SunLight SL-10L-12V Installation

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8.2 T ROUBLESHOOTING
The SunLight is very rugged and designed for the most
extreme operating conditions. Most PV system problems will
be caused by connections, voltage drops, and loads.
Troubleshooting the SunLight controller is simple. Some basic
troubleshooting procedures are listed below.
C AUTIONS : 1. Troubleshooting should be done by qualified
personnel only.
2. Remember that a battery can cause serious
damage if shorted.
3. There are no user serviceable parts, fuses or
circuit breakers inside the SunLight.
4. Observe all normal precautions when working
with energized circuitry.
1. B ATTERY I S N OT C HARGING
a. Check the green LED indicator. The green CHARGING LED
should be on if it is daytime.
b. Check that the proper battery type (sealed or flooded) has been
selected.
c. Check that all wire connections in the system are correct and
tight. Check the polarity (+ and –) of the connections.
d. Measure the PV array open-circuit voltage and confirm it is within
normal limits. If the voltage is low or zero, check the connections
at the PV array itself. Disconnect the PV from the controller when
working on the PV array.
e. Check that the load is not drawing more energy than the PV
array can provide.
f. Check if there are excessive voltage drops between the controller
and the battery. This will cause undercharging of the battery.
g. Check the condition of the battery. Determine if the battery
voltage declines at night with no load. If unable to maintain its
voltage, the battery may be failing.
h.
Measure the PV voltage and the battery voltage at the SunLight
terminals. If the voltage at the terminals is the same (within a few
tenths of volts) the PV array is charging the battery. If the PV volt-
age is close to the open circuit voltage of the panels and the bat-
tery voltage is low, the controller is not charging the batteries and
may be damaged.