Connecting Solar Panels To Rv Battery

I recommend the renogy 100w suitcase with solar charge controller.

Connecting solar panels to rv battery.

If you are a do it yourselfer you may be thinking of designing and installing your own solar charging system. When solar is providing power it piggy backs with the 120v charger converter. Basically solar panels collect sunlight and convert it to electrical energy then charge controllers regulate and distribute the energy through wires connected to your rv batteries. You get a solar panel and run wires from it to a control box.

Solar systems can be built with individual components or can be purchased as solar panel kits. When the sun is out the solar panel generates electricity which is controlled and properly distributed by the control box to the batteries. Connecting solar panels to rv zamp connections we ve all heard that solar ready rvs and campers that use zamp connections have to use the zamp proprietary solar panel kits. This allows us to disconnect them from the charge controller for times we need to fully power down the system.

What types of solar panels are available on the market. It turns out that while the plugs are sae plugs that zamp covers the positive terminal of their sae plugs instead of the negative terminal like most other companies. The basic set up goes like this. Never connect a solar panel directly to a battery.

Connect the positive wire from the solar panel to a battery cable with a fusible link between the battery and the solar panel. The regulator will either be mounted on the back of the solar panel or within a battery management system bms. This will help prevent a fire or battery explosion in the event of a short in the wiring. Connect the negative wire of the solar panel to the negative terminal of the battery.

That control box is connected to one or more 6 or 12 volt dc batteries like the one you have in your car. In the rv does the charge controller have leads for inputs if not and you are directly connecting the panel to the battery leads you will have to install an additional caharge controller if so just connect the panel and leads to the rv controller which i assume is connected to the batteries. It needs a regulator between the panel and the battery. The regulator regulates funny that the voltage from the solar panel and protects the battery from over voltage.

These come with alligator clips so you can connect them straight to the battery. Installing a solar charging system can have great benefits for rv owners looking for an alternative way to keep rv batteries charged. Can a solar panel overcharge a battery.