Solar/Battery Usage - 2024 Greyhawk 27U

[rockymountainRVer]

New to solar charging on our new Greyhawk 27U. When storing, even for a few weeks until the next trip, do you just turn off the battery isolation switch (which still allows for phantom power draws), or disconnect each battery’s negative terminal? Also, the new rig has two Harris deep cycle flooded batteries, but the cables cover the cell caps, making it imposible to check water levels, unless the cables are disconnected for access. I am thinking of switching out to deep cycle AGM batteries and adding a disconnect to each negative terminal. Your thoughts and comments will be appreciated.

 

[Handieman1965]

My 27U is stored inside with a skylight for some lighting and it still produces solar charging. Next time you're at the RV look at the panel right behind the passenger seat on the wall, you can check if it is charging from the solar. Batt 1 is house batteries and Batt 2
is the chassis. Top number is the solar panel output. I have everything turned off and with all cables hooked up to batteries.

 

[ait109]

If you have the factory solar using the GoPower controller, then it should be hooked up to both battery banks as Handieman described. You don't have to disconnect anything and solar will keep the two house batteries and E450 chassis battery fully charged.

In my rig I switched out the bathroom fan with a MaxxFan Deluxe that automatically turns on based on temperature to help ventilate the rig on hot days here in Phoenix. So I don't even shut off the main 12V power when the RV is in (uncovered) storage (I do make sure everything else is off, including the sony headunit display). Every time I stop by to check, GoPower reports that both batteries are full and in float mode.

As for checking the battery water levels, I agree the cable positions are a nuisance and I swear that Harris battery has had leaks from day 1. Once I had severe corrosion/build up on the Harris positive terminal (the other battery is a dealer installed FVP). I had to loosen a number of connections to clean up the corrosion, and then I disconnected and repositioned cables so that I could pop open the caps and fill with water. BE VERY CAREFUL when doing this as there are a lot of power available in the batteries as well as a charging current coming from the solar controller; seek advice if you aren't sure of what you are doing.

 

[rockymountainRVer]

Thanks ait109. I will be replacing the Harris batteries with AGM batteries to eliminate having to check water level.