I'm converting a school bus into a camper for off-road trips and I've built an electrical panel with two large disconnects: one for solar and one for the battery negative. Recently, I realized I need two solar arrays and two charge controllers, but I only designed one large disconnect for the solar panel input. Can I connect the negatives of both solar arrays to this single disconnect, tying them together to the PV- of both controllers, while keeping the PV positive from each array separate to their respective charge controllers? This way, I could use the single disconnect to cut power to the solar input when not in use.
2 Answers
I'm not a huge fan of running two solar array negatives to a single disconnect like that. I'd recommend fusing each of the PV strings individually instead of using a disconnect. Honestly, why would you need to disconnect the PV strings at all? Just let them be connected.
Yeah, I think having fuses on the positives for each solar array is a good safety measure.
What type of disconnect did you install? I have an IMO disconnect that can turn off both of my arrays at the same time. They even have models with a switch for up to four arrays!
Mine is just a battery disconnect rated for a semi. It's overkill for my setup, but it was a good price and matches my battery disconnect.
I get your point, but my charge controller says I should have the battery hooked up whenever I attach the solar array. I don't want everything powered when not in use, which is why I thought about disconnecting the solar first.