Question Hellooooo . . ready to do this again, I think!

[Debs FR3]

I just bought and brought home my 2022 Forest River FR3, a world of difference from the 1996 Georgie Boy I sold a couple of years ago! There is a solar panel on the roof to keep the house batteries charged. I am new to solar and am not sure if I should leave this running all winter or if I should turn it on sporadically? My dealership service is really not familiar either and of very little help with my questions so far. I have also been trying to winterize her and so far 2 days, really cold and it has been a struggle.

 

[Rich W.]

If its just one panel and its only keeping your battery bank topped off, it can stay on all the time but should have a charge controller between the panel and the battery bank. So check for that and if it doesn’t, a simple and inexpensive PWM controller will be sufficient. If it does have a controller, do a little research on the make and model and be sure its reliable and of good quality.

This is a Victron example and costs around $30:

BlueSolar PWM (12 / 24 / 48 Volt) - Victron Energy

Charge batteries in three phases and protect them against overload and short-circuiting with the BlueSolar PWM. Find a dealer near you.

www.victronenergy.com

This is discussion on PWM vs MPPT controllers

PWM vs. MPPT Solar Charge Controllers

In this article, we explain the difference between PWM and MPPT solar chargers and how Victron MPPT solar charge controllers act to maximize solar performance and extend the life of your battery bank.

icmontana.com

 

[GTS225]

Rich is right....make sure there's a charge controller between the panel and the battery(s). If so, great, if not, there's a risk of overcharging on a very sunny day. With a controller, you can then add panels as space permits, and do some boondocking without the need for a generator.

Roger