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Old 12-10-2017, 12:57 PM   #1
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Battery Question

My 2017 Pinnacle has solar panels on the roof. It has been parked for the winter, but is not covered. Based on advice from the dealer, I switched off the battery disconnect rather than removing the batteries. My questions are, will the solar panels still charge the batteries even with the disconnect switch off, and will the batteries charge if I connect to shore power or do I need to switch the disconnect back on?
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Jim
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Old 12-10-2017, 01:35 PM   #2
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Disconnect has to be on.
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Old 12-10-2017, 01:48 PM   #3
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Better to fully charge the battery, disconnect it and bring it inside if snow is expected, and the panels will be obstructed.
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Old 12-10-2017, 01:55 PM   #4
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Do you have power close enough to the trailer to just hook up a trickle charger. This way you don't have to worry about solar charging and can keep the disconnect off.
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Old 12-11-2017, 12:58 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by Sundancer330 View Post
Do you have power close enough to the trailer to just hook up a trickle charger. This way you don't have to worry about solar charging and can keep the disconnect off.
Thanks for all the answers. Regarding the trickle charger, if the batteries are hooked in parallel, will one trickle charger keep them all up?

Also, would the same thing be accomplished by just plugging in the trailer to shore power?

Thanks,

Jim
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Old 12-11-2017, 01:02 PM   #6
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Yes one charger will do both batteries. You can plug in and use the converter but I don't like to put all those hours on it just to charge batteries. I figure in the long run a trickle charger is cheaper to replace.
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Old 12-11-2017, 03:24 PM   #7
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Our solar charge controller manufacturer Blue Sky suggested covering the panels anytime we use the battery disconnect. Thanks
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Old 12-12-2017, 06:37 AM   #8
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Better to fully charge the battery, disconnect it and bring it inside if snow is expected, and the panels will be obstructed.
I had a similar problem and did this.
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Old 12-12-2017, 08:26 AM   #9
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The problem is when you have two batteries connected together a battery charger will shut off when it sees one of the batteries is fully charged. I installed a Perko Marine (red) dual battery switch. Both, Right, Left or Off. This is important if you have different amp batteries. Also if one or your batteries goes dead you can use the good battery. While plugged in I sometime just put one battery on charge at a time. Check the owners manual and you will see that the battery switch does not shut off everything. Leaving the detectors on.
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