Very basic question about wiring for solar

[HandyRandy]

I use my TC mostly for business travel. I usually drive every day and park at night. Occasionally, I park for a couple days and a solar charging system would be great to help keep the battery charged without having to run the generator. I also occasionally stay at RV Parks for hookups. I don't need a survivalist run-for-days-only-on-solar set up. I have only one battery and limited roof space so the system will be pretty basic.

My simple question(s): Is the solar charge controller connected directly to the battery? If so, do you need to worry about the other charging sources - i.e. plugging in to AC and charging through the converter or running the generator?

Thanks for your insight,

[wintersun]

For your simple needs I would look for a 34V or greater panel so you can get buy with light gauge wiring - such as that provided by the camper manufacturer. Doubling the voltage means you can go down one or two sizes in the cable you need to run which makes the process a great deal easier. Lighter gauge wires are also more likely to be able to be connected directly to the solar charge controller without need for jumpers.

[zman-az]

http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com

[DiploStrat]

You may find this worth a read.

http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com

Opinionated? Yes, but based on my research, correct, too.

[sabconsulting]

This was also a concern of mine, but we haven't had a problem.

We have solar going through a charge controller to the battery. When the truck is running that charges the battery directly too. I have a small cheap battery charger in the camper if I need to charge the battery when I have hookup, but I rarely plug that in since the combination of other sources tends to provide enough power, especially given we drive almost every day.

My solar installation - though I probably have way more solar than my little battery will handle - however I don't live somewhere sunny, so I need every bit I can get 😉

The other thing I like with the solar is it maintains the battery all year around.

Steve.

[HandyRandy]

Thank you!!

[thundercloud]

HandyRandy wrote:


My simple question(s): Is the solar charge controller connected directly to the battery? If so, do you need to worry about the other charging sources - i.e. plugging in to AC and charging through the converter or running the generator?

Thanks for your insight,

Yes, no.

[time2roll]

Direct to the battery and no worries.

[Steve_in_29]

No you don't need to worry.

[Simplygib]

But you wouldn't need more watts unless you added more battery(s).

[Simplygib]

With just one battery you would probably be fine with a 100 watt 12v nominal panel on the roof and a 10 amp PWM charge controller wired directly to the battery. However, if you ever add more watts you'd have to go bigger on the controller or add another one to handle the new panel(s). As Mello Mike said, no need to worry about the other charging sources at all.

[Mello_Mike]

HandyRandy wrote:
I use my TC mostly for business travel. I usually drive every day and park at night. Occasionally, I park for a couple days and a solar charging system would be great to help keep the battery charged without having to run the generator. I also occasionally stay at RV Parks for hookups. I don't need a survivalist run-for-days-only-on-solar set up. I have only one battery and limited roof space so the system will be pretty basic.

My simple question(s): Is the solar charge controller connected directly to the battery? If so, do you need to worry about the other charging sources - i.e. plugging in to AC and charging through the converter or running the generator?

Thanks for your insight,

Yes, it does connect directly to the controller. No need to be concerned about the other charging sources. They won't interfere or damage the solar system while they charge.

[HandyRandy]

"Worry" = even if there is sun out, will I hurt anything if I wire the solar charge controller directly the the battery and plug into AC which will run the converter's charger too?

Thanks,

[2oldman]

yes, not sure what you mean by worry.