I recently upgraded to a Victron Energy Smart solar mppt 150/45. I have a 320-watt solar panel that is producing over 30 volts open current, which is way over the 5 volts needed to start the charge controller. However, when I hooked the PV to the charge controller and tested the terminals, the voltage goes down to 13.2, the same as the battery side on the charge controller. The Controller is not “ON”. What do you think could be going on. Could it be another bad charge controller?
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Hi @Scottyh1960
Did you try to connect the solar charge controller with the Victron Connect App with your Smartphone?
Yes
And what values did it show about the Solar Panel?
In the app the Solar voltage is 13.08 and it says the Batt. is 13.20
0.0 amps
The solar voltage is too low.
Did you tried to messure it at the Terminals with a DVM?
Yes. The open voltage is over 30v (with it disconnected from the Charge Controller)
Seams that there is something wrong with there..
Polarity is OK_
I believe so. Red to + Black to -
Mine shows 0 watts. PV voltage on the roof is around 30v. Open current by the controller is around 30v. Its when I put the wires into the Controller that things go bad. Goes down to 13.1v
Do you have a laboratory power supply?
Apply 24V, 1A, direct to the pv inputs, for example; the solar controller must work with this.
It sounds like a poor connection somewhere in your PV wiring. You test with a multimeter and see 30V, but at that stage it is not pulling any current so poor connection has no effect. Once you connect to the MPPT and it tries to draw current, the voltage at the end of the wires collapses due to the high resistance of the poor connection and voltage drop. A broken panel could also do this. Have you tried a short circuit current measurement if your Multimeter can handle the Isc of the panel.
Im not sure HOW to test the panel with my Multimeter.
Yes. that is on.
You lost me on that one. Laboratory Power Supply?
Not easier than that…
Something like this
