controller from the factory. Is there a reset?

Can you get access to the wires into controller. You can always disconnect them for 5 minutes. Also check the voltage from the battery side. Make sure it is reading the correct voltage otherwise charging will not occur.

[mira1]

Hello
I have the same model as you and same year my solar wasn't charging my batteries also,so i check connections at at the charge controller and found one wire was not making good connection as it was not pealed back far enough corected it and reconnected wire to controller and now all ok.
Joe

[Nic7320]

When you test solar panels, reading just the volts can mislead you. A bad connection with high resistance can still put the voltage across the connection, and a high impedance voltmeter won't provide enough load to see there's not enough current available..

WARNING: (THIS ADVICE IS FOR SERIES CONNECTED PANELS LESS THAN 10Amps):
If you measure the short circuit amps, you can see what current the solar panel can provide. This test method only applies to solar panels -- not to other power sources with high current such as batteries, DC chargers or AC outlets in general. Shorting out a solar panel won't actually hurt it since the Isc (short circuit current) and Imppt (normal operation at the maximum power point current) values are so close together. You do have to have an ammeter capable of the Isc value without blowing the its internal fuse..

With parallel connected panels, it's best to isolate them and measure them before the "Wye" combiner, since the currents are much larger once they are combined.

A common failure with MC4 connectors is from tension on the wire pulling the pin out. The teeth on pin can only grip so much before they let go of the plastic housing.

I've discovered bonding failures in flexible panels and and bad MC4 connectors using this test method. Volts looked fine, but the current just wasn't there.

[Skipper]

Thanks to all. I will follow-up. The Mppt is in a small cabinet installed with the wiring away from the opening. Thanks Roadtrek.. this has been redesigned in 2020.

[stevegoldfield]

You don't say whether these are AGMs or Ecotreks. If they are the latter, here is a chart from DS2, the Ecotrek manufacturer, on recovering batteries. You can tell what kind of batteries you have by looking at the label on them. In a 2019, you should have a type L. I'm not saying that this is your issue, but at least it gives you some things to try.

L, L1 or L2 Battery - Low Battery
1. Connect inverter to shore and turn it ON. If no shore is available, you can also start the engine and give it a little gas to rev up
2. Turn ON the low battery’s switch, do this process one battery at a time
3. press the RESET button for 3 seconds (1001, 1002, 1003)
4. Release the RESET button for 3 seconds (1001, 1002, 1003)
5. Continue 3 x 3 for up to 5 minutes non-stop
6. This will force the batteries to stay ON and receive charge
7. Stop after 5 minutes and check if the battery can stay ON by itself
8. If the battery is still low, repeat this procedure
9. Do the same for the other batteries if necessary (one at a time)
This procedure will not work with H batteries or before revisions, for those please follow H recovery procedure.

Reset Recovery Process:
H Battery - Low Battery
1. Connect inverter to shore and turn it ON. If no shore is available, you can also start the engine and give it a little gas to rev up
2. Turn ON the low battery’s switch, do this process one battery at a time
3. Press the RESET button for 5 minutes without releasing
4. Release the RESET button for 2 minutes
5. Press the RESET button again for 5 minutes without releasing
6. This will force the battery to close contactors and receive charge
7. Stop after 5 minutes and check if the battery can stay ON by itself
8. If the battery is still low, repeat this procedure
9. Do the same for the other batteries if necessary (one at a time)
This procedure will not work on L, L1 or L2 batteries, for those please follow L recovery 3x3 procedure