Can you feed a solar controller from a charger AND solar?

"I don't see why not"

... likely because the answer wasn't written down on a faq's answer sheet.

But perhaps it could be done? One of these would maybe work?

400w 40v 10a power supply

400w 41-56v adjustable

Of course, it would be interesting to see what the mppt would do, with no maximum power point on the knee to track. Also, as pointed out, when in pwm mode, the high voltage would likely be passed thru to the batteries, without being bucked down... in that case you'd really be bucked. :)

I assume you have the Solar controller connected directly to the batteries, and the Converter is also connected directly to the batteries.

NEVER connect a converter output to ANY solar controller connections.

That said, the size of the Solar controler is irrelivant. A 50a converter charging is not going to negatively effect the Solar Controller. and vice versa.

The problem is.. the Solar Controller is probably the brains of the bunch, but it will get confused with the converters voltage being applied at the batteries. It is very likely the Solar Controller, esp. a more expensive configurable one, will change stages based on the converters output.

One could go into float, and one could be in Absorb at the same time.

For the sake of your batteries, if possible, your better off using the more configurable charging profile (probably the Solar Controller), however, you dont NEED to disconnect either as it will work.

RJsfishin wrote:

RJsfishin wrote:
Like Doug says, that's how mine is.
Why would you want to run your converter/charger thru another controller. It is already being controlled.

I'm still curious,.....it makes no sense.

The thought was you'd get both the solar panels amps and the converters amps, as opposed to one or the other. Also, some of these 20 year old old trailers only have a fixed output charger as opposed to newer smart chargers. In reality, I don't think the chargers are adjustable high enough to get anywhere near what you get from a panel, but that was the question.

One of the members had asked "tech support" at one of the solar controller manufacturers this question and got back "I don't see why not", that made it sound plausible.

RJsfishin wrote:
Like Doug says, that's how mine is.
Why would you want to run your converter/charger thru another controller. It is already being controlled.

I'm still curious,.....it makes no sense.

Thanks folks, appreciate the advise.

Connecting a converter output to a charge controller input is a good way to fry them both. A solar panel is a current source that can operate at most any voltage you hook it too. A converter output is more like a power supply at a pre-set voltage.
I don't know why you would want to do this anyway. There's no advantage. A good quality converter (charger) should charge your battery just fine. A good quality solar panel and charge controller will also charge your battery. They will both operate in tandem satisfactorily to charge the battery. There's no need to feed one into the other.

You cannot pass the output of a converter or charger through the solar controller. The controller operates by shorting the panel which can take that, but your converter or a charger can't take being shorted.

You have to put the controller and converter in parallel on the same battery bank. They will add their amps if their voltages are similar.

My progressive Dynamics converter and Morningstar solar controller play well together, but the converter does not feed through the solar controller.

Fan cooled, 1 600-watt DC to DC booster is interesting. With a single DPDT relay and a 12-volt interval timer like the OMRON I posted here a week ago, when the batteries charge by set timer enough to reach 13.6 volts the timer kicks the relay which energizes the booster. Play with booster voltage and time at booster max set point, then the timer shuts off and reverts to 13.6. This critter can be bread boarded on a little piece of plywood. Or do it with an AC timer or use a MegaWatt. The world is your oyster.

SCVJeff wrote:
I wouldn't... An solar controller is designed to regulate or boost ultra clean DC, not the junk that comes off of all chargers. Even the good ones arent anywhere near as clean as a panel. Who knows what might be damaged.

that is the correct answer

besides you would need an expensive heavy duty solar controller to handle converter amps

also solar controller reduce voltage to increase amps,
don't know of any controller that will take 13.6 and make it 14+ volts
even MPPT go down from 20+ to 14.6 not convert up aka BOOST voltage

nope.. converter goes to battery Not thru solar controller