Solar Battery Charging System

[PaPa Bear]

I recently purchased the components to put together a 200W solar charging system form Renology. For those of you that have seen his post, I pretty much followed Tucson Jim's system that he has lined out on an earlier thread. Only real difference is I got a different controller. I got a RENOGY® ViewStar 30 Amp Negative grounded PWM Charge Controller. The question I have is; The wiring diagram for the connection from the controller to the batteries show an inline fuse on the NEGATIVE lead. Shouldn't the fuse be on the POSITIVE lead? As you have figured out I'm not a solar expert! I really don't want to hook it up wrong and fry something right off the bat! Any advise will be appreciated!

Thanks
Doc aka Papa Bear

[Paul & Deb]

My Renogy kit comes tomorrow so I will be eager to hear the answer here.

Are you setting yours up to be portable like Jim's? I think I'm going to go ahead and roof mount mine.

[PaPa Bear]

I Hinged mine together so I can fold them together and then made some legs out of 1 1/5" aluminum angle iron. So I am going portable for now. I had read on here somewhere that Grand Design would void the roof warranty if you mounted anything up there! Have you seen/heard that? Probably had rather have them on the roof!

[Paul & Deb]

I Hinged mine together so I can fold them together and then made some legs out of 1 1/5" aluminum angle iron. So I am going portable for now. I had read on here somewhere that Grand Design would void the roof warranty if you mounted anything up there! Have you seen/heard that? Probably had rather have them on the roof!

I admit that I don't pay attention to what does or doesn't void warrantees. I'm willing to deal with that if or when the time comes. There are probably many thousands of RVs with solar mounted on their roofs without issue.

[PaPa Bear]

I tend to agree with you on that. Kind of like "if you don't like the answer your gonna get then don't ask the question"! What controller did you get with your system?

[Silverbeard]

"The question I have is; The wiring diagram for the connection from the controller to the batteries show an inline fuse on the NEGATIVE lead. Shouldn't the fuse be on the POSITIVE lead?"

I am surprised that the diagram from Renogy showed the fuse on the Negitive lead. I went online to Renogy and looked at a couple of diagrams there and they both showed the fuse on the POSITIVE lead.

The fuse should go on the POSITIVE lead close to the solar panel. The idea is to protect components down stream from the source (the solar panel). Renogy sells fuse holders that plug into the MC4 connectors.

[CWSWine]

I Hinged mine together so I can fold them together and then made some legs out of 1 1/5" aluminum angle iron. So I am going portable for now. I had read on here somewhere that Grand Design would void the roof warranty if you mounted anything up there! Have you seen/heard that? Probably had rather have them on the roof!

This is what I was told that if done by a certified RV tech then doesn't void the warranty. Bet you can't guess who told me that? - Yep the dealer with certified techs.... Added that question to my list of question that I going to ask on our factory tour on the 28th of June.

[SkiSmuggs]

The roof warranty should be like any other where if the problem is caused by the panels, then it is not covered. Otherwise the warranty should still be intact.

[Paul & Deb]

I tend to agree with you on that. Kind of like "if you don't like the answer your gonna get then don't ask the question"! What controller did you get with your system?

This is the kit I got http://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Monocry...%20panel%20kit. It's very similar to yours but an extra panel I think.

It comes with a Renogy Wanderer 30A PWM Charge Controller, I already have a good monitor so I didn't think I would need the display. Plus it will be in the front storage and not in plain sight. Other than that I think they function the same.

[PaPa Bear]

[QUOTE][I am surprised that the diagram from Renogy showed the fuse on the Negitive lead. I went online to Renogy and looked at a couple of diagrams there and they both showed the fuse on the POSITIVE lead.

The fuse should go on the POSITIVE lead close to the solar panel. The idea is to protect components down stream from the source (the solar panel). Renogy sells fuse holders that plug into the MC4 connectors/QUOTE]


I upgraded the controller to a ViewStar VS3024BN 30A PWM. The wiring diagrams on the Renology site are for the Wanderer controller. I agree that the fuse is usually on the positive lead, but the wiring diagram with the ViewStar plainly shows it being on the Negative lead. It is a common negative ground controller. Does that shead any light on why they say to wire the fuse into the negative lead? What would happen if I put a fuse in both the Positive and Negative Leads....just to cover everything??