A solar newbie,I have 3 100w renolgy eclipse panels and a renolgy 40amp commander controller.A 255ah lifeline battery.I do have a breaker between my pv panels and the commander.Am wondering , when the commander is flashing green lights, which mean, pv is charging the battery and the other green flashing means battery is fully charged should I throw the breaker and disconnect the pv array from the commander just to be on the safe side.thanks

As BFL says, no need to disconnect the array from the controller. Even when plugged into shore power you can leave the array and controller on to do it's job.

Ok, great,will leave it alone and let it do its job, thanks

That is a rebranded EPSolar Tracer controller, which is a good one. It gets the batteries to Absorption voltage (for AGM or else you can change that with the 50 remote) and holds it for two hours then drops to Float voltage. Good in most situations, or you can fix to your needs with the remote.Good to have the breaker! Big warnings about that in the manual to not ever have no battery with array connected.https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1ma7znmYxS.pdf

Thanks, I have read the warnings about not having a battery hooked to the controller before the pv array is hooked up.

solar array charging ? | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

blueh20
Explorer
Mar 15, 2019
Actually I put the breaker in as a convenience switch so that I could work on the system if needed and not have to worry about having power to the controller from the pv system if I happened to also disconnect the battery. Just an easy way to make sure
The controller is always hooked to the battery first.
BFL13
Explorer II
Mar 15, 2019
time2roll wrote:
Would be helpful to have an actual voltmeter instead of just a few flashing green lights.

The manual I linked above says the controller ships with the optional MT50 which has the display, etc.

Does the OP have the MT50, and is the cable long enough to allow it to be mounted where it can be seen inside the RV, while the controller is somewhere unseen closer to the battery bank?

My Tracer has a proper display, but it also could work with the MT50 if I had one. Don't need one for it in the current set-up though.
time2roll
Nomad
Mar 15, 2019
Would be helpful to have an actual voltmeter instead of just a few flashing green lights.
2oldman
Explorer II
Mar 15, 2019
Renogy. Breaker is not needed unless that's just acting as a convenience switch. At least I haven't heard of 'solar panel surge.'
blueh20
Explorer
Mar 15, 2019
Yes,that's what I was trying to say, ,,battery always hooked to controller first,
Thanks
pianotuna
Nomad III
Mar 15, 2019
Error Error! The battery MUST be connected before the panel. Failure to do so may let out the magic blue smoke from the controller.

blueh20 wrote:
Thanks, I have read the warnings about not having a battery hooked to the controller before the pv array is hooked up.
blueh20
Explorer
Mar 15, 2019
Thanks, I have read the warnings about not having a battery hooked to the controller before the pv array is hooked up.
BFL13
Explorer II
Mar 15, 2019
That is a rebranded EPSolar Tracer controller, which is a good one. It gets the batteries to Absorption voltage (for AGM or else you can change that with the 50 remote) and holds it for two hours then drops to Float voltage. Good in most situations, or you can fix to your needs with the remote.

Good to have the breaker! Big warnings about that in the manual to not ever have no battery with array connected.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/B1ma7znmYxS.pdf
blueh20
Explorer
Mar 14, 2019
Ok, great,will leave it alone and let it do its job, thanks
Boon_Docker
Explorer III
Mar 14, 2019
As BFL says, no need to disconnect the array from the controller. Even when plugged into shore power you can leave the array and controller on to do it's job.