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09-25-2017, 04:54 PM
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#1
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Palazzo 36.3
State: Texas
Posts: 70
THOR #6728
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2018 Palazzo Owners – is your solar charging your batteries?
Mine isn’t. The controller always shows the moon symbol meaning it’s not seeing sunlight and the voltage as read from the app and the controller shows .7v.
It looks like we have Grape Solar GS-PWM-40BT controllers coupled to a 100w panel on the roof. I’ve emailed Grape tech support and learned a few things. First, I’m getting about 19 to 20 v from the panel leads that come into the controller. I see battery voltage and power to the controller coming from the batteries. I’m having a hard time tracing from the controller to the battery bank, primarily because it gets lost in a bunch of wiring looms and is not directly connected to the batteries.
Has anyone else looked at this or noticed their charge controller always shows the panels not in direct sunlight? I would expect to be able to disconnect shore power and run my fridge via inverter and see some activity on the controller indicating it’s trying to keep the batteries up.
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10-02-2017, 11:26 PM
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#2
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Palazzo 36.3
State: Texas
Posts: 70
THOR #6728
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Well i replaced the controller and it still would not charge. I don't know enough about solar to troubleshoot it further. My dealer doesn't have a clue and a call to Thor did not yield results. It's just a bit frustrating.
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10-15-2017, 06:58 PM
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#3
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Aria 3401
State: California
Posts: 24
THOR #8959
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Check the controller , if the moon is showing during the day, reverse the wires coming the panel on roof in the controller. I was concerned about doing that, putting a white ground in a "hot" port, however at the direction of Thor Customer service, I did just that and now it's working 100% with a Sun on the display during sunlight hours and moon at night. Could be wired backwards in China I guess because when I went to the roof, it appears Thor wired it correctly up to the panel.
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10-15-2017, 11:09 PM
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#4
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Palazzo 36.3
State: Texas
Posts: 70
THOR #6728
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I ended up doing the same thing and like you it now works. Now I need more solar!
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weekend adventurer
drive: 2018 Thor Palazzo 36.3
tows: 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
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10-15-2017, 11:31 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Aria 3401
State: California
Posts: 24
THOR #8959
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Off-Grid Power-Kit Portable Solar Power Kit
Item #:712498 Model #: GS-100-EXP
Lowe's $165.00 per 100 W panel, or amazon, just make sure you get the brackets as well, waiting for mine to arrive !
Should be a plug and play install
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10-16-2017, 02:57 AM
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#6
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Palazzo 36.3
State: Texas
Posts: 70
THOR #6728
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rvanling
Off-Grid Power-Kit Portable Solar Power Kit
Item #:712498 Model #: GS-100-EXP
Lowe's $165.00 per 100 W panel, or amazon, just make sure you get the brackets as well, waiting for mine to arrive !
Should be a plug and play install
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How many are you adding? I'm trying to understand how many the controller will handle? I'm also considering an installer; holes in my roof worry me.
__________________
weekend adventurer
drive: 2018 Thor Palazzo 36.3
tows: 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
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10-24-2017, 02:44 AM
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#7
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Aria 3401
State: California
Posts: 24
THOR #8959
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lo-tek
How many are you adding? I'm trying to understand how many the controller will handle? I'm also considering an installer; holes in my roof worry me.
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I am told two additional, for a total of 3 100 w panels, producing up to 40 amps
I added one additional
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10-24-2017, 03:02 AM
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#8
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Palazzo 36.3
State: Texas
Posts: 70
THOR #6728
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rvanling
I am told two additional, for a total of 3 100 w panels, producing up to 40 amps
I added one additional
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I emailed Grape and they told me I can add 4 more 100watt panels in series. Go figure.
I still need an installer.
__________________
weekend adventurer
drive: 2018 Thor Palazzo 36.3
tows: 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
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10-04-2018, 07:32 PM
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#9
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Junior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Ohio
Posts: 14
THOR #4003
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Does the panel charge the house or chasis batteries?
Mine was set to agm upon delivery
I have 4 house wet celll
And 2 agm chassis
I suppose it should be wet and not agm
Any thoughts?
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10-04-2018, 08:49 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Georgia
Posts: 2,585
THOR #4735
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House
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the Turners...
two Campers, two Electric cars
former diesel pusher traveler
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10-04-2018, 09:33 PM
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#11
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Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Palazzo 36.3
State: Texas
Posts: 70
THOR #6728
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Quote:
Originally Posted by heidorn39
Does the panel charge the house or chasis batteries?
Mine was set to agm upon delivery
I have 4 house wet celll
And 2 agm chassis
I suppose it should be wet and not agm
Any thoughts?
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Welcome to irv2! I recognize you from the Facebook group
If the house batteries are flooded you controller should be set to flooded. A call to Thor could also confirm.
__________________
weekend adventurer
drive: 2018 Thor Palazzo 36.3
tows: 2017 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
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