trouble starting engine when solar panels are working
 

When my solar panels are charging (~14V) and I try to start the
engine, it basically acts like the batteries are dead. No turnover,
just hear the click of the solenoid. I unplug the solar panels and
it starts right up? Any ideas what could be causing this? Wierd.
Tom

trouble starting engine when solar panels are working
 

"tom" wrote in message
...
When my solar panels are charging (~14V) and I try to start the
engine, it basically acts like the batteries are dead. No turnover,
just hear the click of the solenoid. I unplug the solar panels and
it starts right up? Any ideas what could be causing this? Wierd.
Tom


It's obvious that you have your wiring screwed up. In order for your starter
solenoid to work it must have two working circuits. One is the one that
makes it click (the electromagnet that closes the high amperage circuit).
The other is the high-amperage circuit itself that runs the starter motor.
Both need good clean grounds - the low amperage circuit especially. If it
clicks it's probably working properly. That means the high amperage circuit
is non-functional when the photovoltaics are connected. What could cause
that? Probably you have it connected to the regulated side of the charging
circuit.

You need bus bars and heavy duty buss bars at that. All your positives need
to be connected to the positive buss bar and all your negatives need to be
connected to the negative buss bar. If your photovoltaic charge controller
has a high voltage cut-out you need to be sure it's not cutting out the
circuit to the high amperage side of your starter motor.

Wilbur Hubbard

trouble starting engine when solar panels are working
 

"tom" wrote in message
...
When my solar panels are charging (~14V) and I try to start the
engine, it basically acts like the batteries are dead. No turnover,
just hear the click of the solenoid. I unplug the solar panels and
it starts right up? Any ideas what could be causing this? Wierd.
Tom



Obviously a short somewhere, but that's not really helpful. Perhaps the
reversing diode is shorting?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

trouble starting engine when solar panels are working
 

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
news:hdCdnWEMyOwp9ILVnZ2dnUVZ_oOnnZ2d@bayareasolut ions...
"tom" wrote in message
...
When my solar panels are charging (~14V) and I try to start the
engine, it basically acts like the batteries are dead. No turnover,
just hear the click of the solenoid. I unplug the solar panels and
it starts right up? Any ideas what could be causing this? Wierd.
Tom



Obviously a short somewhere, but that's not really helpful. Perhaps the
reversing diode is shorting?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com


This guy ganz is an idiot. One would think somebody who had nothing to say
would shut the f*ck up but NOOOOOOOOOO!

--
Gregory Hall

trouble starting engine when solar panels are working
 

tom wrote:
When my solar panels are charging (~14V) and I try to start the
engine, it basically acts like the batteries are dead. No turnover,
just hear the click of the solenoid. I unplug the solar panels and
it starts right up? Any ideas what could be causing this? Wierd.
Tom

Is shore power (or another source) plugged in? Sometime solar's high
Voltage with low current confuses other sources.

trouble starting engine when solar panels are working
 

"jeff" wrote in message
. ..
tom wrote:
When my solar panels are charging (~14V) and I try to start the
engine, it basically acts like the batteries are dead. No turnover,
just hear the click of the solenoid. I unplug the solar panels and
it starts right up? Any ideas what could be causing this? Wierd.
Tom

Is shore power (or another source) plugged in? Sometime solar's high
Voltage with low current confuses other sources.

So you're saying the starter motor is "confused?" Ha ha ha ha! That's got
to be one of the funnier things I read here for quite some time.

I have some advice. The advice is please shut up if you've got nothing to
offer but ignorance and stupidity.

Wilbur Hubbard

trouble starting engine when solar panels are working
 

"jeff" wrote in message
. ..
tom wrote:
When my solar panels are charging (~14V) and I try to start the
engine, it basically acts like the batteries are dead. No turnover,
just hear the click of the solenoid. I unplug the solar panels and
it starts right up? Any ideas what could be causing this? Wierd.
Tom

Is shore power (or another source) plugged in? Sometime solar's high
Voltage with low current confuses other sources.


Perhaps if we had more info about the circuit.... are they connected
directly to the batteries? do they run through something else first? As you
asked, is the AC on?

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com

trouble starting engine when solar panels are working
 

"Capt. JG" wrote in message
news:fOydnd44kq4V6oLVnZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@bayareasolut ions...

Perhaps if we had more info about the circuit.... are they connected
directly to the batteries? do they run through something else first? As
you asked, is the AC on?


Clueless! Totally clueless! Stick with your "It's a short" fantasy!

--
Gregory Hall

trouble starting engine when solar panels are working
 

On May 5, 5:56 pm, "Gregory Hall" wrote:
"Capt. JG" wrote in message

news:fOydnd44kq4V6oLVnZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@bayareasolut ions...

Perhaps if we had more info about the circuit.... are they connected
directly to the batteries? do they run through something else first? As
you asked, is the AC on?
The solar controller is connected to the house battery, but I connect
both
engine and house together all the time. No A/C. Engine starts fine
when
when all connected if panels aren't charging, everything else works
fine.
Two controllers, solar and balmar but the balmar doesn't kick in for
45
seconds after the engine is started.

Remember it works find unless the voltage is driven to 14v.
Tom

trouble starting engine when solar panels are working
 

"tom" wrote in message
...
On May 5, 5:56 pm, "Gregory Hall" wrote:
"Capt. JG" wrote in message

news:fOydnd44kq4V6oLVnZ2dnUVZ_jCdnZ2d@bayareasolut ions...

Perhaps if we had more info about the circuit.... are they connected
directly to the batteries? do they run through something else first? As
you asked, is the AC on?
The solar controller is connected to the house battery, but I connect
both
engine and house together all the time. No A/C. Engine starts fine
when
when all connected if panels aren't charging, everything else works
fine.
Two controllers, solar and balmar but the balmar doesn't kick in for
45
seconds after the engine is started.

Remember it works find unless the voltage is driven to 14v.
Tom


You're right... it's weird.. I'm sure there's a simple solution, because
it's an on/off issue. Sorry I can't be of more help...

--
"j" ganz @@
www.sailnow.com