Circuit breaker for solar charge controller?

[TobyQuest]

So Victron have said that as my charge controller in internally fused, no external dust or circuit breaker is needed, but that there's no harm in adding one.

Well I know many of you have a circuit breaker in the cable between your charge controller positive terminal and the positive terminal on your battery.

However as many of us know, charge controllers can be blown up if you disconnect the battery cable(s) without first disconnecting the PV cables.

So my question is, in the case where the circuit breaker did trip or the fuse did blow, then that means there's no longer protection for the charge controller and if it's daylight, that could blow up /get damaged too.

Welcome your feedback

 

[Stealaway]

I have one of these in the line from the solar panels that I use as a switch to isolate and fuse them.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=303651781292

 

[eddie]

Correctly fitted you should have a fuse at the battery end and at the controller end and there is absolutely no reason to add anything else

 

[TobyQuest]

Ive put a 25A fuse between my PV battery cable and the battery.
But if it pops when its sunny, then the PV power going into the controller and not being able to get out will fry it as far as Ive understood from research.

 

[eddie]

Ive put a 25A fuse between my PV battery cable and the battery.
But if it pops when its sunny, then the PV power going into the controller and not being able to get out will fry it as far as Ive understood from research.

No it will be fine

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[Richard n Ann]

I've got a 60 amp circuit breaker in between the solar panel and the controller so it can be isolated, handy if you ever have to disconnect the battery, you can reconnect everything in the right order

 

[TobyQuest]

ok cool.

Thats a nice idea actually. Think I will add a circuit breaker there also then.

 

[Richard n Ann]

ok cool.

Thats a nice idea actually. Think I will add a circuit breaker there also then.

This thing popped up on my Facebook feed the other day, might be of use if you've got somewhere to mount it..

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=283896742558

 

[Richard n Ann]

This it what I've got on mine..

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=383674171430

 

[TobyQuest]

This thing popped up on my Facebook feed the other day, might be of use if you've got somewhere to mount it..

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=283896742558

Thats cute. What is the "out" for?

Richard and Ann, yes thats the thing i was thinking of using. Where abouts in the circuit do you have yours mounted?

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[Richard n Ann]

Thats cute. What is the "out" for?

Richard and Ann, yes thats the thing i was thinking of using. Where abouts in the circuit do you have yours mounted?

The out position means the knob comes off. My breaker is under the bench seat out of the way, being 60a it will never trip so doesn't need to be in a handy position.

 

[eddie]

Or pull the fuse out lol, same job

 

[Richard n Ann]

Or pull the fuse out lol, same job

Not quite, the fuse is on the battery circuit, ie between the battery and the controller, the breaker or switch we've been talking about is between the controller and solar panel and is for isolation purposes only.

I've got a 60 amp circuit breaker in between the solar panel and the controller

Unless I've misunderstood you... Quite possible as I've been drinking

 

[eddie]

Pull the fuse on the controller end and the panel is open circuit, the same as when we take them out of the box

There is absolutely no need for a circuit breaker

 

[Richard n Ann]

Different to our Votronic then. Pull the fuse on that and all the LEDs light up because the solar panel is still connected.