Battery Will Not Stay Charged

For AC or Solar Charged Ranger HD systems, the most common cause of this problem is a battery that needs replacing. 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 battery 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.
3. If the 120 VAC power checks out, disconnect the DC adapter from the battery controller 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 aUSAutomatic DC Adapter 20 VDC.

For Solar Charged Systems Only:

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 sky is clear and the sun is shining directly on the panel.

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