Resolved: Furrion MPPT Solar Charge Controller Fault

[Sam_Frodo]

Our new 2910BH Imagine was not charging the battery from solar. The 25A MPPT Solar Charge Controller had a red light in the power indicator and the appropriate battery light.

The MPPT Solar Charge Controller had a red fault light. It was explained to us that the red light means it’s working during our walkthrough, however the manual states that a red light means fault.

I was able to determine that the charge controller was not wired correctly. The leads from the solar panels were landed on the battery terminals, and the leads connecting the battery were landed on the solar terminals. While troubleshooting this the ground terminal lug was also not tightened satisfactorily, and the ground wire was not retained.

1. Disconnected from Shore Power
2. Unscrewed the charge controller from the mounting location
3. Slid off the wall mount, the terminals stay connected to the wires and slide out of the bottom of the charge controller. This allowed access to the terminals for using the probes on the multi-meter.
4. The leads from the panels and the wires connecting the battery were the same color and type.
5. Disconnecting from the battery allowed to ensure that the the 13.8 volts on the battery leads went to zero,confirming the leads connecting to the battery.
6. The solar panel was outputting around just over 20 volts in the shade, since everything else was disconnected, it was clear these were the panels.
7. The charge controller was slid back into the bracket and seated well
8. Placing the solar leads into the charge controller solar terminals (the bracket is marked for where they go and also reflected on the wiring diagram in the manual), and putting the battery on the correct terminals.
9. The ground wire was placed into the terminal and the terminal lug tightened
10. The charge controller and bracket was mounted back at the mounting location
    

Ultimately, this work allowed the charge controller to start working and post a green LED on the power indicator.

I took some photos but since all the wires are the same color except for the bare copper ground wire, there is not much to look at. I am posting this in the event that someone else has an issue with a new charge controller on a new camper… to take a multi-meter, your manual, and 20 minutes and you can save yourself a trip to the dealership.

 

[Soundsailor]

Thanks for posting this [MENTION=53850]Sam_Frodo[/MENTION], hopefully, it will help someone with a similar problem. When confronted with a problem like this, too often we fail to consider the obvious, that it was installed incorrectly. Kudos to you for getting it straight.

 

[kellydv1960]

Thank you for posting this. I was puzzled why nothing is working on my Imagine xls 23lde and the controller light is red, thinking there was no way they could have messed this up at the factory but I was wrong!

 

[Mike_USA]

[MENTION=53850]Sam_Frodo[/MENTION], I’ve got an issue with mine being faulted and can’t change battery type.

Is the picture here about the same thing you were seeing?

 

[kellydv1960]

I also found the battery wires were reversed. Thank you!

 

[Mike_USA]

As a follow up…. The battery wires were reversed. Swapped + & - around for the battery and I’m up and running…

 

[mtidwell]

Same as [MENTION=56875]Mike_USA[/MENTION], my battery + and - were reversed. Seems like a chronic factory install problem!

 

[Fuster102]

Solar system

As a follow up…. The battery wires were reversed. Swapped + & - around for the battery and I’m up and running…

Mike my 2023 imagine is hooked up the same way only they didn’t use a red and black wire they used all yellow or yellow w/green tracers. I don’t have a picture right now of the wiring but as soon as I get the trailer I’ll snap a shot of the wiring. When I pulled the mppt 25A off the bulkhead I tested the wires that way and everything is dead. Not sure which wire is from the solar panel or which is from the battery. Where your yellow w/ green tracer is hooked that’s where my yellow wire is hook and the yellow w/green tracer is where your yellow wire is hooked. Any suggestions

 

[Redapple63]

Mike my 2023 imagine is hooked up the same way only they didn’t use a red and black wire they used all yellow or yellow w/green tracers. I don’t have a picture right now of the wiring but as soon as I get the trailer I’ll snap a shot of the wiring. When I pulled the mppt 25A off the bulkhead I tested the wires that way and everything is dead. Not sure which wire is from the solar panel or which is from the battery. Where your yellow w/ green tracer is hooked that’s where my yellow wire is hook and the yellow w/green tracer is where your yellow wire is hooked. Any suggestions

Here is what I would do…

Disconnect all the wires from the MPPT
Using a multimeter connect the neg lead to a good ground source
Then successively connect the post lead of the multimeter to each of the wires
One wire will return your battery voltage
One wire will return your solar voltage
Now you need to test the other two to determine which ground they belong to battery or panel
Now connect each known pos to your multimeter and test each of the other wires one at a time
One wire will bring back a voltage based on that voltage number you know know the pairs
Mark em and connect ‘em

Bill

 

[Fuster102]

Thanks Bill I’ll try that next

 

[Bill NC]

My just purchased 2023 21BHE also had the solar charge controller wired backwards. I'm not familiar with the little square metal female connection points on the controller. Can I re-wire it without taking removing it from the pass-through ceiling? Do the wire ends just pull out and push in if given enough force?

