Solar Installation – Flying High and Far Away

bka0721 wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
Hi b.,

Depending on the controller the order would be

1. connect battery bank
2. connect panels

For shutting down reverse the order.

BFL13 wrote:

bka0721 wrote:

BFL13 wrote:
I have been posting about this issue off and on since my old-tech ASC Shunt controller I got in 2011 mentions it in its manual.

I have had other controllers since (my fault frying two :( ) and they don't make it so clear in their manuals as the ASC does. Only about the 12/24 on first powering up so the controller can know what battery voltage to go with.

So those fancy MorningStar guys have caught up with the old-time Specialty Concept guys? :)

Good information. Thanks. Always good to be informed and act accordingly.

Please clarify if I have this concept backwards/mixed up/flat out wrong.

Typically instructions are to NOT power up you charge controller with amps coming downstream without battery bank already attached to Charge controller, first. So in sequence one should stop/switch off Solar Panels, then turn off battery bank/switch in that order?

Then solar panel instructions advises not to hook up when solar panel are under load (harvesting) to charge controller.(?) So am I to interpret that as; you should black out (cover/night time mode) all panels on that line before putting them back on line to the charger, after battery is reattached (on line) to Charge Controller?

Thanks.

b

Once the controller is connected to the battery, you can connect the panel even if the panel is out in the sun. What you don't want either is for the panel to be on, the controller supplying those amps to a load and no battery hooked up. That can happen if you use a battery disconnect switch but the solar controller comes in on the "rig side" of that switch, so it can power the DC fuse panel even with the batteries turned off.

A friend with a new to him MH had the solar coming down to where the converter is and was attached at the fuse panel in parallel with the converter, so the solar used the same wires as the converter on the way to the battery. Out came the house batteries for a swap around, and the 12v stuff still worked! (no shore power/gen) Drove us crazy trying to find where the 12v was coming from. We thought it might be from the engine battery but nope. That left solar. Pretty soon the solar controller and 12v supply was going up and down like a yo-yo and there was no solar shut off switch. Had to take its controller output pos wire off the fuse panel bus bar to stop it.

CA Traveler wrote:

bka0721 wrote:


Then solar panel instructions advises not to hook up when solar panel are under load (harvesting) to charge controller.(?) So am I to interpret that as; you should black out (cover/night time mode) all panels on that line before putting them back on line to the charger, after battery is reattached (on line) to Charge Controller?

No need to black out, just follow the above posted sequence IF you have a switch (DC rated bestf) for the panels.

There is also advice to NOT use MC4 or related connectors to connect/disconect panels. DC is much more likely to arc across the connections because unlike AC the voltage does not cycle through 0V.

I always love this forum. Thanks everyone. With the new info from Morningstar/TrackStar I wanted to confirm what I had been doing is still the correct way to take my solar system off line and then back on line, for things like maintenance ect. Always appreciate the accurate and quick response.
b