This cyclic behavior is the fundamental reason why panels fail to reach their rated wattage. They simply cannot deliver their theoretical output until the MPPT has enough voltage overhead. It is a configuration issue, especially common in 48 V systems. . The problem that I am having is when I connect my solar panels to the charge controller the voltage immediately drops from 138 volts to ZERO volts. Most issues come down to a handful of common problems that you can diagnose and fix with a bit of know-how. Below, we break down the top reasons your panels may not be charging your battery, and show you how to identify what's going wrong. . Homeowners investing in clean energy often face this frustrating situation—your solar panel system looks perfectly fine, but your battery isn't charging. Sometimes 300–350 W, sometimes even 250–280 W.