I have completely flattened my batteries - attempting to recharge them - spending each evening in the dark with no electrics on at all so that each night I do not lose the charge I have managed to put in the day before. I am hopeful that by the end of today / tomorrow I could be back to normal.
HOWEVER
In checking to see if my solar panels were still working I removed the fuse from the controller STECA PR1010 and replaced it. Since then I have had an E06 error on the controller. I have no manual.
anyone have an idea ? I have of course pressed lots of buttons in various orders so may have inadvertently messed around with the original settings. I have just sent an email to Steca as their downloadable manual is just one sheet with nothing useful on it all.
the other codes/settings I now have are
arrow battery arrow with 50C below it
moon arrow lightbulb - off
moon battery lightbulb PrE
sun battery lightbulb three columns of three dashes
battery 5n (I have 6 batteries but 5 are together and one on the swim)
battery gel (I have gel batteries so I think that setting is still ok)
When you scroll through normally it is reading the battery status correctly agreeing with the smartgauge and the multimeter but it is
zero amps
sun to battery no amps
battery to lightbulb no amps
sun arrow 12.8kah
all with a non smiling face
Thanks in advance
Welsh waters: Day 12
23 hours ago
5 comments:
Kath -
The primary function of the charge controller is to prevent over charging your batteries. If they are flat, there is little risk of bypassing the controller and connecting the solar panels directly to the batteries... Until they get charged up. This will keep you from sitting in the dark while you work out the charge controller problems\
Bob
I played with the Steca buttons a little more and sorted out that problem. But in the meanwhile one of my batteries has blown up.
I am waiting for someone to source replacement batteries and fix me up. I am as they say FUBAR. Glad it happened now and not whilst travelling up the tidal thames which I was going to be doing tomorrow.!!
I had the same thing the other day, you need to disconnect the solar panel (remove the positive wire on left) connect batteries (make sure fuse is good) then reconnect solar panel wire.
For some reason the batteries must be connected before the SP or the Steca assumes 24 volt configuration, not 12 volt.
Steca PR1010 can handle 12volt and 24volt batteries. To be sure your 12volt batteries are recognised always connect the battery cables first then the solar panel cables. If you've done what I did the other day then removing the fuse sent the Steca into non-smiley face mode and it started charging 24 volt batteries which can do damage to yours. Just remove the left hand wire (solar panel +ve) and make sure the battery cables and fuse are in place and then reconnect the solar panel wire. All should return to normal.
Thanks Mo, unfortunately whilst waiting for my new batteries I was unable to get online and read your information in time. Jake Oliver of MSO Marine at Thames Lock very kindly downloaded the manual for me so I am set for future reference. Being without power for nearly a week I have got used to not watching tv and sitting in the dark.
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