Solar and Inverter combo question
hi all, i tried searching but did not find specifically what i was looking for. I have a generator hooked to my inverter which charges my battery. I would also like to connect a solar panel ...
Forum Discussion
2oldman wrote:
First you need to set all this up and see what actually happens.
You may be able to set the controller's bulk charging voltage to a lower number than the IC. Also, many of us put disconnect switches between the panels and the controller.
This particular panel has a controller, but because it is a low wattage panel, the controller doesn't have any adjustments. But i have thought about putting in a disconnect switch.
time2roll wrote:
Multiple charging sources are not an issue. You can run all at the same time plus run down the road with your alternator charging. No issues, none.
Its a car/toy hauler, so an alternator is not part of the equation.
BFL13 wrote:
Even a trickle solar charger should have a controller so it can keep the voltage from going too high for the batteries.
The batteries will charge from the source with the higher voltage. If the converter is at 13.6v and the solar is at 14.6v, you will get the amps from the solar.
To get your full amps from the converter while the gen is running to recharge low batteries, you want the solar's voltage to be close to the converter's voltage, following the same voltage "profile" (stages)as the battery charges up. They will then add their amps all the way.
The converter will also trickle charge a full battery. No need for the solar trickle charger to be "on" when the converter is on the full battery, but if it is, it doesn't matter which has the higher voltage.
What is the scenario? No shore power, just generator every so often while off-grid? Or storage not camping and off-grid? If off-grid and camping then the trickle charging solar is nearly useless, so IMO go for a serious solar set-up. Trickle would be good for off-grid storage. If on-grid, no need for solar at all.
Can't recommend anything without knowing the scenario.
No shore power (off-grid). It is a car hauler and is stored at a facility that has no shore power. So the generator & solar are the only source of power for recharging. The trailer does have a cable in case its ever at a location that has shore power, but that will be very rare. The solar would be charging battery 90% of the time as the generator won't be running constantly.
