Solar Power / Battery when not in use (2 Viewers)

[Andi1455]

Good Morning ! Complete newbies - Upgraded out tent to our Motorhome and we cant wait to get on the road.
I have a question - Our MH is fitted with a solar panel, we understand it charges the leisure battery etc etc My question is; When we are not using the MH or before you set off, the manual says to switch the battery off......with a SP surely you would always keep the battery on? Any advice would be great. Sorry - it maybe a completely stupid question to most.

 

[Raul]

You should never switch the battery supply to a solar controller with solar connected. You will damage the controller.

 

[Ingwe]

Not clear why (and how) the manual says to switch off the battery before you set off. The solar panel should charge your leisure battery and may also charge your cab battery. If the SP doesn’t charge the cab battery, then unless you’re on hook up, your cab battery will go flat over a few weeks and this can damage your battery as well as meaning you can’t start the van. You may fit a Battery Master which takes surplus capacity from your leisure battery and trickle feeds the cab battery.
Unless you intend storing the van for a long time without use when you could remove the batteries and keep them charged, I’d say keep the SP charging the battery or batteries.

p.s. And no questions are stupid. Everything possible related to motorhomes has been asked and probably answered on this forum. Enjoy your new way of life!

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[fat haggis]

It may be referred to the 12 volt control panel. Switch that off. UK vans like that. As has been said do not disconnect the solar controller on and off. Leave it alone.

 

[ManTheVan]

Just leave the solar connected and turn off the main power control panel in the MH if you want. Some people leave the power on all the time. The solar controller will manage the battery for you as long as it has been set up correctly with the appropriate profile.

Welcome, BTW!

 

[Andi1455]

Thank you all and thank you for your replies. We believe the previous owner, who knows his stuff and the van is well looked after just left the power on all the time, he said to us, just leave it on but I wanted to make sure we were not doing anything incorrect by doing this.

The manual states: Preparing for the road; battery selection is in the off position.

I guess the manual does not take into account solar........

We will get there.

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[Richard n Ann]

Thank you all and thank you for your replies. We believe the previous owner, who knows his stuff and the van is well looked after just left the power on all the time, he said to us, just leave it on but I wanted to make sure we were not doing anything incorrect by doing this.

The manual states: Preparing for the road; battery selection is in the off position.

I guess the manual does not take into account solar........

We will get there.

Even if the battery selection is in the off position the solar will still be connected to and charge the battery... Unless it's been wired in a very unusual way

 

[Lenny HB]

Everything left on in my van including the control panel, only exception is I switch off the water pump when the van is not in use.