Charge Controller; Solar Panel Care - Holiday Rambler Imperial 2008 Owner's Manual

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS - HOUSE — 8

Charge Controller

The Charge Controller is set to accommodate
either Liquid Lead-Acid (LLA) or Absorb
Glass Mat (AGM) batteries. The Charge
Controller is located in the roof of the large
pass-through bay. The controller is used as a heat
sink for the electronics attached to it. It is normal
for the controller to become warm to the touch,
especially when processing higher amperage.
The charge controller will automatically enter
Thermal Shutdown if it gets too warm. Status
of the charge controller is viewed through the
Aladdin system electrical status display.
Charge Controller:
Located on roof of
large pass through
bay.
NOTE:
The charge controller battery settings
are preset at the factory.
188
The HPV-30D Charge Controller includes
the following:
Dual Battery Bank Charging - The
controller automatically sends charge to
both the House and Engine batteries at
the same time.
Pulse Width Modulation - Delivers all
the available charging amperage until
the batteries reach their set point voltage
(Bulk) and then it begins to taper off
amperage (Absorption) until it is reduced
to all that is needed to simply hold the
batteries at their set point voltage (Float).
Temperature Compensation - Protects
the batteries from excess water loss
and/or plate sulfating by automatically
compensating for temperature changes,
and adjusting the charging voltage
accordingly.
CAUTION:
The Charge Controller may be warm to
the touch. This is a normal function of
the Charge Controller.
3 Amp
fuses
Troubleshooting:
Check the two 3 Amp fuses (see
illustration) at the charge controller.
Ensure all connections at the controller
are tight and corrosion free.

Solar Panel Care

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A critical part of maintaining the solar
electric battery charging system is to keep
the panel clean. The amount of power that a
panel will produce is directly related to the
2 00 8 I MP E R I A L
intensity of sunlight. Dirt will allow less light
to reach the panel, resulting in a reduction of
power produced. A single layer of dust or road
grime can reduce the power output by 15 to
25%. Debris covering two or three of the 36
individual cells can reduce output power by 50
to 75%.
Use of the basic maintenance tips, routine
inspection and regular cleaning will assure
maximum charging from the solar panel
system. To clean the panel, use a non-abrasive
cleaner and paper towels. The surrounding
environment, and the amount of road dust
encountered, will determine how frequently the
panel should be cleaned.
NOTE:
Solar panels should be cleaned monthly,
or more frequently depending upon
weather conditions.
Tips to Follow:
1. The panel should be cleaned if a fi lm or
a layer of dust is on the windshield.
2. On a bright sunny day, charging amps
should be 3.5 to 5 Amps per panel.
3. High winds can blow dust and
debris around causing dirt build up.
Frequently inspect the panels and clean
as necessary.
CAUTION:
To avoid arcing at battery connections
when replacing batteries or performing
battery cable maintenance, be sure
to remove the fuse for the solar
panel charge controller, or cover the
solar panel to stop the production of
electricity at the source.