800.261.3602
Revised 07/18
Trouble Shooting Tips
Problem:
The SunExplorer III display is blank and there are no LEDs lit.
Solution:
Check the Fuse in the Battery (positive) wire at the battery to see if it has blown.
Recommend using a multi meter to Ohm the fuse. If the fuse is good then check the battery
voltage at the battery and at the Controllers b terminal, they should be the same, above
8.0VDC. If the battery voltage is below 7.5VDC the controller will not function. Make sure the
polarity is correct as positive to positive. If there is no voltage reading at the controller battery
terminals, the problem is in the wiring between the battery and the controller. Check ALL
connections from the controller to the battery terminals. Check that ALL connections are clean,
tight and secure. If you haven’t greased the connections, it is Recommended that all power
connections between solar panels to controller to batteries be greased with NoALOX 0.5oz.
Problem:
The SunExplorer III controller is always in night mode, even though it is a bright
sunny day. Green LED blinks once every 10 seconds.
Solution:
Using the SunExplorer III’s display scroll down to Solar panel voltage, if the solar
panel voltage is less than the minimum required voltage to charge the batteries it will display
“Lpu” low panel voltage.
Check to see if something is covering or blocking the sun light from reaching the solar panels.
Check to make sure the panels are not too dirty to supply a high enough voltage for the controller
to go into charge mode. If you fused the positive wire from the solar panels, check to see that the
fuse is good. If the fuse is good, then measure the solar voltage at the controller PV terminals, it
should be greater than 16.0VDC. If you don’t have a voltage present, then check each solar panel
to make sure they are producing a voltage. If you have multiple panels disconnect one at a time
and measure its output voltage, it only takes one shorted solar panel to bring the whole system
down.
Problem:
The SunExplorer III’s battery voltage reading is different from what I’m reading with
my multi meter.
Solution:
The SunExplorer III’s reads both the battery voltage and solar panel voltage every
second to know the true battery voltage (without being pulled up while being charged, and the
open solar collector voltage to know what the voltage the panels are producing to know when to
charge or shut down for the night. Battery voltage should be within 0.2VDC of the battery voltage
when not charging.
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