Question about my solar set-up

[Bad Obsession]

Most of those on here frequently know of my set-up already. 100W flexible panel that I take on and off of my bimini. The Charge Controller is a Genasun GV-10.

My panel only sits on the bimini when I am cruising. I don't bother putting it up unless I am cruising and need sustained charging.

Still, when Saga is sitting there waiting to be used there is that tiny little light blinking 24/7 since the one end is hooked up into my batteries.

It would be a pain to disconnect the controller from the batteries when not in use.

Would it be a good idea to put a switch on one side of the wiring so I can shut off the power going to the controller when the panel isn't up and in use?

When the panel isn't up it is stored in the cabin, unplugged.

Any thoughts, suggestions, or ideas would be appreciated. I just hate the thought of using any power when the boat is not in use. I don't leave the electrical hooked up unless I am at my boat as well.

 

[LeoLambert310]

I have the same system only 2 flex panels, but what I did was wire from the controllers to a Blue Sea fuse box from this unit to the main battery bus. When the panel are not in use I just have to remove the fuse and this isolates the controllers as each controller has its own fuse.

 

[Charlie Jones s/v Tehani]

a good controller shunts the juice off the bats. I ave a Blue seas controller, rated well over my solar capacity, and basically let it do it' s thing. That's what controllers are for

 

[Bad Obsession]

What size fuse would you use for a 100Watt solar panel?

 

[LeoLambert310]

I currently use 30 amp on each controller. This was recommended by a elec. eng.

 

[Ron20324]

[QUOTE="]What size fuse would you use for a 100Watt solar panel?[/QUOTE]

What size wire and what is the max s/c amp output of the panel?

 

[Bad Obsession]

It is a 100 Watt panel and I have 8 gauge wiring, I believe.

 

[Ron20324]

It is a 100 Watt panel and I have 8 gauge wiring, I believe.

Max s/c amp output?

 

[LeoLambert310]

I used 10 gauge to lesson line lost from the panels to the fuse box then 6 gauge to the battery bus, in doing so I now have extra connection spots.

 

[agprice22]

Ron wants the amps the wire will be carrying because the fuse protects the wire...

 

[walt]

One of the things I like about the Genasun controllers is the very low "night current". The GV10 shows this as 0.9 ma
http://genasun.com/all-products/solar-charge-controllers/gv-10-pb-10a-solar-charge-controller/ This small current was important to me since Im trying to get by with as small of panel as possible but it also should help with your issue of not having the panel hooked up.

"Almost for sure" not having the panel connected looks the same to the controller as the night so according to the spec, the controller should be drawing only 0.9 ma (.0009 amps) without the panel hooked up.

That tiny current is only .0216 amp*hours per day and also only .1512 amp* hours per week. I dont know what battery you have but the discharge due to the controller is likely way under the self discharge of the battery. You might still use the fuse idea or a switch but if you forget to pull the fuse when you leave the boat.. likely nothing to worry about.