what if?

[tlaffourtit]

if the shore power is plugged in and the inverter is turned on then I should be charging the batteries. but the solar is also on. so what happens if the inverter and the solar are charging the batteries at the same time?

[tlaffourtit]

three or more strings. looks like I need to change it.

[BFL13]

tlaffourtit wrote:
I didn't know each panel had to have it's own breaker or fuse. good to know. its a breaker between the combiner and controller so it's a switch as well. the rv is a 30 amp. I believe the inverter is rated at 40 amps. I could be wrong.as far as the 500 amp fuse with the 4/0; I just imitated what we use at work. was just a guess on my part.

Scroll down to how and when to fuse your solar panels

http://www1.cooperbussmann.com/pdf/9df1f7ec-8c62-4210-8cf8-9504927394f0.pdf

[tlaffourtit]

I didn't know each panel had to have it's own breaker or fuse. good to know. its a breaker between the combiner and controller so it's a switch as well. the rv is a 30 amp. I believe the inverter is rated at 40 amps. I could be wrong.as far as the 500 amp fuse with the 4/0; I just imitated what we use at work. was just a guess on my part.

[time2roll]

What happens with two charging sources? The batteries get charged as normal same as any other day. With 1160 Ah the batteries will be fine.

Since you posted the diagram...
Technically each panel should have branch fuse... probably 10 or 15 amp.
70 amp fuse between combiner and controller is not really needed but a DC switch might be convenient for service.
You don't state if RV is 50a or 30a but make sure the inverter transfer switch is properly rated.
500a inverter fuse might be a little large for 4/0 wire.

[westend]

tlaffourtit wrote:
volt/ohm and a hand held amp meter

If your amp meter will take the amperage of the solar controller, the inverter/charger, and the combination of both, measure as mentioned above.

FWIW, I have a Fluke 600 vac clamp meter that will take the amps. I also have a Fluke handheld that only measures 10 amps. I recently replaced the fuses in the 10 amp model and they weren't cheap.

BTW, BFL is the Guru of multiple charger setups. Approach his mountain top lair cautiously. Otherwise, you will be smitten with multiple chargers and a tangle of battery cables. :B

[BFL13]

tlaffourtit wrote:
I see your point to keep the inv off while plugged into shore outlet. converter was removed, rather left dormant just incase inverter ever broke. I am not sure but I don't think my inv/charger has a converter. side note:I did notice I left out the 60 amp breaker between the ts and inv.

Your inverter/charger and shore power should be separated by the inverter portion's internal transfer switch that will just pass through shore power if on.

The charger portion acts like a converter when on shore power and the charger portion of the inverter/charger is "enabled" (turned on)

You could arrange to have the old converter, the inverter/charger, and the solar all adding their charging amps together if you wanted .

[tlaffourtit]

I see your point to keep the inv off while plugged into shore outlet. converter was removed, rather left dormant just incase inverter ever broke. I am not sure but I don't think my inv/charger has a converter. side note:I did notice I left out the 60 amp breaker between the ts and inv.

[chevyman2]

the "inverter" should not be turned on when plugged in to a power source. The "inverter" actually -inverts-12v (from battery) to 110v and that will burn the converter/inverter/charger box. The inverter should only be used when not using any power source, and engine is running. (There should be a switch/button somewhere in the unit to turn on/off the actual inverter function). The converter/charger portion operates every time you are using a power source. (shore power or generator)

I assume you was just talking about having the unit plugged in and solar charging turned on. No harm done. The solar just charges the chassis battery anyway. The converter/inverter/charger box will charge chassis and coach batteries.

[BarneyS]

Moved to Tech Issues forum from DIY.

[tlaffourtit]

volt/ohm and a hand held amp meter

[westend]

Itr mostly will happen that two chargers are somewhat additive. Depending on how the feedback circuit is in each of the chargers, one may take a back seat and not put out full charge current while the other is charging.

The best way to see what the results are with your dual charging system is to measure current being distributed to the batteries with only one or the other and also with both charging. This is done with a meter and a DC clamp meter is the best since most handheld meters do not measure above 10 amps. You could also measure voltage at the batteries using the above measuring procedure and get a ballpark estimate. What kind of meter do you have?

[Roadpilot]

The batteries will charge faster until they are chargered then both should back off. No harm.