Solar panels and battery cut off

[irish31790]

I have a new 5er. It came with solar charger - Go Power brand. I’ve only had it a couple of weeks and haven’t had a chance to do much with ie because of the holidays and weather. My question has to do with the batteries and the solar chargers. When I put the rig in storage I hit the battery disconnect. I assumed the solar charger would still charge with battery cut off. But when I returned the batteries were dead. I guess I shouldn’t use the battery cut-off??

[time2roll]

You have two problems.

First it would seem the cut off switch is allowing something to continue to drain your battery. Need to rewire something.

Second you need to move the solar controller connection to be direct to the battery terminals. BTW best practice to always disconnect the solar panels from the controller before you disconnect the battery from the controller.

[justme]

pianotuna wrote:
panels-->switch-->controller-->fuse-->battery bank-->cut off switch-->loads.

Never have the panels send power to the controller without the battery connected.

That is very good advise because when the solar charger is unloaded with the panels connected the voltage from the panel to the controller exceeds the rating of the semiconductors in the charge controller-- thus destroying the controller.

[irish31790]

Looks like I have some homework to do! Thanks for the ideas gang.

[pianotuna]

panels-->switch-->controller-->fuse-->battery bank-->cut off switch-->loads.

Never have the panels send power to the controller without the battery connected.

[Johnny_G1]

Battery must not be cut off from solar, its good bye controller if that is the way it is wired, check and be sure solar is wired to controller and direct to battery.

[Lwiddis]

Yes, a couple of weeks disconnected shouldn’t drain them.

[jdc1]

A couple of weeks with the batteries disconnected should not happen,even if the solar is not directly connected. I would start by testing those batteries. I'll bet the place you bought the rv had it connected to the shore power while you checked it out?

[laknox]

irish31790 wrote:
I have a new 5er. It came with solar charger - Go Power brand. I’ve only had it a couple of weeks and haven’t had a chance to do much with ie because of the holidays and weather. My question has to do with the batteries and the solar chargers. When I put the rig in storage I hit the battery disconnect. I assumed the solar charger would still charge with battery cut off. But when I returned the batteries were dead. I guess I shouldn’t use the battery cut-off??

Sounds like the solar is wired in such a way that it doesn't charge when the disconnect is off. Same with shore power; if the disconnect is off, batteries won't charge. I'd leave the disconnect on, OR re-wire the solar direct to the batteries.

Lyle

[Lwiddis]

Seems as if it comes with “solar prep” but not a solar system. Did you get a solar package?

[Lwiddis]

Guess not. Do you have a wiring diagram? Did you check at the battery for any charging? Does the controller indicate charging? What’s the total solar watts? Which controller do you have?