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Solar Panel/Controller Question

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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Initially Posted - 02/06/2006 : 06:47:57

Let me start off by saying - I sold my motor ! Inundated with calls and EMails because I let it go for a real low price - $175 1994 Honda 4-Stroke. But the motor had electrical issues and unless someone was capable of doing the work themselves, the estimates from the Honda mechanic was unbelievably expensive. Sold it to a guy that had experience with working on engines and he has a 21' Balboa sailboat.

When the motor was removed off my boat, I noticed the solar panel controller stopped displaying. It is as though the juice was turned off. I have the solar controller for right now hooked up thru the 12V Accessory plug which is wired thru my battery switch (2 batteries). The only change to the circuitry was that the wires that went to the motor are now dangling. I wrapped up the positive terminal with an insulation boot and so there is no short circuit. The only thing I can think of is that somehow there is an open circuit or that the solar controller only measure the battery voltage when there is a supposed load against the terminals like the motor ? The accessory plug has a fuse in it and there is a little green LED on the plug indicating the plug is okay.

I may try hooking up the solar controller positive lead to the positive motor wire lead and then the controller negative lead to a battery negative lead. that way the solar controller would still be going thru the battery switch but maybe that path would have different results ? The wires are all jumbled from the old switch panel and so i do not think i could draw/skecth out the circuitry. All I know is that it was working and now it is not. I know that the solar controller will not work if it is not hooked into the accessory plug and so right now, that is same symptom now that the motor was taken off.

Any clues why the solar controller display is now off ?

Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 02/06/2006 : 19:42:42

The problem was a simple one. I failed to notice that when I disconnected the motor wires and replaced the cushions, that one of the solar controller wires that goes to the 12 volt accessory plug disconnected and was lodged under a cushion. Reconnected it and the contoller digital display kicked in again.