Recently we bought a Winnebago Impulse Silver Edition with 500 watts of solar on the roof. First time with solar ever.Today I want to take the batteries out and clean the battery compartment thoroughly.Not sure as to how to disconnect the input from the panels. Any special precautions or ideas on safety?thanks, Mike

The panels must be disconnected before removing the battery bank from the circuit, with most solar controllers as the output may well fry the electronics.If there is not a switch, add one, or add an appropriate size fuse.

Find the solar controller with its four wires. Find the pair that go to "PV" or "Array" and take one of them out BEFORE you disconnect the controller to battery pair. When you put the batteries back, and the controller to battery wires are back on, now you can put that panel to controller wire back on the controller.As PT says, it is easier to put a switch on that panel to controller wire for doing this job. Some have put a fuse there instead of a switch so they can just pull the fuse (there does not need to be a fuse on that path, but it makes for an easy switch.)

No switch preinstalled? That’s shabby.

Thanks guys, one lead to the solar panel is now disconnected as suggested. I will wait until dark to reconnect tonight.

Artum,There is no need to wait until dark. Reconnect the battery bank, and then connect the panels.In your shoes I would add a Direct Current rated switch.

Question about solar panels | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

BFL13
Explorer II
Dec 20, 2017
Find the solar controller with its four wires. Find the pair that go to "PV" or "Array" and take one of them out BEFORE you disconnect the controller to battery pair. When you put the batteries back, and the controller to battery wires are back on, now you can put that panel to controller wire back on the controller.

As PT says, it is easier to put a switch on that panel to controller wire for doing this job. Some have put a fuse there instead of a switch so they can just pull the fuse (there does not need to be a fuse on that path, but it makes for an easy switch.)
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 20, 2017
The panels must be disconnected before removing the battery bank from the circuit, with most solar controllers as the output may well fry the electronics.

If there is not a switch, add one, or add an appropriate size fuse.

Forum Discussion

Question about solar panels

12 Replies

About Technical Issues

Related Content

Fuse panel locate

Solar Panel question??????

Question about solar panels

A few more questions about solar panels...

Newbie power question