Wiring For Solar

Lightningdon

For those of you who have added solar to your teardrop, have you used a circuit breaker or fuse in line? Where? Most wiring diagrams I am seeing do not include a fuse or circuit breakers. What size fuse/ circuit breaker should I use if needed? I am using a 100W flex panel and a charge controller.

almonde

An in-line fuse somewhere between the controller and the battery isn’t a bad idea. It should be on the +’ve wire. A 10 amp continuous rating is fine for a 100w panel. A rule of thumb is to go with the rating of the controller, 10 amp controller, 10 amp fuse. Note the rating on most fuses is the continuous rating, not what amperage it will blow at.

Michigan_Mike

It's best to keep the fuse closer to the battery. If you are using a Zamp solar plug-in port on your trailer that wire should be fused with a 30 amp fuse. Zamp does incorporate an in-line fuse on their panels and believe it is around a 10 amp fuse.

almonde

Good point Mike, the Zamp connector inside the tub would be a sensible place to put a fuse.

Lightningdon

I am not using a Zamp panel and will be bypassing the plug connections in the front tub. I plan to run the cables directly to the charge controller. So I should use a circuit breaker or fuse inline between the panel and controller and another between the controller and the battery? I had bought a 30A breaker for the panel to controller run, but now am questioning if that is too high amperage. Can't remember where I read about using the 30A.....

almonde

https://www.renogy.com/blog/how-to-fuse-your-solar-system/ 3rd paragraph should help. In a basic 100w system , i think a fuse the same as you use between the controller and battery will be fine for between the panel and controller