Documentation for Jabroni Solar

[Playhouse]

The gentleman who sold us our fiver kept all the docs for us, but there’s nothing on the solar controller and the company’s website is gone.

I went up to the storage yard today and the battery was dead and there was no sign that the solar was charging it. 600w of solar ought to be able to keep a single 12v battery charged, especially the day after summer solstice.

I’m trying to figure out:

1. How to turn the solar on and off, and

2. Where the controller is located. I can see the panel, but not the controller itself. I’d like to press the reset, but first I have to find it.

[Playhouse]

I stopped by the storage yard again to fuss with it and was able to make it cycle from OFF to STBY, but never could get it to stay on BLK (bulk) to start charging. I could get it to BLK for a sec, but then it would switch to OFF again.

[AZ Traveler]

Dave,

See if this helps. Another option is switching to a Victron controller which is more user friendly.

[bsdf200]

try this https://thecampingadvisor.com/jaboni...nel/#tab-con-7

[Playhouse]

Thank you both. I’m making slow progress.

I found the controller down by the water pump and reset it. Now the OFF/BLK/STBY message changed to CHG?

[Playhouse]

I'm slowly deciding that I can rule out user-error. I wish it were user-error though, because that's usually the easiest/cheapest thing to fix when I just stop doing something wrong.

I checked with the seller and verified that he never used it, so it might have been misconfigured from the get-go.

I found a different manual that seems to match my unit. According to this doc, the fast blinking Status light means "Faulty condition".

I'm going back up to the storage yard one more time to check for loose connections or damaged cables at the battery.

[AZ Traveler]

Dave,

Again a Victron controller is relatively inexpensive, user friendly and bluetooth to your phone. An easy swap.

[bsdf200]

I read somewhere that if the charge goes below 50% it will not charge. Did you top off your battery?

[Playhouse]

Originally Posted by AZ Traveler

Dave,

Again a Victron controller is relatively inexpensive, user friendly and bluetooth to your phone. An easy swap.

Thanks. I hate to spend money on something that I already own, but I’m not getting a good feeling about Jabroni.

[Playhouse]

Originally Posted by bsdf200

I read somewhere that if the charge goes below 50% it will not charge. Did you top off your battery?

I was hoping the solar would do that.

The rig is dead-stick at the storage yard. I’ll have to pull the battery and bring it home.

I’ve got a Renogy (sp?) controller on another RV and it will charge dead batteries.

[Playhouse]

Quick follow-up:

I picked up a pair of portable generators and a parallel kit to provide power to the trailer for dry camping. I took them up to the storage lot yesterday to test them out (and yes, they power both air conditioners no-problemo). I charged up the battery for a few hours and nothing changed. The solar still isn't charging.

I may have to call a tech to come out to look at it.