Battery charging w/solar question

[limbery]

I got my TT which doesn't have an isolation switch on the battery. The salesman just said that if I was going to be parked for more than a few hrs, at a time while hitched up to just unplug from the TV so that trailer use wouldn't draw from my truck battery. I've since installed a solar panel on the roof and my question is... If my trailer is hooked up to my truck, will the solar panel be charging both the trailer battery as well as the truck battery?

[camper19709]

What JN_B said. My solar panel keeps my motorhome house batteries charged. Well worth the price of the solar.

[limbery]

canoe on top wrote:
The solenoid is not the same as a battery cut off switch. The solenoid will isolate your TV battery from the TT when the ignition is off. A cut off switch eliminates parasitic draw on the TT battery. The solar should more than cover the parasitic draw and keep the TT batteries charged.

thanks...yes the solar easily keeps the battery up....even after a heavy use (propane heater fan, and water pump while showering)....it's back at full charge with less than an hr. of full daylight...
the main reason I got a solar panel was because my trailer has an electric slide, electric awning and electric hitch lift so I wouldn't want to get up and want to leave first thing in the morning after using lights etc. and not have enough power to pull my slide in etc....

[limbery]

KD4UPL wrote:
If you're driving a Chevy the charge line in the 7 pin is hot even with the key off. I happen to like it that way but that's another topic.
So, yes, if you have a solar panel it will charge both batteries.
If your truck disconnects the charge line with the key off then the salesman was wrong and there was no need to unplug to begin with.

thanks...It's a Buick Enclave so probably same as a chevy?...so I think the salesman was right in that it's hot even when the key is off and that the solar panel is probably charging both batteries...hence I shouldn't need to unplug it...

[KD4UPL]

If you're driving a Chevy the charge line in the 7 pin is hot even with the key off. I happen to like it that way but that's another topic.
So, yes, if you have a solar panel it will charge both batteries.
If your truck disconnects the charge line with the key off then the salesman was wrong and there was no need to unplug to begin with.

[canoe_on_top]

The solenoid is not the same as a battery cut off switch. The solenoid will isolate your TV battery from the TT when the ignition is off. A cut off switch eliminates parasitic draw on the TT battery. The solar should more than cover the parasitic draw and keep the TT batteries charged.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

My solar cost $2500. It has paid for itself a multitude of times. I'll be upgrading or redoing the system next summer, since the original design was not set up for full time use.

Dick_B wrote:
A slightly off topic question but will the solar panel ever pay for itself?

[limbery]

OP here...to clarify, I know that the wiring is hooked up to be charging the TT while driving...it's just that the dealer pointed out to me that there was no cut-off switch on the trailer and said that it would draw from the truck if I left it plugged in.... I had the solar panel installed at another dealer afterwards and was just wondering if I needed to be concerned about unplugging anymore and also if the solar would be sending a charge to the TV as well since it's all hooked up in that circuit?
I'll have a look for a solenoid like you've described Tequila....so does that do the same thing as an isolation switch?....and if so, then I guess the answer to my question above would be no, it wouldn't pass a charge from the trailer's solar to the TV....

[Tequila]

If you had your towing package installed properly, your truck battery will be isolated when the ignition is off. Easy to test. Sit in your truck and trun the ignition on without firing it, you will hear the solenoid, they are quite load. They are usually mounted on the firewall on the drivers side in the engine compartment. Looks like a silver cylinder with 3 wires going to it. They are certainly installed in any truck used to haul a Truck Camper, where the RV is seldom detached.

As far as solar is concerned, it will help your batteries last longer. It is important to regularly check the battery fluid levels. Persoanlly I would not be without at least 100 watts of solar, unless you use serviced RV parks 100% of the time.

[JN_B]

GrandpaKip wrote:

Dick_B wrote:
A slightly off topic question but will the solar panel ever pay for itself?

When you are out in the boonies with no hook up, it will.

Or if you do not have the room to park your trailer at your house over night (to plugin) prior to leaving on a trip. Now our trailer is 100% charged all the time, ready to go.

[GrandpaKip]

Dick_B wrote:
A slightly off topic question but will the solar panel ever pay for itself?

When you are out in the boonies with no hook up, it will.

[beemerphile1]

Depends on the wiring in the truck.

Do you realize we have no idea what truck or RV we are attempting to answer questions about?

Put your truck, RV, and any other pertinent info in your profile or signature.

[Dick_B]

A slightly off topic question but will the solar panel ever pay for itself?

[Crabbypatty]

I have never had a problem leaving it all connected while we are out doing something. Never heard of this. But when camping for the night I do unplug it from the TV

[Shadow_Catcher]

It does on mine, but I set it up that way deliberately. Check voltage at the battery using a meter, if the voltage is higher with it plugged in and the trailer in the sun then it is. This assumes it is a large enough to over come voltage loss, i.e. mine is 185W.
Why set it up this way, our Waeco 12V refrigerator resides in the back of the Subaru when towing or in camp sites with bears...