Solar/Manual charging

? And if the bank needs further EQ'ing, simply let things rest and then do it again later?

Byrogie wrote:
ok, got it
The controller does not have equalize option.
If I do panel direct, won't the voltage be too high?
Panel Vm = 18 volts, Voc = 21.6 volts

It is the same as equalizing with a manual charger. You have to watch it and turn it off once the voltage gets too high or battery too hot.

In general, you keep spot checking with the hydrometer and when the SG stops rising, you are done. The voltage will rise to some limit depending on how much "overhead" the charger has, but that limit may be more than you want to get to, so you have to be there to turn it all off.

ok, got it
The controller does not have equalize option.
If I do panel direct, won't the voltage be too high?
Panel Vm = 18 volts, Voc = 21.6 volts

Byrogie wrote:
Yes, had planned to disconnect battery from rig for equalize.
Don't know "panel direct"?. Equalize will be portable charger direct to battery.

Panel direct lets you get the batts up high in voltage when off grid. You can't equalize with gen power unless you have unlimited gasoline as that can take hours and hours, and you have to have the batts full already before you can equalize.

Some solar controllers will have a separate equalize setting so then you would not need to do panel direct.

Yes, had planned to disconnect battery from rig for equalize.
Don't know "panel direct"?. Equalize will be portable charger direct to battery.

No, but do disconnect the batteries from the rig so the fridge etc do not get over 15.4v (Norcold fridge DC upper limit)

Unless you are doing "panel direct" ( by-pass the controller) in order to do the equalize.

Thanks
One more: When I do an equalize, do I disconnect the controller?

Byrogie wrote:
Will be installing solar this week on our 5th wheel at a dry permanent site.
2x100 watt panels, 30 amp PWM controller
2x6 volt batteries
Questions:
1. Can I use a manual charger via generator while the solar is hooked up?
2. What happens when I hook up shore power via generator, converter(dumb) wise? Should I disconnect battery?
3. When I pull batteries for winter, do I just disconnect controller?

thx

1. yes, no conflict

2. no. you can run your 120v appliances in the rig up to the VA (watts) limit of the generator. the converter is another 120v load that's all. You might have to turn off the converter to run the microwave if the generator is small, but then the solar will still be charging the batts. You can run the converter, the maunual charger, and the solar all at once to add their amps for a fast charge if the batts will accept that many amps at the time.

Yes. The controller should not be running 12v loads without being connected to a battery. The sequence for connecting and disconnecting the controller from the battery is: connect to battery, then connect array to controller. And, first disconnect array from controller, then disconnect controller from battery.
3.

yes, no, yes