UPDATE:
Over the last couple of months, I did more testing. I was able to determine that the current flow into and out of the battery was acting the way one would expect. With no shore power and no solar (I covered the panel) and fans and lights on, the battery voltage gradually decreased.
With the panel uncovered (& sun) and the loads turned off, the battery voltage increased. I did a similar test to determine that shore power properly recharged the battery too. Although I already knew that was working.
I then purchased a clamp on DC ammeter. (~ $100) and ran similar tests. Now I could confirm that the current was flowing in the right direction and in reasonable amperage.
Clearly there was something wrong with the battery monitor system (meter, shunt or cable).
I went multiple rounds with GD and with Furrion. Neither were able to provide any useful help at all. It seems that none of the tech support people have even basic understanding of electricity.
GD was at least responsive (Furrion was less than useless and stopped communicating altogether. I was nice, honestly.) GD finally agreed to send me a new battery monitor system, after my fifth request.
I swapped out the components one at a time.
It turned out that one of the connections in the cable (obviously the one for current sensing) was open. I should have tested it earlier as I did think it was one of the possibilities.
So problem solved. Unfortunately I had to do all of the troubleshooting myself.
Now I can go forward with adding lithium batteries and perhaps additional solar panels. So I’ll be back!
———————————————————————————————————————
I have a 2023 GD2670MK, with a factory installed 165W solar panel, a Furrion MPPT Solar Charge Controller and a Furrion HP Battery Monitor.
Over the last few weeks while on the road, I have been checking the battery monitor as a way to try to quantify what the solar panel is contributing to my power. I find that the meter always shows approximately -2 amps. This is the case wether it is sunny or dark; we are on shore power or running off of batteries; battery disconnect switch on or off. I have even shut off the 12 V refrigerator. It changes a few tenths of an amp, but stays right around -2 amps.
I would expect to see more variation in the readings.
Can anyone give me an idea if this is normal?
I could use some guidance on ow to go about evaluating the performance of this system.
Over the last couple of months, I did more testing. I was able to determine that the current flow into and out of the battery was acting the way one would expect. With no shore power and no solar (I covered the panel) and fans and lights on, the battery voltage gradually decreased.
With the panel uncovered (& sun) and the loads turned off, the battery voltage increased. I did a similar test to determine that shore power properly recharged the battery too. Although I already knew that was working.
I then purchased a clamp on DC ammeter. (~ $100) and ran similar tests. Now I could confirm that the current was flowing in the right direction and in reasonable amperage.
Clearly there was something wrong with the battery monitor system (meter, shunt or cable).
I went multiple rounds with GD and with Furrion. Neither were able to provide any useful help at all. It seems that none of the tech support people have even basic understanding of electricity.
GD was at least responsive (Furrion was less than useless and stopped communicating altogether. I was nice, honestly.) GD finally agreed to send me a new battery monitor system, after my fifth request.
I swapped out the components one at a time.
It turned out that one of the connections in the cable (obviously the one for current sensing) was open. I should have tested it earlier as I did think it was one of the possibilities.
So problem solved. Unfortunately I had to do all of the troubleshooting myself.
Now I can go forward with adding lithium batteries and perhaps additional solar panels. So I’ll be back!
———————————————————————————————————————
I have a 2023 GD2670MK, with a factory installed 165W solar panel, a Furrion MPPT Solar Charge Controller and a Furrion HP Battery Monitor.
Over the last few weeks while on the road, I have been checking the battery monitor as a way to try to quantify what the solar panel is contributing to my power. I find that the meter always shows approximately -2 amps. This is the case wether it is sunny or dark; we are on shore power or running off of batteries; battery disconnect switch on or off. I have even shut off the 12 V refrigerator. It changes a few tenths of an amp, but stays right around -2 amps.
I would expect to see more variation in the readings.
Can anyone give me an idea if this is normal?
I could use some guidance on ow to go about evaluating the performance of this system.
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