hooking interior lights to charge controller

Question

I have a pro star 15 amp charge controller hooked to my house batteries and solar panels. The charge controller has seperate terminals for a load.
Im in a chevy g-20 van that has a ceiling mounted fuse block with switches that control the overhead lights, as well as switches for tv and video game (which are disconnected).
I just bought LED replacement bulbs for the overhead lights and they work great but they run off of the van battery.
Can I disconnect the load from the van battery to the fuse block and connect the load out from the charge controller to the fuse block so that my overhead lights run off the house batteries? Or do I connect the fuse block directly to the batteries which are connected to the charge controller and inverter?
Any feedback would be appreciated....thanks

pianotuna · Answer

Hi,You could, in theory do so, but then the lights would only work while the sun was shining. Just move the feed for the lights to the "house" battery bank.Another way around which may be even better is to get a device called an Amp-L-Start. That would charge the chassis battery from the house batteries.

mrwizard · Answer

Load function uses batteryThe idea is solar charges battery during dayLoad function controls light etc.. that needs battery at nightIf your thinking you can get free power and save battery, it ISN'T GOING TO HAPPENSolar only works during the dayEven if you wired to controller, the only thing that would happen is power that would be charging the battery will goto lights during the dayIt's a lot of extra work for no benefit

cyberhuff · Answer

thanks...the LED lights aren't draining the van battery much so I guess Ill just keep them like they are

mrwizard · Answer

I missed the part about separate house batteries

By all means, yes connect the fuse block or light circuit to the house batteries

Use the house batteries connected to the solar as much as possible and avoid drain on the engine chassis battery

rjsfishin · Answer

Alright, I'm perdy ignorant on this "load" thing, only because I never hooked anything to the "load" terminals, or even touched them w/ a test light.
But did I read that the load terminals are not hot as long as the voltage is hi ? And as soon as the sun (solar) quits charging and the voltage drops, then the load terminals get hot ? So they are there to connect a lite that will always be on whenever it is dark, and go out when the sun (voltage) comes up ??
Correct this if this is wrong.

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hooking interior lights to charge controller

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