Question about Ctek D250SE solar charging

[Lootawi]

Hi everyone,


I’ve recently coupled a CTEK D250SE to my SmartPASS 120S, and I’ve mounted a 90 W Lensun solar panel on the hood, which is connected as prescribed in the manual, and I’m running the OEM dual batteries on my grenadier.


Here’s what I’ve noticed:

• The panel is in direct sunlight, so solar should be producing.
• When I turn the ignition on On position without starting the vehicle, my off-road electrical screen doesn’t show that the system is charging.
• The infotainment only shows a -9 A discharge, which I assume is due to my fridge running in the back at the same time.

My question is:


Should I be seeing the solar charge input on the off-road electrical screen on my infotainment when the vehicle ignition is OFF (engine not running) but on On position so that I can see if there is current pushed while the alternator is not involved in this process ?


Or does the system only show charging activity when the alternator is active?

I just want to confirm if this is normal behavior, or if the solar charge should appear on the screen even with the ignition off and only the solar feeding the batteries.

Or is there a wrong connection done that might be fixed and can give me a reading that the solar is feeding the batteries. I guess the reading in the infotainment reflects the total battery pool percentage and not only started? Correct me if my assumption is incorrect.

Appreciate any feedback from anyone running a similar setup or knows what’s happening here




Thanks in advance!

 

[TheDocAUS]

Put a cheap battery monitor on each battery and you will see the charge going in.

The charging shown on the IG Offroad screen does not show the solar panel putting in any charge, because the CTEK250SE charges the the aux battery, then the main battery (but that is not picked up by the IG sensor).

More information here:

Thread 'Study - fixed solar panel fitted to solar inputs of CTEK D250SE'

Apr 25, 2024

THE TASK
I want to observe how the fixed solar panel on the Rhino Roofrack charges the Grenadier’s main and aux battery through the solar inputs on the CTEK D250SE.

THE GRENADIER'S SETUP

1. 2023 AU Spec 2 Seater utility Wagon, Diesel Trailmaster.
2. CTEK D250SE mated with the CTEK 120S.
3. Kings 160W Solar fixed to the Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform, then plugged into the solar inputs on the D250SE. Maximum charge rate in good sunlight is just over 9 amps. WARNING: newer models of the Kings 160W solar panel are now rated at 23.37...

• TheDocAUS
• charging ctek d250se panel solar study
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Electrical, ECU, HVAC, Lights & Infotainment

• 

A summary of the charging the batteries with and without the solar panel (mine is a 160w panel):

Post in thread 'Study - fixed solar panel fitted to solar inputs of CTEK D250SE'

Apr 30, 2024

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING A SOLAR PANEL AND NOT HAVING IT
A 7 day graph of the aux battery voltage before and after I added the CTEK D250SE and solar panel. Most of the highest voltage peaks is when the car was being driven, the solar panel will not realistically charge over 14 volts.

The big voltage drop on the second graph on April 21 is my Start/Stop not working properly. It turns the car off and then immediately restarts it - it appears in these cases the main and the aux are both used to re-start the car. The only load I have seen a battery voltage drop like this was the...

• TheDocAUS

• 

 

[Lootawi]

Put a cheap battery monitor on each battery and you will see the charge going in.

The charging shown on the IG Offroad screen does not show the solar panel putting in any charge, because the CTEK250SE charges the the aux battery, then the main battery (but that is not picked up by the IG sensor).

More information here:

Thread 'Study - fixed solar panel fitted to solar inputs of CTEK D250SE'

Apr 25, 2024

THE TASK
I want to observe how the fixed solar panel on the Rhino Roofrack charges the Grenadier’s main and aux battery through the solar inputs on the CTEK D250SE.

THE GRENADIER'S SETUP

1. 2023 AU Spec 2 Seater utility Wagon, Diesel Trailmaster.
2. CTEK D250SE mated with the CTEK 120S.
3. Kings 160W Solar fixed to the Rhino Rack Pioneer Platform, then plugged into the solar inputs on the D250SE. Maximum charge rate in good sunlight is just over 9 amps. WARNING: newer models of the Kings 160W solar panel are now rated at 23.37...

• TheDocAUS
• charging ctek d250se panel solar study
• Replies: 20
• Forum: Electrical, ECU, HVAC, Lights & Infotainment

• 

A summary of the charging the batteries with and without the solar panel (mine is a 160w panel):

Post in thread 'Study - fixed solar panel fitted to solar inputs of CTEK D250SE'

Apr 30, 2024

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING A SOLAR PANEL AND NOT HAVING IT
A 7 day graph of the aux battery voltage before and after I added the CTEK D250SE and solar panel. Most of the highest voltage peaks is when the car was being driven, the solar panel will not realistically charge over 14 volts.

The big voltage drop on the second graph on April 21 is my Start/Stop not working properly. It turns the car off and then immediately restarts it - it appears in these cases the main and the aux are both used to re-start the car. The only load I have seen a battery voltage drop like this was the...

• TheDocAUS

• 

Thank you Doc, appreciate your help with this.