Proper procedure to decommission solar & batteries?

[Dave_S]

My boat is on the hard stand for a while.

What is a safe way to shut the solar down and remove the batteries?

I'm worried because I don't know what happens if you just unplug the solar but the panels are still in the sun.

[HeywoodJ]

The actual disconnection, unless you have a load-break switch installed in the circuit, should be done under no-load conditions so you don't degrade whatever contact you are opening. This can be done at night, or by throwing a blanket over the panel(s) to disconnect during the day.

Once disconnected, the panels can sit in the sun just fine. Happens all the time, no measurable degradation or adverse effects.

Connecting after storage, same applies, they panels should not be in the sun when making the connection to prevent any arc that may occur from having power available as you connect.

[Stu Jackson]

Also check your solar controller manual. Most (but not all) require disconnecting the solar side before the battery side.

[Mirage35]

Originally Posted by HeywoodJ

The actual disconnection, unless you have a load-break switch installed in the circuit, should be done under no-load conditions so you don't degrade whatever contact you are opening. This can be done at night, or by throwing a blanket over the panel(s) to disconnect during the day.

Once disconnected, the panels can sit in the sun just fine. Happens all the time, no measurable degradation or adverse effects.

Connecting after storage, same applies, they panels should not be in the sun when making the connection to prevent any arc that may occur from having power available as you connect.

I agree that you don't want to connect / disconnect with an inductive load on the system, but it seems to me that you can accomplish this by ensuring all breakers are off - which should be the case for storage in any case.

[smac999]

nothing happens to the panels when they are disconnected. infact you can plug the 2 wires together and dead short them and nothing happens. that's how you test them. (don't leave them like this..)

why are you removing the batteries? I would just leave them all connected and let the solar keep them charged while in storage.

if you want to disconnect everything just do it in the dark or throw blankets over them so no current is flowing when you disconnect them.

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by smac999

nothing happens to the panels when they are disconnected. infact you can plug the 2 wires together and dead short them and nothing happens. that's how you test them. (don't leave them like this..)

why are you removing the batteries? I would just leave them all connected and let the solar keep them charged while in storage.

if you want to disconnect everything just do it in the dark or throw blankets over them so no current is flowing when you disconnect them.

When I parked it and did a check, I noticed one of the batteries has swollen so I thought it best to get it off the boat.

[George_SD]

You don't want to remove the load if panels and controller are generating and sending power, so cover the panels, then disconnect them.

[donradcliffe]

What kind of batteries?

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

What kind of batteries?

6 X Trojan T105's.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Dave_S

When I parked it and did a check, I noticed one of the batteries has swollen so I thought it best to get it off the boat.

Yeah, hate it when a battery puts on weight like that.
Jokes aside, how old was the battery. Definitely best off the boat.

[Dave_S]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Yeah, hate it when a battery puts on weight like that.
Jokes aside, how old was the battery. Definitely best off the boat.

They are about 6 years old. I thought they were older but they were replaced in 2016/7ish. They have only done light work since then.