Monaco SIGNATURE 2001 series, Owner'S Manual

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The RV-30 Charge Controller has many unique features which are list-
ed and described below:
1. Battery Charging -
The above mentioned parasitic loads affect both the
House and Engine batteries. The controller automatically charges both
the House and Engine batteries at the same time to deal with this issue.
2. Pulse Width Modulation -
This charging strategy has been found by the
Sandi National Laboratories to maintain the highest state of charge with
the least amount of battery water consumption. In effect, it delivers all
the available charging amperage until the batteries reach 14.2 Volts (this
stage is called bulk charging) and then it begins to taper off amperage
(absorption stage) until it is reduced to all that is needed to simply hold
the battery at 14.2 Volts (Float Stage).
3. Temperature Compensation - The gassing threshold of the batteries is
reached at around 14.1 to 14.4 Volts at room temperature (25º C). If the
temperature of the batteries is hotter than 25º C, the gassing threshold is
reached at a lower voltage. If the temperature of the batteries is colder
than 25º C, the gassing threshold is reached at a higher voltage. This
feature protects your batteries from excess water loss and/or plate
sulfation by automatically compensating for these temperature changes
and adjusting the charging voltage accordingly.
4. Automatic Equalization -
This feature is activated once per day to
extend the life of your batteries by allowing the weaker cells a chance to
catch up with the stronger cells. This assures that all cells will be at an
equal state of charge. The first time domestic batteries reach 14.2 Volts
during the day, a delay timer is activated that allows a short duration
period (20 to 30 minutes) at a slightly higher voltage (14.5 to 14.7 Volts)
and then falls back to the 14.2 Volt setting for the remainder of the day.
A critical part of maintaining the solar electric battery charging system is to
keep the panels clean. The amount of power which a panel will produce is
directly related to the intensity of sunlight which reaches it. A dirty panel will
allow less light to reach the panel resulting in less power produced. A single
layer of dust or road grime can reduce the power output by 15 to 25%. Leaves
and debris which can cover two or three of the 36 individual cells can reduce
output power by 50 to 75%.
Use of the basic maintenance tips, regular inspections and regular cleaning
will assure you of maximum charging from your solar electric system. A non-
abrasive cleaner and paper towels are recommended. The surrounding environ-
ment and the amount of road dust encountered determines how frequently the
panels should be cleaned. One to two times a month is preferred.
Electrical Systems - House
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S I G N A T U R E 8 • 2 2 0
Charge Controller
Features
Solar Panel
Care