Battery Will Not Stay Charged

The most common cause of this problem is a bad battery. It is highly recommended that the battery be load tested at a battery store to confirm it is good. A load test is the only reliable way to know whether a battery is functioning properly.

If the battery passes the load test, other factors need to be checked, including system design, installation, and possible charging issues with the system charger or charge controller.

System Design and Installation

1. Verify that the solar panel is facing south to southwest and that the panel surface is not shaded by any object.
2. System design refers to the accessories connected to the system. Accessories cannot draw more energy than the charging system can provide. Not all accessories consume the same amount of power, and some manufacturers use considerably more energy than others to perform the same function. These concerns are reduced in an AC charged system where the charger has a continuous power source.

AC Charged Systems Only

1. If your system is equipped with the USAutomatic Battery Controller and is AC charged, verify that the battery controller is working properly. The arrow between the solar panel and battery image on the controller display should be visible.
2. If the arrow is not visible, check the 120 VAC outlet the DC adapter is plugged into for correct voltage and correct the problem if necessary.
3. If the 120 VAC power checks out, disconnect the DC adapter from the battery controller plug and use a voltmeter to check the transformer output. The transformer should read approximately 20 VDC. If the reading is incorrect, the transformer needs to be replaced with a USAutomatic DC Adapter.

Solar Charged Systems Only

1. If your system is equipped with a USAutomatic DC Adapter and is solar charged, verify that the arrow is visible between the solar panel and battery image on the controller display. This can only be verified when the sun is shining directly on the solar panel.
2. If the arrow is not visible, use a voltmeter to check the output of the solar panel for proper voltage.
3. Remove the solar panel plug from the battery controller input and measure the DC voltage from the solar panel. The reading should typically be around 19 to 22 VDC. This measurement must be taken when the skies are clear and the sun is shining directly on the panel.

Note: This reading does not confirm that the solar panel is supplying the correct current to keep the battery charged, but it is a good first check.

If the solar panel DC voltage checks out but the arrow is not visible between the solar panel and battery image on the controller display when connected, the controller is bad. Replace it with a USAutomatic DC Adapter.