Fitting a Ctek MXS7 charger when already have solar panels (1 Viewer)

[Wknight23]

I want to charge up my leisure battery using a Ctek charger. I don’t want to remove anything as I dont know how to isolate the solar panels prior to removing the connections to the battery, I can’t lift the battery out at the moment and I don’t have anyone to ask.I believe the mains charger is dead before you ask.

Is it safe to connect the Ctek charger to the leisure battery with everything else in place.

 

[pappajohn]

Yes, when your onboard charger was working everything was connected so no reason for it not to be the same.

 

[Mike800966]

Sounds like a basic plan to me and you are right not to disconnect the solar panel from the battery or the unloaded panel may well damage the solar regulator, provided of course that you have one.
Mike

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[autorouter]

Yes, when your onboard charger was working everything was connected so no reason for it not to be the same.

Agreed.

The CTEK charger and the solar regulator will each have an electronic 'one-way valve' which prevents the electric current running backwards into the charger or the regulator. Whichever is providing the highest voltage will charge the battery.

One thing to watch out for is, the electronic 'one-way valve' may have failed on the defective charger. Not common, but it does happen. If you have unexplained battery drain, look at disconnecting the old charger.

For the future, it would be a good idea to know how to disconnect and reconnect everything properly, in case you need to isolate the battery for example.

 

[Wknight23]

Many thanks everyone for the replies, most impressed as this is my first post.

Ctek charger all connected and it seems to be doing its job, battery is returning to life