Ctek d250 solar output

[Johndon]

I’ve recently spent a night in the van and noticed leisure battery was low, 12.4v (AGM) I have 180w of solar connected through the ctek and have never had any issues with depleted battery.
On checking the solar input I’m currently fluctuating between 14.5 and 21v OC so all good there. The output however is only showing battery voltage however. This may be normal but I’m sure it used to output in a similar way to the alternator. Ie. Rising to 15v at times to bulk charge.
Can anyone confirm if this is the case as currently it would seem the panel isn’t really charging ( lights on ctek as they should be)
Thanks

 

[Dellmassive]

Assuming you are in n the UK.

That's normal for this time of year... With grey cloudy skys your PV panels will show a voltage.... But will not be able to generate any current as the sunlight is too low.

That means that it will not be enough to charge your battery.

I have 460w on the solar shed and it's not enough to keep the 12v battery charged ( runs led garden lights daily)... So I had to move over to a mains charger and am now ON Grid..

You will need to run the engine for your DC-DC charger or plug in to EHU to charge your LB .

 

[Dellmassive]

Here is the example..

Red is the PV coming from the panel.

Green is going out to the battery. (Ontop of the 2.3A load)

So I'm just powering the load and have 0.1A going into the battery.

.


.

That's from 460w of panels...pro Giving me 2.4A ( 3 Jan 21)

So 160w of panels would give about 1A?

Probably not enough to run your loads .....

.

 

[Johndon]

Here is the example..

Red is the PV coming from the panel.

Green is going out to the battery. (Ontop of the 2.3A load)

So I'm just powering the load and have 0.1A going into the battery.

.
View attachment 140306

.

That's from 460w of panels...pro Giving me 2.4A ( 3 Jan 21)

So 160w of panels would give about 1A?

Probably not enough to run your loads .....

.

Thanks for that very reassuring reply!
I will attach some pics to demonstrate what I’m wrong but you seem to have confirmed what I thought, in that the sunlight just isn’t strong enough to generate enough power to keep battery topped up.
In the summer the battery was fully charged by 9.00am after previous evenings use, however the sun was considerably stronger then!

 

[Johndon]

First two show battery voltage, second show solar input.

 

[Dellmassive]

you can check the current coming from the panel with your meter. . .


remove the PV +IN terminal from the D250se,

then set you meter for DC Amps, (either the 10A port or the mA port)

then put your meter INLINE with the in coming PV POS and the PV +IN terminal.

that way the power will go though the meter so you can test the Amps.

for 160W ill asume around 1.0A ish or 1000mA at this time of year. (assuming your battery isnt 100% SOC so the charger can pass current to the battery)


..





...



10A scale - GREEN
mA scale - BLUE







.





...


if you do it post your results below.


..

 

[Johndon]

you can check the current coming from the panel with your meter. . .


remove the PV +IN terminal from the D250se,

then set you meter for DC Amps, (either the 10A port or the mA port)

then put your meter INLINE with the in coming PV POS and the PV +IN terminal.

that way the power will go though the meter so you can test the Amps.

for 160W ill asume around 1.0A ish or 1000mA at this time of year. (assuming your battery isnt 100% SOC so the charger can pass current to the battery)


..


View attachment 140318


...



10A scale - GREEN
mA scale - BLUE



View attachment 140319



.





...


if you do it post your results below.


..

Things have gotten really odd with this ctek now! I’ve carried out the test for amps today during A bright sunny period. 1.4 amps And 22.3 volts. However, no lights are on. no amber solar light and no amber leisure battery light. However if I turn the van on, the amber alternator light flashes, the amber leisure battery light is solid, and I have 15volts output.
now this is where it gets really odd, once turned off, the solar light comes on briefly then goes off. However once dark the solar light and leisuere battery lights come on?!?! I’m borrowing a friends ctek on Wednesday to swap mine out as I’m convinced it’s gone pop.

 

[oldiebut goodie]

Haven't you set your multimeter incorrectly?
Shouldn't it be black in com(mon) and red in 10A?

 

[Johndon]

Haven't you set your multimeter incorrectly?
Shouldn't it be black in com(mon) and red in 10A?

‍your absolutely right. Fingers crossed for a bright day tomorrow to retest