Can you have solar and a battery charger at the same time?

2oldman wrote:

dedmiston wrote:
When it gets dark and we're running every light and appliance, we turn on the generator.

Sounds like you don't have enough battery.

Plenty of storage: 4 x 6v.

On winter nights (shorter charging days, lower sun, longer evenings) we tend to run everything as if we have hookups. Some appliances like the fireplace aren't hooked to the inverter.

The OP's question was whether it's possible/correct or not. I reject Lwiddis's premise that charging from solar and other sources shouldn't happen. It happens all the time and there's nothing wrong with it.

dedmiston wrote:
When it gets dark and we're running every light and appliance, we turn on the generator.

Sounds like you don't have enough battery.

Note some solar controllers want you to hook up to the battery first, then connect the panel.

I have the positive wire from my panel hooked up with a simple wire nut because I often remove my trailer batteries. Kinda silly but works for me.

Lwiddis wrote:
Yes, they can. However a properly sized solar system...for what you use and the battery capacity ...should not require any other charging method most days. One to one and a half solar watts per battery amp hour.

I get what you're saying, but it's illogical to me.

We have 700W of panels, but that doesn't stop us from charging too. When we have FHU, we plug into shore power. When it gets dark and we're running every light and appliance, we turn on the generator. The same with mornings when I'd like to make coffee and my wife is blowing her hair dry. Sure, I could overtax my inverter while the morning sun is slowly charging me up, or I could flip on the gen for a sec while we're gulping up some power.

But to answer the OP's question, yes you can. And despite Lwiddis's response, yes you should when you need to.

Thanks,I guess I can finally mount my controller in the camper and hook it up today..No excuses now..lol

Yes all can be connected and charging at the same time. You can do this running down the road with the alternator also charging. No issues.

Yes, they can. However a properly sized solar system...for what you use and the battery capacity ...should not require any other charging method most days. One to one and a half solar watts per battery amp hour.

I've been keeping the Noco hooked up and plugged in and was going to connect the controller up without panels, but wanted to ask first before I do it.Don't want to short anything out..

Also curious about if you can run both at the same time, say with a generator pumping the Noco charger and the panels hooked up in the sun..

Sure. Whether they both will actually charge at the same time is up for question.