Solar Charging Problem October 04, 2025, 09:41:40 am Just returned home from Pismo and, while camping, had a problem with the solar not charging the batteries. Noticed the problem by looking at the Victron app and the battery BMS app. The problem was fixed by pulling and reinstalling the 15 amp solar fuse at the power center. But, then it occurred a second time - fixed it again by the same method. What would cause this?Edit: This is a 30 amp fuse, not a 15 amp as labeled by the factory. Now I’m wondering if my solar installer changed it? Also, the mini fuses I have, have shorter blades than the one installed so I need to order the proper length. What are the longer fuses called?
Re: Batter Charging Problem Reply #1 – October 04, 2025, 01:01:50 pm If a 30-amp fuse is blowing, there is a short or something in the controller that has gone south.Check the solar controllers' connection terminals.AFAIK, there is only one size of Mini-fuse; the longer 'legs' should not be an issue. I have never seen a Mini with such short legs.Larry
Re: Batter Charging Problem Reply #2 – October 04, 2025, 01:17:00 pm Hi Greg, you made me have to look it up with Google: automotive fuse types - Google Search I was unaware of the micro ATM fuses. I believe that you have the low profile mini. The standard mini has the longer legs When you take an unreferenced picture put a ruler or penny in the picture). Green is the standard color for the 30Amp rating. If the fuses didn't 'blow', why does the one on the left look melted? I know in my fuse panel the fuses (Mini ATC) are spaced far enough apart to not melt. Was this one mounted in line by wire with a snap over cover to keep the heat in? I don't have factory (Lazy Daze) installed fuses except for the under hood CB and radio fuses which are glass tubular fuses from the 'olden' days. I did buy a box of spare fuses (Amazon) which did come with many fuses I have no use for. Amazon.com: 304Pcs Car Fuses Assortment Kit Include Standard & Small & Mini... I figure those as spares for my more modern cars. I don't have any ATM micro, low profile fuses yet (that I know of). RonB edit: my newest car of the six is almost 11 years old... As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Batter Charging Problem Reply #3 – October 04, 2025, 01:19:05 pm Larry, these are the fuses I have with the short legs. I’m guessing the “low profile” accounts for the shorter legs. The fuse isn’t blowing, per se, otherwise resetting it in the holder wouldn’t fix it, correct? Wondering if I should replace the fuse holder also?Ron, I think that’s just the photo, it looks fine in person. One thing I just noticed is that the fuse holder and fuse are very warm to the touch (actively charging right now). Also, looks like the low profile fuses do work in the holder but I think I should get the longer ones. Updated photo added for reference.
Re: Battery Charging Problem Reply #4 – October 04, 2025, 01:48:50 pm Hi Greg; I think I also have that exact same box of Mohize fuses. The longer legs have more surface area and more mass, but they are huge compared to the part of the fuse that is supposed to overheat and 'blow'. So either size fuse should work fine. If it was your photo, and the old fuse isn't melted and is still good, Then why did your solar quit charging, and why did it restart when you put in a new (even if it was a smaller physical size) fuse. If that fuse is in a confined space, make sure that there isn't something wrong with the holder, and unpack the wiring a little to see if there is something else going on. If the installer changed to a larger size fuse, he did increase the amount of PV panels, but that would only affect the controller. Is this fuse where the controller connects into the battery bank? The Blue Sky Energy R3000i might have shut down if it got too warm internally, and was waiting to cool down before resuming operation. Removing and replacing that fuse may have just reset the BSE controller a bit early. RonB
Re: Battery Charging Problem Reply #5 – October 04, 2025, 02:09:27 pm Hey Ron. This is the inline fuse for the BlueSky controller (I think- the one with the black label attached). When the fuse is pulled, the BlueSky’s display goes dark. To clarify, the batteries started charging after “resetting” the same fuse that was in the holder (not a new fuse). BTW, it failed again this morning at home and started working again after pulling it out and putting it back into the holder (same fuse).Edit: Just did a continuity test on the “bad” fuse and it checks OK.
Re: Battery Charging Problem Reply #6 – October 04, 2025, 06:47:08 pm Hi Greg, When you say it quits charging, what level of charge are the batteries at? I had this problem when I first started using my LiF batteries at 9:00 in the morning. As it turned out the batteries were at 100% and quit accepting power. The SB3000i just turned off the PV panels at that time. After the batteries got down a bit they would turn back on, and charging would resume. Pulling the fuse would reset the SB3000i. At power up it would try to charge the batteries until it realized that the batteries were still full. Do you have an estimate of what level the batteries charge level is when it quits charging? About how long does it take? Did you say that the R3000i display turns off as it quits charging the batteries? Or just when you pull the fuse. We are in data collection mode to better define the problem. RonB
Re: Battery Charging Problem Reply #7 – October 04, 2025, 07:40:28 pm Ron, the batteries were around 80% our first morning camping and never charged that day. I didn’t notice it as I typically leave the BlueSky display off but that will change now. When I went to turn the display on it was dark. So I then pulled the fuse out and put it back in (same fuse) and the display came back and the batteries started charging. This happened the next morning as well, then again this morning at home. I have now replaced the old 30A fuse with a new, low-profile 30A fuse. Seems to be working ok so far but I’ll be monitoring things more closely now. I did place an Amazon order for the standard length mini fuses, and some new fuse holders, just in case.
