I let the smoke out of my Genasun :(

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T

tommays

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Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack
It is MY fault BUT as a person who installs a LOT of instruments and sensors when it says something on the spec sheet i kind of believe it and it is normally true, my unit was shipped with OLD instructions with NO warnings about what would kill it

Electronic Overload Protection
Electronic Reverse Battery Protection
Reverse Protection of Solar Panel Input

There is a warning in the NEW online sheet BUT in reality no matter how you fuse the input and output any small mistake on your part while it is connected to the battery such as checking the panel for voltage drop on the control and having the meter leads touch (mind you the terminals are apart 1/8" apart ) the control is TOAST and can not be repaired

I am told all solar controls have this issue BUT do not know if it is true

Repairs

We service what we sell. Please contact us for cost-effective repairs.

The GV-4 ,5 and 10 units can NOT be repaired


Then you check the Warranty

And find any Damage due to reversed connections or water intrusion will not be covered under warranty.

I kind of have to guess it does not have some of the features in the spec sheet BUT could be wrong

The staff is very nice and we did reach a mutual agreement that cost me money and they plan to have and upgrade in 3 to 4 months that would allow the controls to be mistake tolerant as my boat has to have the pannels removed yearly caution is required
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
General rules of thumb for all things "electronic".;)

*Make all connections at the unit with the device DISCONNECTED from the battery or "source".

*Double check all connections BEFORE final connection to the battery.

*Use Fuses

*Always note the position of the + & - terminals on terminal strips. On many devices the + are next to each other to prevent shorting by sticking a - in-between two + leads.

* Use insulated alligator clip test leads for the DVM and use them on one of the leads. This means your "probe" lead has more precision control, just one lead to FU is harder, and you can't accidentally touch the + & - probes together. I usually clip the - lead as it rarely has to be at the device like + does for testing.

Sorry to hear about your blunder.....:doh:
 
T

tommays

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Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack
*Use Fuses

On of my issues is fuses will NOT protect the unit as they were present BUT they are to slow and if this was made clear i would have been even more carefull and will be in the future
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
tommays said:
*Use Fuses

On of my issues is fuses will NOT protect the unit as they were present BUT they are to slow and if this was made clear i would have been even more carefull and will be in the future
Click to expand

Fuses will rarely protect against a mis-wired device but will protect YOU when you short +& -.;)
 
Bill Roosa

Bill Roosa

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Jun 6, 2006
6,990
currently boatless wishing Harrington Harbor North, MD
Ditto MS comment, fuses protect the wires and humans not devices. You generally have a fuse in the back of the unit for the units protection. It is always a "just bairly enough amps" and fast blow type. since this is a power handling device you really can't fuse it to protect the circutry as it gets its' power from the lines it controls which are all high amp (relative to what the unit needs to run)
 
T

tommays

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Oct 2, 2006
1,517
Jboat J24 commack
As i have been researching the issue future MPPT controls like the Morningstar’s SunSaver MPPT SS-MPPT-15L both have panel short circuit protection and output short circut protection and cover it under there warranty

While it is twice the price at this point IF there claims are true i would be ahead of the game and with Genasun adding the feature within the next 3 months it is and issue
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,760
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
tommays said:
As i have been researching the issue future MPPT controls like the Morningstar’s SunSaver MPPT SS-MPPT-15L both have panel short circuit protection and output short circut protection and cover it under there warranty

While it is twice the price at this point IF there claims are true i would be ahead of the game and with Genasun adding the feature within the next 3 months it is and issue
Click to expand
Morningstar controllers are some of the best but their MPPT's are often geared/tuned for larger arrays.... When you're under 100W or so the Genasun controllers work great but are simple and the price, at roughly $100.00 less, reflects that. Just don't hook it up backwards...;)
 
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