I'm using a Renogy Charger/Inverter combo in my 10' squaredrop trailer and primarily rely on shore power while traveling. However, I'm planning a week-long boondocking trip and want to set up solar. I'm curious whether it's okay to simply install the solar panels connected to an MPPT, and then to two 100Ah batteries on top of the existing charger. My main concern is ensuring safety when using both the MPPT and the charger on the batteries simultaneously, as I want to simplify things for my family so they don't have to switch between the two. Safety and fire risk are my top priorities. Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
It should generally work fine! My golf cart has a solar panel and when the sun hits it, my MPPT adds power on top of what the charger is providing. I've not noticed any negative effects. Just keep an eye on things; sometimes, it may cause the charger to switch off a bit early at the end of the charge, but that’s about it. Adding the MPPT and solar should be straightforward for you.
Did you do that setup yourself? I'm a bit worried about backfeeding- can the charger push electricity into the MPPT or vice versa?