Greetings,
Am looking at a 2006 MB. The HPV-22 monitor indicates -50.8. What does this mean?
Assuming the HPV-22 still functions, the battery may be discharged 50.8 amp/hours out of the 110 usable amp/hours.
Larry
Does this charge controller also work as a battery monitor?
Steve
Hi Fastrabbit; Welcome to the Club. I've never had a HPV-22, or actually 'fooled' around with one. The display is supposed to show the house battery voltage. So my first guess would be that it is disconnected, and it is just randomly showing a voltage floating around in the air. Modern electronics is sensitive enough for that.
So is there a house battery installed, and do the lights, water pump, and other 'house' amenities work? When the motorhome is plugged in to shore power, is there still working lights? Do the house batteries take a charge? Are the solar panels still there and connected?
A little more information about the condition and status of a 18 year old motorhome would help. RonB
edit: I did find this old article from a Motorhome Magazine about the newer version 30A controller, with comments about the older 22 Amp version. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://vrcamping.com/_doc/articles/interet_general/electricite/solaire/solar_panel.pdf
The Heliotrope HPV-22 was an old MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) solar controller--one of the first to have that desirable feature, I believe. The company is no longer in business, but there's an article about this unit (https://lazydazearticles.blogspot.com/2011/06/hpv-22hpv-22b-solar-controllers.html) in our Lazy Daze Companion.
As Ron said, it can display the battery voltage, but that's not an accurate way of knowing your batteries' state of charge. For that, you need a battery monitor such as Victron's BMV-712 (https://www.amazon.com/Victron-BMV-712-Battery-Monitor-Black/dp/B084M2XYK4) (with display) or SmartShunt (https://www.amazon.com/Victron-SmartShunt-500AMP-Bluetooth-Battery/dp/B0856PHNLX) (Bluetooth only, uses phone or computer app).
The machine is not in my vicinity so I am unable to perform any of the other troubleshooting suggestions at this time. Never dealt with a charge controller before. I do appreciate all the replies!
Andy B! Have followed you since I bought an '86 23' Rear Lounge in 2000! Moved into a 1999 33' National Seabreeze in 2007 and am considering coming back to the LD world.
John