Greetings -- so I currently have my van (2002 w/V10) in storage on shore power. I recently had a solar panel installed on roof - with 30 amp controller. Controller is currently still turned "on" - but van is in a covered area - receiving no sun.
Would it be better to turn controller "off" during this covered storage - or does it make no difference at all ? Extend the life of controller if "off."
So if you have a off switch, it might be worthwhile to use it (there is a small keep alive current draw). You need to remember to turn back on. That said, with the panels covered up. it would be in nighttime mode, which is a mode it is in about 50% of the time even when not covered.
I don't know why it would be an issue. No different that being outside at night. I'd be more worried about supplying a 24/7 automatic high amp charge being supplied to a maintenance free starting battery. The main thing is to monitor the charge. If the batteries are in good shape the charge should taper off to about an amp. If you see the charger ramp up it could indicate an issue. I learned this the hard way. I had left the inverter to the charge mode while parked. I smelled the starting battery off gassing and looked at the charger display to see it was running about 30+ amps. The bad battery was too hot to touch. Switching to AGM starting batteries resolved the problem. My inverter supplies a light charge without engaging the charge mode and enough to keep the batteries topped off. I always plug into shore power but rarely put it in charge mode. My house batteries are 11 years old and the starting batteries are 8 years old but are also charged via solar daily so YMMV. A good battery monitor is worth the money in a big way.
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2006 Ford 6.0PSD EB-50/E-PH SMB 4X4 Rock Crawler Trailer
Sportsmobile (AKA Money Pit)
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