Cut off switch with solar panels
I bought 4x 100 watt solar panels and a Renogy Rover MPPT charge controller. The Rover manual states: NEVER connect the solar panel array to the controller without a battery. Battery must be connect...
Forum Discussion
work2much wrote:
Yes, most controllers need to have 12v power to turn themselves on and running solar panels to them without the battery connected isn't advised. On our Victron it omits the high voltage alarm to remind me.
It is a good idea to circuit protect the wiring anyway so I installed a blue sea circuit breaker between the roof combiner box and the solar charger to protect the cabling anyway. It is mounted inside the camper on our system as I like to turn off the solar once the LFP batteries are full or close to full. LFP doesn't benefit from a small trickle charge when full or close to full. This could be mounted anywhere between the panels and the controller.Click For Full-Size Image.
On the battery side I also installed a circuit breaker between the solar charger and the battery to protect that cable as well and to work on the solar charger if needs to be deenergized but I wish to keep the rest of the system live.
Nice job.
