Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnsrt
Regarding my Airstream Interstate, do I need to switch the main battery disconnect on or off for the solar panel to work....does the inverter/converter need to be on. Obviously I'm a bit confused on how this all relates and works.
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Your inverter/
charger will only provide 12VDC charging voltage to your batteries when shore/generator power is present and should not effect the operation of your solar charge controller. Your solar should be charging the batteries any time there is sun shining on the panel (and it is not being shaded by your mushroom antenna), which unfortunately will be most of the time as it is placed directly over the rear/curb side corner of the panel. If you do have shore power available, your Magnum inverter/charger will do an outstanding job of properly charging your batteries. Unfortunately, that can not be said of the single stage Atkinson solar controller that you have from Airstream.
FWIW, Airstream should have retained the 50 watt hard panel, as the 100 watt flex panel they now use is almost worthless by the way it is placed under your TV antenna and the wavy installation that they use as it rides over the roof ridges.
Just removed another one a couple of days ago in favor of 3 GS-100 hard panels and a real solar charge controller! No longer any worries about parasitic loads.
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