I'm curious as to which way others are going when hooking up their charge controller. Are you connecting it to the battery side or the load side of your disconnect switch (assuming you have one).I'm thinking on the battery side allows you to keep the solar connected to the batteries to charge them but still remove parasitic draws... but it isn't truly cut off.On the load side it seems like it could cause an issue if you shut it off because you could be feeding the system via the solar panels.I currently have it hooked up to the battery side with a separate switch between the panels and controller which I have to remember to shut off before unhooking the batteries.In practice I usually never touch the switch so contemplating simplifying the wiring a bit into a common fuse box but it would mean everything would be on the load side.Hope I'm not bothering you guys too much with all my questions, it's been -20-25C all weekend so this is my way of missing camping season.

Controller should go direct to the battery. The storage switch should not disable the solar.

time2roll wrote:Controller should go direct to the battery. The storage switch should not disable the solar.Yes, but I would also have a switch (or an easily removable fuse) for the solar too.

Don't many controllers require that you have a battery connected before the panels are connected lest the controller die an untimely death? If you have one like that, connecting to the load side would toast the controller whenever the disconnect switch is disconnected.Few RVs disconnect absolutely everything with the disconnect switch. Trailers have (or should have) the breakaway braking system wired directly. Often other safety systems are also not disconnected, things like LP and CO detectors. Things that need large current levels, like big inverters and generator starters, are usually wired directly. Sometimes the converter, if a deckmount unit not built into the electric distribution panel, is also wired direct. A solar installation is in good company.

Always connect the controller directly to the battery bank. It is good to have a disconnect switch between the panels and the controller.The controller to battery should be fused at the battery.

on the batteriesyou want the controller charging the batteries, keeping them charged, protected from self discharge et..andyou risk killing the controller, IF you put it on the load sideall controllers say connect to batteries first, then connect controllerwhen working on system disconnect the panels FIRST then the batteriesnever have panels connected UNLESS there is a good battery already connected

Which side of cutoff switch to connect charge controller?

16 Replies

scrubjaysnest
Explorer
Dec 12, 2016
^^^^^^what he said. I have breakers between panels and CC and CC and batteries to use as disconnects if needed.
MrWizard
Moderator
Dec 12, 2016
on the batteries
you want the controller charging the batteries, keeping them charged, protected from self discharge et..
and
you risk killing the controller, IF you put it on the load side
all controllers say connect to batteries first, then connect controller

when working on system disconnect the panels FIRST then the batteries
never have panels connected UNLESS there is a good battery already connected
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 12, 2016
Always connect the controller directly to the battery bank. It is good to have a disconnect switch between the panels and the controller.

The controller to battery should be fused at the battery.
DrewE
Explorer II
Dec 12, 2016
Don't many controllers require that you have a battery connected before the panels are connected lest the controller die an untimely death? If you have one like that, connecting to the load side would toast the controller whenever the disconnect switch is disconnected.

Few RVs disconnect absolutely everything with the disconnect switch. Trailers have (or should have) the breakaway braking system wired directly. Often other safety systems are also not disconnected, things like LP and CO detectors. Things that need large current levels, like big inverters and generator starters, are usually wired directly. Sometimes the converter, if a deckmount unit not built into the electric distribution panel, is also wired direct. A solar installation is in good company.
tmartin000
Explorer II
Dec 12, 2016
time2roll wrote:
Controller should go direct to the battery. The storage switch should not disable the solar.

Yes, but I would also have a switch (or an easily removable fuse) for the solar too.
time2roll
Nomad
Dec 12, 2016
Controller should go direct to the battery. The storage switch should not disable the solar.

Forum Discussion

Which side of cutoff switch to connect charge controller?

16 Replies

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