Re: Battery Charging Problem Reply #8 – October 06, 2025, 04:39:15 am Hi Greg; "turn the display on it was dark" I can hit the button on mine until the red digits are off, but other lights like the Aux stay on green. The charge status 'Float' should always be on, green light, if there is sun. That is the status of the controller, not related to whether anything is accepting the charge. Did the controller not start displaying voltage or current, or the third position switching between charge voltage and charge current, alternating? My SB3000i was purchased from a person with a 2015 LD, after he went with a Victron controller and 800 watts of PV panels. So my 2015 model should be pretty close to what your 2017 has. On occasion my batteries (two S.O.K. 206's) act as if they aren't there. But if anything is drawing just a little power they come back to life... the voltage display on the 3000i jumps up a bit. My bats are too old to have internal bluetooth. I suspect the internal BMS' are balancing cells every few days when in a low usage steady rate. Supposedly just for a few minutes. The manual for your batteries may shed light on this issue. 80% charge is a good level for storing a battery. Maybe they went into storage mode if idle long enough. Next time this happens, turn on something substantial (3-5 amps, a few lights, etc. ) and see if the batteries 'wake up' and the solar charger starts flowing current. (would need sunlight), It might take a few minutes for the controller to notice. If the batteries idle voltage is higher than the SB3000i is set for, they may have to dip below your 3000i set voltage before the controller notices that they need charging. RonB
Re: Battery Charging Problem Reply #9 – October 06, 2025, 11:27:02 am Hi again, Ron. I don't think the other green LED's were lit but not 100% sure on that. The issue has not reoccurred since replacing the "longer leg" fuse with the shorter one. I should receive the proper length fuse (and new holder) from Amazon today. My thought now is that the old fuse was not making good contact in the holder for some reason but I'll continue to monitor the system. The two lithium batteries are 99.5% charged as of this morning.Are there any concerns with pulling and replacing that fuse while the panels are charging the batteries?
Re: Battery Charging Problem Reply #10 – October 06, 2025, 01:49:52 pm A suggestion for the moderators: "Battery Charging Problem" is a very broad title. If this topic were called "Solar charging problem", it would be more likely to be found in future by people who were having problems with their solar charging systems.
Re: Battery Charging Problem Reply #11 – October 06, 2025, 02:28:23 pm Quote from: Andy Baird - October 06, 2025, 01:49:52 pmA suggestion for the moderators: "Battery Charging Problem" is a very broad title. If this topic were called "Solar charging problem", it would be more likely to be found in future by people who were having problems with their solar charging systems.Thanks, Andy. I changed the topic line.
Re: Solar Charging Problem Reply #12 – October 06, 2025, 04:30:47 pm Hi Greg; Thanks Andy for the idea of making it easier to reference this topic in the future. It's not impossible that the fuse could be opening up with a little heat and then resealing closed when cold. I'm not sure how these are constructed. They are heat operated devices. Changing to a different fuse is a good move. More likely an inspection of the fuse holder could reveal a problem with that fuse shape. I would naturally go for the longer legged ATC mini, instead of the low profile one if I had a choice. I can't see my 3000i from where I sleep. I placed mine near the coach door, with a deep and large volume of air behind it where the cab door aft frame is. The fire extinguisher is mounted inset into that area at the bottom, so it could be removed to facilitate getting the wires for the 3000i up into that area. It also is visible from the back dinette seat so that I can watch the charging status. I don't turn it on or off, it does it's thing unobtrusively. I leave it in the voltage & current mode alternating. My BalMar meter is where the temperature gauge used to be on the display panel, next to the microwave, and if I wanted I could watch 'solar current' coming in if I left it in that mode. It dims out after a few minutes. RonB
Re: Solar Charging Problem Reply #13 – October 06, 2025, 05:43:09 pm I recently installed a Victron Battery Monitor so I could see the recent history of charging current, state of charge, charging voltage, and other parameters, as the 3000i lacks such history storage. That history might inform more definite theories as to the source of your charging issue. The recorded history is a “nice-to-have” rather than a “have to have” feature but I don’t like nagging mysteries. Other good battery monitors might have recording, but my Magnum Energy BMK lacks it, hence adding the Victron. I chose the Victron after reading multiple endorsements here on LDOF. The Magnum and the Victron can share the same current measurement shunt.
Re: Solar Charging Problem Reply #14 – October 06, 2025, 06:22:24 pm I have seen several mini fuse holders go bad, where the fuse holder’s terminals fail to contact the fuse’s leg. Replacing the fuse holder is a good idea.Larry
Topic: Solar Charging Problem (Read 900 times)
previous topic - next topic
Topic: Solar Charging Problem (Read 900 times)
previous topic - next topic