Installation and Operation Manual
10
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
SYMPTOM
PROBABLE CAUSE
ITEMS TO EXAMINE OR CORRECT
Completely dead,
optional display blank
No battery power
Battery disconnected, overly discharged, or connected reverse polarity. Battery powers the 1524,
not PV.
Unit will not turn ON
(charge status indicator
OFF), Display if
attached is ON
PV disconnected or low in voltage
PV reverse polarity
IPN network address set wrong
Microprocessor lockup
PV must supply 0.10 amps at greater than battery voltage to begin charge.
Reverse polarity PV will cause front to heat.
A single unit must be set to IPN network address 0 (zero). One unit of a multi-unit network must
be set to IPN network address 0 (zero), AND all other units must be set to different addresses.
Momentarily remove all power to re-boot.
Charge status indicator
ON., but no output
charge current
Battery voltage greater than charge voltage
setpoint
Battery voltage too low
PV- connected to BAT- external to controller
This is normal operation. Output is off due to high battery voltage which may be caused by other
charging systems.
Battery voltage must be at least 9V for the 1524 to operate.
PV- & BAT- must be separate for proper operation. PV- must receive earth ground via shunts
inside the 1524 which internally connect PV- to BAT-. External connection prevents proper
operation of current measurement system.
Charge status indicator
blinks rapidly
System in equalize mode
Disable equalize via IPN-ProRemote, or by turning DIP switch #4 off.
Charge OFF at high
ambient temperature
System temporarily shuts down due to high
heat sink temperature
Improve ventilation or reduce PV power. Sufficient ventilation to prevent over temperature shut
down will improve reliability. See Technical Bulletin #100206.
Charge current is lower
than expected, PV
current may be low as
well
Battery is highly charged
Worn out or dissimilar PV modules
Low insolation
PV- connected to BAT-
Normal operation, current is reduced if battery voltage is at setpoint.
Replace, or use as is.
Atmospheric haze, PV’s dirty or shaded, sun low on horizon, etc.
PV- & BAT- must be separate for proper operation. PV- must receive earth ground via shunts
inside the 1524 which internally connect PV- to BAT-. External connection prevents proper
operation of current measurement system.
MPPT Current boost is
less than expected
PV maximum power voltage (V
MP
) is not
much higher than battery voltage, leaving
little extra power to be extracted
PV’s hot
Worn out or dissimilar PV modules
PV’s with low V
MP
.
PV’s with higher V
MP
work best, PV’s with <36 cells tend to work poorly.
Excessive PV wiring voltage drop due to undersize wiring, poor connections etc.
Battery is nearly charged and battery voltage is high. Output during MPPT operation is “constant
power”, higher battery voltage reduces charge current increase.
V
MP
and available power decrease with increasing PV cell temperature. Cooler PV’s will produce
greater boost. It is normal for boost to decrease as PV temperature rises.
Replace, use as is, or use different controller for different PV modules.
Auxiliary battery not
being charging
Not configured for auxiliary battery charge
Primary battery not highly charged
Load on Auxiliary battery too high
Confirm dip switch #3 is OFF.
Auxiliary battery will not receive charge unless primary battery is in Acceptance or Float.
Maximum auxiliary charge current is roughly 2 amps. Load may need to be reduced.
System appears OK,
but will not switch
between Bulk,
Acceptance & Float
Not set for 3 stage charge
Will not switch out of Bulk and into
Acceptance or Float
Will not switch from Acceptance to Float
Double check Float voltage setpoint.
Battery is so discharged that net charge current cannot bring battery voltage up to the desired
charge voltage setpoint. PV power may be too low or loads too high.
Battery not fully charged. Unit will not switch to Float until battery voltage remains at the
Acceptance voltage setpoint continuously for the Charge Time period (or net battery current
drops to the Float Transition Current setpoint if using IPN-ProRemote).
Load control not
working
Auxiliary output not set for load control
Output may have shut off due to low battery
charge
ON/OFF thresholds set incorrectly
Confirm dip switch #3 is ON.
Load will shut off if battery voltage drops below OFF threshold (default 11.5V). Once shut off, the
load will not come back on until battery voltage is above ON threshold (default 12.6V).
Correct ON/OFF threshold settings.
Dusk-to-Dawn feature,
lights will not turn ON or
remain ON
Auxiliary output not set for load control
Output may have shut off due to low battery
charge
Charge control system ON
Timers set incorrectly
Valid night time period not seen
Confirm dip switch #3 is ON and Dusk-to-Dawn enabled.
Load turns off if battery voltage below OFF threshold (default 11.5/23.0V). Once off, the load will
remain off until battery voltage is above ON threshold (default 12.6/25.2V).
Lights will not turn on if charge control system is ON and charging.
Check time settings Post-Dusk or Pre-dawn timer.
Pre-Dawn lighting will not operate until a valid night time period of >4 hours detected. If PV was
removed/reconnected, night time period may be inaccurate. Remove & restore power to reboot
Dusk-to-Dawn feature,
lights will not turn OFF
Auxiliary output not set for load control
Timers set incorrectly
Charge control does not turn ON
Confirm dip switch #3 is ON and Dusk-to-Dawn enabled.
Either Post-Dusk or Pre-dawn timers must be set to time value to enable Dusk-to-Dawn feature.
Check charge control system related items
