Solar mppt controller, uses for "load" outputs

I don’t have a Renogy controller but isn’t “load” available only when the panels are producing power? I find most don’t use load...me included.

lights at night.

most folks ignore that output.

mine is in the ignore category.

At least in Victron equipment, the load terminals can be used to provide a low voltage disconnect, current monitoring and a remote control 'master switch'.
I run everything through my load terminals. However, they have a current limit, so depending on what your loads are, you may not be able to use them this way.

One idea is to run the small always on devices off the load terminals (propane detector, alarms, usb chargers etc) so that if you forget to disconnect the battery in storage the control will switch theses off before your battery is all the way dead.

With an RV, all loads are on the battery bank, supported by the charger(s), so no point in using the load terminals on the solar controller at all. Your solar output in amps goes to loads first, then anything left goes to the battery if it needs any. Same with the converter--loads first.

Zero reason to use the load terminals of the controller--EXCEPT--the load terminals have all sorts of settings in the controller for how long to leave them on etc, which might have an application in an RV I have not thought of. So other than that, forget those load terminals IMO.

Charging an auxiliary battery would be my only suggestion in the RV world.

FWC wrote:
At least in Victron equipment, the load terminals can be used to provide a low voltage disconnect, current monitoring and a remote control 'master switch'.
I run everything through my load terminals. However, they have a current limit, so depending on what your loads are, you may not be able to use them this way.

One idea is to run the small always on devices off the load terminals (propane detector, alarms, usb chargers etc) so that if you forget to disconnect the battery in storage the control will switch theses off before your battery is all the way dead.

thats a neat idea, I never could see what to use in mine because of the low amprage...

Steve

With all the lighting controls for the load terms, program the controller for on a couple of hours and wire up LEDs under the trailer so it GLOWS for a few hours at sunset :B

I've done this for years with 100w/motorcycle batt and 6 landscape lights around my deck.

useless to me on the trailer.

Due to the way Winnebago wired my coach, the chassis battery does not charge from shore power. My solar panels are wired parallel to that circuit. I bought a small 12vdc timer and have it set for 30 minutes every three days to use the "load" output trickle into the chassis battery.

The timer was less than $10 and I intend to use it when I finish my 12 vdc solar landscape lighting system to turn the lights on and off.

D.E.Bishop wrote:
Due to the way Winnebago wired my coach, the chassis battery does not charge from shore power. My solar panels are wired parallel to that circuit. I bought a small 12vdc timer and have it set for 30 minutes every three days to use the "load" output trickle into the chassis battery.

The timer was less than $10 and I intend to use it when I finish my 12 vdc solar landscape lighting system to turn the lights on and off.

I would suggest an hour a day.

Although Renogy doesn't appear to support it, some controllers allow the solar panels to supply power to the "Load" terminals as soon as the batteries have reached a full state of charge (a la "diversion regulator").

This allows you to heat or pump water, run ventilation fans or operate other non-essential items from solar power that would otherwise go unused.