Is this a good setup for charging my batteries.

Don't bother isolating for that. They will all get along fine while simultaneously connected. But I do recommend breakers rather than fuses on input and output of the controller. Much more convenient than pulling fuses. Use the breakers to disconnect panels then battery any time you change the Morningstar settings. These can serve for your solar isolation, too.

Thanks for the advice. I plan on doing a basic install with all the safety devices in place. I have a stand alone inverter that I will connect at the battery to run a couple of small AC devices. My last question is, what will I need to do to isolate the solar if I decide to run my generator, the TT would be plugged in like normal. Thanks

Thanks for all the advice, I will post in a couple of months, after I get it set up.

I also have the Morningstar Tristar PWM 45 because I had future expansion in mind. I'm running 2 x 140 watt panels with 2 x 6V GC batteries. I have found that I don't really have a need for expansion at this time. But the Morningstar controller is really nice and fully programmable if you choose to really customize things. Also diversion load capable. I originally thought I would also be eventually buying the $100+ remote display panel, but I got by fine with just a volt meter that plugs into the TT 12V socket. I now have a permanently installed 12V meter and that's good enough. Of course I do hook my laptop up to the controller fairly often and use the MSVIEW software to see charging amps and other details that can't be determined by a voltage reading and controller status LEDs. It really is far more controller than you'll need for a single 100 watt panel, but it is definitely a nice controller.

Solar plus a smart controller is a great way to maintain batteries while unattended. A 100 watt panel should do a great job and keeping your batteries fully topped off and ready to rock when you show up. A second panel might even fully charge them on a daily basis while the camper is in use.

100 watt panel combined with Morningstar 45 amp controller will be excellent.
System will expand nicely if more power is needed.

bando711 wrote:
Down the road I want the ability to expand which is why I was thinking the Morning Star 45.

You're doing it right. Go for it. It won' hurt a thing to have more controller than you need for awhile.

Consider a wind charger if you are leaving your camper in a static location. I have left my old camper on the same site for 6 years. I use it year around and here in ND it can get chilly at night. I started with 2 deep cycles battery's and a 100 watt solar charger. I found that the recharge with the short days in the winter just was not enough. I put a 400 watt wind charger up 4 years ago. It has a built in controller and keeps the battery's charged very nicely.
I use the camper at temps down well below zero. I put 4 ft. high plywood skirting with R-8 insulation around it, put fiberglass in some of the north and west windows and on the cold nights the furnace runs about 4 times an hour to keep it above 70. Since I added the wind generator I very seldom run the generator. Spent 500.00 on an Air dyne charger, got surplus 2 inch poles, buried a 10 foot treated 4X4 4 feet in the ground, clamped the 2 inch pole to that, 3 guy wires and put the charger 24 feet in the air. No problems. Almost always some wind here. Well worth the money.

doughere wrote:
I'd find a nice 100 watt panel (mine is from solar blvd) and a $20 dollar 10 Amp controller on e-bay.

What he said.

Keep an eye on the water level.
If it goes down quickly, the controller isn't working good as a battery charger and you might need to limit the connection time.

I'd find a nice 100 watt panel (mine is from solar blvd) and a $20 dollar 10 Amp controller on e-bay. Mount the controller near the battery; and the panel wherever best for sun. Spending a lot for a good controller now allows expansion that you might not ever use, and future controllers will be cheaper and better if you ever do decide to expand.

Doug

At my remote camp, I have one backup battery bank that runs on a 100w panel with a stone simple 20 amp PWM controller, with nothing special, and I just have to add water to the golf cart batteries once a year. Your idea will work, and I like solar for unattended charging. After reading your clarification, you probably could even go simpler than the 45amp Morningstar and the remote panel. You will be surprised how much more capacity you will have: starting with totally charged batteries and even having one panel during the day while you're there, too.