Should I disconnect solar charger?

[Jokaj]

My Micro Minnie has a 190 W solar panel on the roof. I have it covered at storage. Does the charge controller drain my battery if I don't get sun? If so, is there a disconnect for the charge controller or just pull the fuse? thanks

[BobC]

By covered storage, I assume you mean open storage with a roof. If open with a roof it will continue to charge your batteries via ambient and reflected light. If it's stored inside, it won't charge but shouldn't discharge them either since most solar installations are diode protected against reverse current flow. If you want to be absolutely sure, pulling the fuse will suffice.

[creativepart]

I have my RV with 300w of solar on the roof in covered open storage. I get very little solar production from the panels. In fact, even with everything off (chassis and house) in the stairwell there is not enough being added daily to maintain the batteries. And, I’m in South Texas!

I have to admit that I don’t know for sure but it’s my opinion that the controller is not using any power from the battery bank. There isn’t an off/on switch… well maybe there’s one in the VictronConnect app. Humm, I’ll have to try that and see.

[creativepart]

I can show how little solar power I’m gettin from my panels in covered open storage.

Here’s a history report from my VictronConnect app. You can see it’s next to nothing. Some days it is nothing.

[BobC]

I guess it all depends on your orientation of your storage to the sun, the clearance to the roof, the reflectivity of the roof, etc. My TT kept its two 6V golf cart batteries topped off with 200W of panels in covered storage here in the Sacramento Area. I had a battery switch that shut everything off except the tongue jack.

[Jokaj]

Hi. Thanks for the responses. I have the TT covered and it’s In Storage so basically no sun reaching the panels. I should have been more clear. ��

[Marine359]

Originally Posted by Jokaj

Hi. Thanks for the responses. I have the TT covered and it’s In Storage so basically no sun reaching the panels. I should have been more clear. ��

Is there a need for power in the MM while in storage? If no, you’ll still have some drain on batteries from devices that bypass the disconnect switch. Avoid drain by unhooking battery terminals if you have LiFePo4. If you have FLA, use a NOCO if there’s a ac outlet nearby.

[AJMike]

Our RV is in covered storage and the solar panels pick up enough ambient light to make sure the batteries are always at 100%. The panels are in shade but it is enough to produce a small charge and top off the batteries. Granted, I am in southern Arizona and the sun is very strong here, but even so I would think that it would work in a similar way in other places.

Most of the solar panels I have seen will even pick up power from overhead lights so even if your solar panels are inside a building, if the ceiling lights are on I would think that the panels would still produce power.

[NormD]

Does your controller discharge your battery during the night? Probably not. As a check, disconnect one lead of the controller from the battery and measure the resistance of the controller with your VOM meter. Swap meter leads to be sure you are checking the correct polarity. If there is measurable resistance, divide your 12.6 volt battery voltage by that measured resistance to determine the battery drain.