solar wiring chart for dummies

[RogerR]

I am installing a 1 battery, 2 panel with mppt controller setup.


I have tried asking several times at Renogy and doing research and can't answer a simple question(s).
Should I have a battery cutoff switch only to the house charger and leave the MPPT controller attached to the battery or should the switch cut off both the battery and the MPPT at the same time.


I do have a solar to MPPT switch installed already and fuses on both the solar panels and mppt to battery connection.



All the wiring diagrams I have found ignore the circuit that goes to the main power panel from the battery.



I plan to just let the battery 'sleep' in the RV over the winter disconnected from solar and all loads so no low temp problems will occur.

[EJH]

Originally Posted by RogerR

I am installing a 1 battery, 2 panel with mppt controller setup.


I have tried asking several times at Renogy and doing research and can't answer a simple question(s).
Should I have a battery cutoff switch only to the house charger and leave the MPPT controller attached to the battery or should the switch cut off both the battery and the MPPT at the same time.


I do have a solar to MPPT switch installed already and fuses on both the solar panels and mppt to battery connection.



All the wiring diagrams I have found ignore the circuit that goes to the main power panel from the battery.



I plan to just let the battery 'sleep' in the RV over the winter disconnected from solar and all loads so no low temp problems will occur.

If you have a shutoff between the solar panels and MPPT, you can get by without a shutoff between the battery and MPPT. In fact, IIRC (ask @TOM_AZ) this is how Jayco does the factory solar. They always have the solar topping up the battery, even when the battery disconnect to the rest of the trailer is turned off. No harm to have a shutoff between the battery and MPPT though remember to never run the solar with the battery disconnected (you can burn out your MPPT controller).

[wordsmyth]

Following. I’m trying to get my head around how to not cook the battery.

[TomC_AZ]

Here is the best diagram I have seen on this topic. It might have more items in it however it gets the point across very well and shows where disconnects/breakers/fuses etc all should be.

With that being said, do you have any of the solar already installed or any solar of any kind installed with a controller? If so what type etc? What type of battery are you doing? (LA/AGM/LiFePo4)

If its all net new its harder and easier at the same time. Harder because you have to figure out the wire routing, easier as you determine where to plug into the various systems such as the 12v. Which could be as easy as the existing battery disconnect.

[wordsmyth]

Originally Posted by TomC_AZ

Here is the best diagram I have seen on this topic. It might have more items in it however it gets the point across very well and shows where disconnects/breakers/fuses etc all should be.

With that being said, do you have any of the solar already installed or any solar of any kind installed with a controller? If so what type etc? What type of battery are you doing? (LA/AGM/LiFePo4)

If its all net new its harder and easier at the same time. Harder because you have to figure out the wire routing, easier as you determine where to plug into the various systems such as the 12v. Which could be as easy as the existing battery disconnect.

Tom, thanks for the diagram. I'm into my pre-season reading and the chart is helpful to this electrically challenged gray-beard.

Best to you - Rick

[ependydad]

I get disconnect happy. I want to be able to isolate every portion of the system.

So for me, I'll have a circuit breaker before and after the MPPT.

I'll have a disconnect that lets me disconnect the house load/system.

And I'll have a master disconnect that disconnects everything at once.