Hey everyone! I'm having an issue with my basic solar setup at my remote cabin. I have a 100W solar panel, a basic blue charge controller, and a 32Ah lead-acid battery. Since I move the panel daily to charge a few mobile phones and a laptop, it doesn't get much sunlight during the winter months when no one's there. When I returned this spring, I noticed that the charge controller is completely blank. I suspect the battery might be dead. I've heard of others jump-starting batteries, but I'm uncertain if I can do this with my car battery and how to proceed. Do I need to disconnect the solar panel first? Can I treat it like jumping another car? Please advise!
2 Answers
Based on what you described, it seems like the issue might not be your battery but the charge controller itself. Typically, if the solar panel is getting sunlight, the controller should show some activity regardless of the battery's state. First, double-check all your wiring to ensure everything's connected properly and that there’s no damage. If you can grab a cheap multimeter from a store, check if your solar panel is actually generating power. Also, test the battery's voltage after disconnecting it. Depending on its type, online charts can tell you what voltage it should have.
Jumping a smaller battery like yours with a car battery might not be the best idea. The car's power can overheat your smaller battery, which could cause it to boil and get ruined. A safer DIY method could be to check if the battery’s frozen and, if it’s low on liquid, add some clean water. You can then use a standard car headlight—connect both batteries in parallel with the headlight in series. If the light stays on, your battery might be beyond saving, but if it glimmers, it might still hold some charge without overloading the system. You can leave the solar controller connected; just make sure it reads 12.8V before disconnecting.
Thanks for the heads-up! I really don't want to risk my car battery since it's quite a distance to get a new one.
Wow, I didn't realize the controller should light up with the panel in sunlight. Looks like I need to inspect the connections again. Thanks for the tip!