Home Forums Truck Camper Adventure Forum Zamp Solar controller on Host Cascade

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    • #53705
      Greg
      Participant

      I’ve been having some issues with my 2020 Host Cascade. My Maxxair Fan and refrigerator shut off occasionally. I thought these two problems were not related until now. In the past I found out that the Maxxair fan has a circuit protection that shuts it off when voltage exceeds 14.4, or 14.8 volts. When voltage recedes, it will restart. The fridge has shut off in the past, but after you cycle the power switch, it restarts. I believe both of these problems are now related after having both units shut off and seeing my solar controller dolling out 15.5 volts. I turned on numerous 12 volt lights and brought voltage down below 14 and everything worked again. I always assumed all accessories ran off batteries while the solar panel just recharged the batteries. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. Anyone have any similar issues and what did you do to resolve them?

      Greg

    • #53725
      Peculierboy
      Participant

      The 15.5 seems high. I’d contact Zamp and ask them. May be a faulty controller.

      https://www.zampsolar.com/blogs/solar-101/zamp-solar-charge-controller-trouble-shooting-and-error-codes-b01-601

    • #53769
      Greg
      Participant

      Thanks for the feedback. I actually contacted Zamp and herd back from them the very next day…great service. They said the controller is functioning fine. The 15.5 volts is actually meant to happen to burn off sulfates if I remember correctly and is usually momentary. But that voltage should never reach the electrical components, only the battery and the battery can’t put out more than it’s rated voltage. So, more than likely, Host wired the solar controller right into the electrical grid and not just the batteries like it should be. Now to deal with Host. I’ve had other issues with this camper and Host is less than helpful.
      Thanks

    • #53770
      Alex Blasingame
      Moderator

      Keep us updated on your situation with Host.

    • #53784
      Greg
      Participant

      Alex, are others having trouble with Host? Curious!

    • #53817
      Joel Gambino
      Participant

      I can set the max charge voltage on my Bogart solar controller. I think I dropped it to 15V.

      I don’t understand the comment about 15.5 not reaching the electrical components. The controller output connects directly to the battery, so it’s the same voltage to the battery and the camper electrical components. I guess you could put a regulator between the battery and the “main out” to the camper, but I don’t think that is how they are typically wired.

      I think the only downside of dropping the voltage is slower charging at low temperature (assuming you have temperature compensation).

      Joel

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