Another SOLAR question!!!
We have been living in a TT full time for well over a year. Now its high time we start weaning ourselves off of grid power. We will be moving our camper onto land without shore power. So we plan to ge...
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Nope doesn't matter if the solar is connected while camper is plugged in. What you need to know is the solar controller regulates the incoming solar to only charge at so much, most controllers are setable. The trailer converter if a 3 stage converter will change the voltage going to the batteries and if not a 3 stage then the converter is probably charging around 13.6 volts.
So when your trailer is plugged in and your batteries are charged your converter is only running a maintaining charge of say 13.6, well if your solar controller is set at 13.6 then the controller will basically shut off the flow from the solar panel. If your solar controller is set for 14.6 volts charging then your converter would be putting in 13.6 volts and the solar will make up the other 10 volts.
If you don't want your solar charging when plugged in then adjust your solar controller to the lowest charge setting. Most don't worry about adjusting anything when camping and leave their solar set around 14.6 and if they happen to run the generator it takes care of itself. The only time I touch my controller is when the trailer is in storage and the batteries are charged, I will then set my controller to a maintainer charge of 13.6 so I don't boil out the water with the trailer setting for a month or so.
So when your trailer is plugged in and your batteries are charged your converter is only running a maintaining charge of say 13.6, well if your solar controller is set at 13.6 then the controller will basically shut off the flow from the solar panel. If your solar controller is set for 14.6 volts charging then your converter would be putting in 13.6 volts and the solar will make up the other 10 volts.
If you don't want your solar charging when plugged in then adjust your solar controller to the lowest charge setting. Most don't worry about adjusting anything when camping and leave their solar set around 14.6 and if they happen to run the generator it takes care of itself. The only time I touch my controller is when the trailer is in storage and the batteries are charged, I will then set my controller to a maintainer charge of 13.6 so I don't boil out the water with the trailer setting for a month or so.
