Forum Discussion

irish31790's avatar
irish31790
Explorer
Jan 17, 2020

Solar panels and battery cut off

I have a new 5er. It came with solar charger - Go Power brand. I’ve only had it a couple of weeks and haven’t had a chance to do much with ie because of the holidays and weather. My question has to do with the batteries and the solar chargers. When I put the rig in storage I hit the battery disconnect. I assumed the solar charger would still charge with battery cut off. But when I returned the batteries were dead. I guess I shouldn’t use the battery cut-off??
  • time2roll's avatar
    time2roll
    Nomad
    Jan 20, 2020
    You have two problems.

    First it would seem the cut off switch is allowing something to continue to drain your battery. Need to rewire something.

    Second you need to move the solar controller connection to be direct to the battery terminals. BTW best practice to always disconnect the solar panels from the controller before you disconnect the battery from the controller.
  • justme's avatar
    justme
    Explorer
    Jan 20, 2020
    pianotuna wrote:
    panels-->switch-->controller-->fuse-->battery bank-->cut off switch-->loads.

    Never have the panels send power to the controller without the battery connected.


    That is very good advise because when the solar charger is unloaded with the panels connected the voltage from the panel to the controller exceeds the rating of the semiconductors in the charge controller-- thus destroying the controller.
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Jan 17, 2020
    panels-->switch-->controller-->fuse-->battery bank-->cut off switch-->loads.

    Never have the panels send power to the controller without the battery connected.
  • Johnny_G1's avatar
    Johnny_G1
    Explorer
    Jan 17, 2020
    Battery must not be cut off from solar, its good bye controller if that is the way it is wired, check and be sure solar is wired to controller and direct to battery.
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Jan 17, 2020
    Yes, a couple of weeks disconnected shouldn’t drain them.
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    Jan 17, 2020
    A couple of weeks with the batteries disconnected should not happen,even if the solar is not directly connected. I would start by testing those batteries. I'll bet the place you bought the rv had it connected to the shore power while you checked it out?
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Jan 17, 2020
    irish31790 wrote:
    I have a new 5er. It came with solar charger - Go Power brand. I’ve only had it a couple of weeks and haven’t had a chance to do much with ie because of the holidays and weather. My question has to do with the batteries and the solar chargers. When I put the rig in storage I hit the battery disconnect. I assumed the solar charger would still charge with battery cut off. But when I returned the batteries were dead. I guess I shouldn’t use the battery cut-off??


    Sounds like the solar is wired in such a way that it doesn't charge when the disconnect is off. Same with shore power; if the disconnect is off, batteries won't charge. I'd leave the disconnect on, OR re-wire the solar direct to the batteries.

    Lyle
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Jan 17, 2020
    Seems as if it comes with “solar prep” but not a solar system. Did you get a solar package?
  • Lwiddis's avatar
    Lwiddis
    Explorer II
    Jan 17, 2020
    Guess not. Do you have a wiring diagram? Did you check at the battery for any charging? Does the controller indicate charging? What’s the total solar watts? Which controller do you have?

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