 

[gchalifoux]

Folks, new to this forum. My brand new 22mle (2024) has this exact problem.
Need some clarification. Are the red and black wires for charging OUT to the battery? and are the yellow and yellow/green in FROM the solar panel(s).??
I used my multimeter to check for voltage by inserting the probes into the black and red first and get 0.00 power. Also the same for the yellow and yellow/green and get 0.00 power. I guess I need to verify a couple things? 1. is there a blown fuse somewhere? preventing this system from working in general? or am I also looking at a simple reversed wire issue. I would have "assumed" that reversed would at least indicate power with a "-" minus sign next to the voltage reading on the meter...but to see 0.00 leaves me baffled.
pics of my wires to the MPPT below;

 

[gchalifoux]

Hi Bill, Gary here....
Can you assist with my testing. I read your post above about how to go about testing the wires to the MPPT and I have a few questions.
1. do I disconnect the battery before testing (I assume not given you are testing battery voltage) and 2. looks like the solar panel is "live" and not covered like some people have done while testing, so you can confirm solar panel output/voltage. How am I doing so far?
Now...I'm trying to determine which lugs are for the battery, and which are for the solar panel connections to the controller, or does it matter?? the owners/users guide for the MPPT indicates that the first 2 lugs closest to the ground lug, are for the + and - of the solar panel?? and the next 2 ports are for the battery? + and - ?? does this make a difference?
see pic below for current wiring with RED led lit. Note first 2 ports labled SOLAR (I'm assuming these should have the pos and neg wires coming in from the solar panel to the controller connected there. And the next two ports labeled 25A, not sure what that means? but assuming out to the battery??

 

[gchalifoux]

Here is what I would do…

Disconnect all the wires from the MPPT
Using a multimeter connect the neg lead to a good ground source
Then successively connect the post lead of the multimeter to each of the wires
One wire will return your battery voltage
One wire will return your solar voltage
Now you need to test the other two to determine which ground they belong to battery or panel
Now connect each known pos to your multimeter and test each of the other wires one at a time
One wire will bring back a voltage based on that voltage number you know know the pairs
Mark em and connect ‘em

Bill

UPDATE*** Bill?
I just went out and managed to get some readings with my multimeter.
The RED/which is connected to the port labeled solar reads 33.1V which I assume is voltage coming in from the solar panel.
The BLACK right next to it reads 12.9
The YELLOW connected to the pos. port labeled 25A reads 0.00
The YELLOW/GREEN connected to the neg port of the 25A reads 12.9

So I am assuming from these readings that the solar into the controller is correctly wired. But something about that YELLOW reading 0.00 which I assume is for the connection to the battery is funky? blown fuse or ? ?
thanks for any helpful hints you can provide.
Gary

 

[gchalifoux]

UPDATE*** Bill?
I just went out and managed to get some readings with my multimeter.
The RED/which is connected to the port labeled solar reads 33.1V which I assume is voltage coming in from the solar panel.
The BLACK right next to it reads 12.9
The YELLOW connected to the pos. port labeled 25A reads 0.00
The YELLOW/GREEN connected to the neg port of the 25A reads 12.9

So I am assuming from these readings that the solar into the controller is correctly wired. But something about that YELLOW reading 0.00 which I assume is for the connection to the battery is funky? blown fuse or ? ?
thanks for any helpful hints you can provide.
Gary

OK problem solved, Like many before me, that you very freakin much Grand Design for Xross wiring my solar charge controller. Traced pos wire to the controoler, which was connected to the neg port, and same with the neg connected to the pos port on the controller. Reversed and back in charging business.
thanks for those that go before me....
g

 

[Soundsailor]

OK problem solved, Like many before me, that you very freakin much Grand Design for Xross wiring my solar charge controller. Traced pos wire to the controoler, which was connected to the neg port, and same with the neg connected to the pos port on the controller. Reversed and back in charging business.
thanks for those that go before me....
g

Glad you were able to get it figured out. Also, welcome to the forum. Hope you're able to enjoy some camping in the new Imagine.

 

[Bill NC]

Sorry Gary, I just now got a notification that you were looking for help or I would have chimed in.

 

[Bill NC]

By the way, if anyone is looking to upgrade their solar or batteries or install an inverter, or just trying to learn the basics, check out the Explorist.life youtube videos. Really, really helpful. Don't watch too much, though, or the scope of your project will expand very quickly! ha

 

[Sailor Bob]

Same as [MENTION=56875]Mike_USA[/MENTION] and several others, my battery leads were reversed. (the solar panel leads were OK) After pulling the unit and correcting the wiring problem, it works as it should. Thanks to all the earlier posters for the help in diagnosing this problem.

 

[Soundsailor]

Same as [MENTION=56875]Mike_USA[/MENTION] and several others, my battery leads were reversed. (the solar panel leads were OK) After pulling the unit and correcting the wiring problem, it works as it should. Thanks to all the earlier posters for the help in diagnosing this problem.

Glad the site was helpful for you, and welcome to the forum. BTW, those Beneteau 36 sailboats look mighty fast. Do you race?