Solar and Disconnect

[RoadDog66]

So we’ve never had solar panel before and the new TT has the standard 200W on the roof. Not sure if the battery disconnect switch affects the battery charging or just the power delivery to the TT.

Can anybody tell me if the battery trickle charges regardless of the disconnect position (on/off)?

Thanks

[MGD1961]

Originally Posted by RoadDog66

So we’ve never had solar panel before and the new TT has the standard 200W on the roof. Not sure if the battery disconnect switch affects the battery charging or just the power delivery to the TT.

Can anybody tell me if the battery trickle charges regardless of the disconnect position (on/off)?

Thanks

On our trailer the battery disconnect doesn’t interrupt charging from the panels or the converter. It only disconnects loads.

But I have heard of those that do.

[RoadDog66]

Ok thanks. I’m hoping it charges all the time. Not a fan of electrical work so not certain how to check it.

[MGD1961]

Originally Posted by RoadDog66

Ok thanks. I’m hoping it charges all the time. Not a fan of electrical work so not certain how to check it.

It’s hardly electrical work to find out. Like it or not you should have a multimeter in you tool bag.

With the switch off. Unplugged from shore power Check battery voltage at battery. Note the measurement. Plug in the shore power and see if it goes up. If it does then you are charging.

[RoadDog66]

Yeah I have one of those stupid HF multi meters that has too many choices. I need to get a simple one and once I do I guess I would check solar charging ability by testing the battery with the battery disconnect in the on and off positions as well.

[Caintuck]

I have a flagstaff epro 19fbs and the solar panel continues to charge the battery even when the battery disconnect is off. My battery is now 4 years old and still at 14 volts and doing good.

[reidfo]

Originally Posted by RoadDog66

Yeah I have one of those stupid HF multi meters that has too many choices. I need to get a simple one and once I do I guess I would check solar charging ability by testing the battery with the battery disconnect in the on and off positions as well.

Which multimeter do you have? If it's the blue 9-function one they advertise, then I'm inclined to agree with you on the "stupid" comment. I've owned and used multimeters for 40 years and that one confuses me.

Get a good high quality multimeter, even if it has all those "extra" choices. A good one will be auto-ranging, so you don't have to select between voltage levels, resistance levels, etc. With a decent (i.e. not HF) meter you'll really only need three settings to work on your RV: AC volts, DC volts, and resistance/continuity. A bonus would be if it has a clamp to measure current flowing through a conductor.

[RoadDog66]

It’s an older red HF one with at least 9 useless functions.

[GolfingDave]

If all you want to know is if it is charging, google MT-110 ammeter.

Just lay along the cable going to the battery and it will show which way the current is flowing.

A few on ebay. I've had something similar for close to fifty years. Crude but it works.

[Aussieguy]

DC clamp style multimeter
for HOBBYIST non professional can be found for less than $100
quality will be OK for camping purposes

[DJ252]

Originally Posted by RoadDog66

So we’ve never had solar panel before and the new TT has the standard 200W on the roof. Not sure if the battery disconnect switch affects the battery charging or just the power delivery to the TT.

Can anybody tell me if the battery trickle charges regardless of the disconnect position (on/off)?

Thanks

I just upgraded to lithium batteries and moved the location to inside, so I can tell you what was on a 2024 Surveyor 252RBLE.

The stock solar system, does not have a disconnect, other than a setting you can choose, in the solar controller menu. I made a cardboard cover for mine, when changing the wiring. It does have a small, self resetting circuit breaker, that was mounted under the front of the trailer, where several others, also reside.

In the stock, main battery disconnect, there was a power line for the jack, mounted to the hot side.

Beyond the disconnect, the hot line goes to a small bussbar, that connects to several other self resetting circuit breakers, that feed some other (unknown to me) circuits.

So, the end result was,

1) Solar is connected to the battery all the time, unless you choose to turn it off at the charge controller.

2) The jack is hot all the time.

3) The main battery disconnect, shuts off everything else.

Your trailer may vary.