Solar panel failed? And agm battery charger

[Dellmassive]

@Pummer67

it just connects direct to the battery terminals.

so can be fitted any time.

about the size of a box of matches.

 

[Dilbert]

greeted by a off white thing which looks like it is siliconed in I presume to stop and moisture

That is normally potting compound which is much softer than silicone. You can normally pick it out with a small screwdriver.
You will probably find 3 connections. The wires to the solar charge controller are usually on the outer 2 connections. The solar panel will have 2 arrays in series with a diode across each array output. The centre connection will be the common series connection.
Try and measure the voltages with a volt meter across each array. The left most terminal and the centre connection will be one array and the centre to right most connection will be the other array. Try and measure each array when cold first thing in the morning and also when it stops working later on when hot.
If the panel is suspect, you often find the voltages are fairly equal when it's working and one array going to 0V when it's hot.

 

[Pummer67]

Ok nice one guys. Thankyou so much for your help. I just wish I was retired my jobs are stacking up. I have two capacitors to change on one of the hot tub pumps tonight as that's playing up and I could have done without this problem on the van. I'm meant to be doing our bathroom in the evenings but it seems I always find something else to do instead.

 

[Pummer67]

Now the sun isnt on panel once again volts have risen slightly and its putting charge into battery. I have still left my fridge on the coolest setting for time being.

 

[Pummer67]

The battery definately not fully charged now. I'm heading out in a bit to plug in a spare 50 watt panel and see what happens then.