solar disconnect switch
I want to install a switch to disconnect my 155w panel from the controller. The regular battery disconnects are so big. Any harm using a small toggle? Or maybe there are smaller disconnects? I looked ...
Forum Discussion
For a switch, do pay attention to check that the current ratings are valid for DC current. Many switches are only rated for AC operation, or have a much lower DC current than AC current rating. The reason is simple: as the AC waveform crosses zero volts 120 times each second, any internal arcing that starts is quickly stopped at that point. Switching DC, even lower voltage DC, is rather harder on the switch.
That being said, you probably could get away with an AC switch in practice, especially since this won't be used too frequently. The failure mode would typically be that the switch fails to switch off when toggled because the internal contacts have become welded together. It's not at all likely to cause a fire or anything like that, and this is hardly a life safety critical sort of application where the switch not working is going to pose a genuine danger to someone.
That being said, you probably could get away with an AC switch in practice, especially since this won't be used too frequently. The failure mode would typically be that the switch fails to switch off when toggled because the internal contacts have become welded together. It's not at all likely to cause a fire or anything like that, and this is hardly a life safety critical sort of application where the switch not working is going to pose a genuine danger to someone.
