Posted: 6/6/2007 3:41:07 AM EDT
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I just purchased a 18 watt solar panel w/charge controller for my stand alone camper. My idea was to hook it up directly to my two deep discharge batteries. This way they would always be charged and topped off for me. The question is that when I hook up my generator, the campers 'power station' automatically senses the AC current and begins to charge the batteries. Will there be a conflict with the solar panel? Would I have to install a switch disconnecting the solar panel? Thanks for any input. |
Here is the panel I bought: http://www.outlawcamping.com/store-products-25012KIT-ICP-Solar-Technogies-Sunsei-Solar-Charger-SE-1200-18-Watt-Kit-RV-Solar-Panel_17053087.html I surely hope it is! |
I just found out it had a build in diode to prevent discharge. My concern was that when my generator was charging the batteries by default, would the solar panel be affected as it would also be charging the batteries. I know when they reach full charge, my camper 'power station' switches to trickle mode. I guess the charge controller from the panel does the same. |
| Be sure to connect your panel thru a fuse AT the battery. Otherwise if there were some sort of failure in the wire or panel you could have a red hot filament all along the small wires [usually supplied with panels and most everything else powered by 12VDC], until your trailer burns down. |
Shouldn't be a problem. Your solar panel is only supplying DC current to the batteries, not AC current to your "power station". So, your "power station" shouldn't even know that the panel is there. |