Solar stops charging even when it says "Charging-Strong Charge" in Furrion app

[StuffHappens]

I've searched the forum but I'm coming up empty on this particular issue.
I have a 2024 Reflection 150 with the MPPT-60A and the 180W panel.

It never has acted as if it properly charges the battery even when there is little to no load (camper just sitting with everything off). The front panel of the MPPT shows the fast blinking green light after a reset, which according to the manual means it's charging the battery. The battery light is solid amber, which according to the manual means it's connected and okay. In good sunlight it shows about 22V and when charging shows it is delivering about 5.4A.

If I disconnect the battery from the charger and disconnect the solar panel, then reconnect everything then it does go into charging mode and increases the battery voltage up over 14V, then it will go to float charge (slow blink) and for the next few days the battery voltage just slowly drops while the app and the panel show charging is occurring.

The electrolyte level in the batter is still at the top and the battery charges up just fine if I connect to shore power. The battery runs the jacks and slides when we get to a site before hooking up to shore power so I don't think there's a bad cell.

If I leave it off shore power at home with nothing on in the camper other than the parasitic drains the battery just slowly discharges about 1/10V a day even though the Furrion Controller app shows that it is "Charging". All the menu items look correct. If I leave it off shore power even when there's good sunlight most days the battery drops below 12V in a little over a week.

Any suggestions?

 

[Riverbug]

The usual suspects related to the Furrion controller are to make sure the wiring is connected correctly at the controller. Otherwise, they just have issues. Many, many people (me included) have just abandoned the Furrion and replaced with something else (often Victron) and never have another issue. Personally, that would be my suggestion. And while you're at it, put a cutoff breaker between the panels and controller, assuming you don't have one from the factory.

Good luck!

 

[jkwilson]

What are the actual voltage levels and what kind of battery?

It would be perfectly normal for battery voltage on a lead-acid to drop from around 14.6V to somewhere between 13,3 and 12.65V over a few days after the charger goes to float mode. It is also perfectly normal for a charging system to raise the voltage after a reset. This applies to a shore power system or solar.

 

[StuffHappens]

What are the actual voltage levels and what kind of battery?

It would be perfectly normal for battery voltage on a lead-acid to drop from around 14.6V to somewhere between 13,3 and 12.65V over a few days after the charger goes to float mode. It is also perfectly normal for a charging system to raise the voltage after a reset. This applies to a shore power system or solar.

The battery voltage simply continues to drop and never rises after removing it from shore power. The Solar controller thinks charging is occurring. After a few days the controller seems to suck all the power out of the battery and it drops to 4V.

I've emailed Furrion support. They automatically create tickets but never respond to them. My dealer wants me to tow it in but they are always 3 months backed up on appointments.

It's frustrating that the Furrion equipment is such junk.

 

[Soundsailor]

Have you checked the polarity of the connections from the controller to the battery with a meter? As @Riverbug mentioned above, there have been many reports on this forum of the polarity being wrong coming from the factory. What kind of battery do you have? If it's the LA that many dealers install, repeated discharges may have damaged it. If possible, have the battery load tested.

 

[StuffHappens]

Have you checked the polarity of the connections from the controller to the battery with a meter? As @Riverbug mentioned above, there have been many reports on this forum of the polarity being wrong coming from the factory. What kind of battery do you have? If it's the LA that many dealers install, repeated discharges may have damaged it. If possible, have the battery load tested.

The wiring is correct. I've witnessed the controller charging the battery previously but it now just thinks it's charging when it's not. Some circuit in the controller has failed that doesn't show a fault. Multiple resets have not resolved it. The controller correctly identifies the battery as wet cell (LIQD) in the display and the voltages are all "configured" properly. It just doesn't work. I don't boondock. I just need it to keep the battery charged when the camper is sitting off-mains so when we go to hook-up it isn't dead and I can operate the jacks.

The battery operates the jacks and slides fine when it's charged so it doesn't have a bad cell. It charges up fine on shore power and electrolyte level has not required topping. It's less than a year old.

 

[Soundsailor]

It sounds like the controller has failed. I'd suggest a Victron, you'll be glad you did.

 

[StuffHappens]

My dealer claims they have to keep the camper to "test" the charging circuit. Appointments are months out which would place it past the warranty. On a support call to Lippert this morning, I talked through the troubleshooting I had performed with the customer support representative. He agreed it is a bad controller but will not do a warranty exchange without a technician first performing a test, then if found defective return to install a new module. I could pay a mobile tech to come out twice but that would exceed the cost of a new controller and I'd still end up with a likely sub-par controller.

So I ordered a Victron controller from Amazon.

I truly wish the RV industry cared about their customers past the point of sale.

 

[Riverbug]

My dealer claims they have to keep the camper to "test" the charging circuit. Appointments are months out which would place it past the warranty. On a support call to Lippert this morning, I talked through the troubleshooting I had performed with the customer support representative. He agreed it is a bad controller but will not do a warranty exchange without a technician first performing a test, then if found defective return to install a new module. I could pay a mobile tech to come out twice but that would exceed the cost of a new controller and I'd still end up with a likely sub-par controller.

So I ordered a Victron controller from Amazon.

I truly wish the RV industry cared about their customers past the point of sale.

In the end, I think you'll be happier. Just set it and forget it. But it sucks that we have to switch out various things in these RVs to get something of better quality.

 

[BoredWeasel]

The problem is lippert.

I wish grand design would get out of bed with them and buy better components for less money, lets not talk about the frame issue, cough cough. My example is the lippert/furrion solar panel which is $750 for a single 130 watts, for comparison you could get about 720 watts at 24 volt renogy for $629, priced on amazon today..

Same for the furrion 12 volt fridge, you can get a better fridge for less money.

 

[StuffHappens]

The problem is lippert.

I wish grand design would get out of bed with them and buy better components for less money, lets not talk about the frame issue, cough cough. My example is the lippert/furrion solar panel which is $750 for a single 130 watts, for comparison you could get about 720 watts at 24 volt renogy for $629, priced on amazon today..

Same for the furrion 12 volt fridge, you can get a better fridge for less money.

We had a Dometic 12v in the last camper and it wouldn't keep food below 45f in the fridge. The current Furion fridge at least keeps food cold.

 

[StuffHappens]

I installed the victron charge controller after work. It has such a nice app compared to furion's app.

There wasn't much light left but it did raise the battery voltage before it got too dim.

I'm going to take the furion charge controller to my dealer for them to test it. They said it'll probably be replaced. I guess I'll sell the replacement to recoup some of what I just spent.