Solar Disconnect

Charlessyverson

I am installing a lithium battery and need to disconnect the solar to get the converter to switch to lithium properly.  Is there a simple way to disconnect the solar?  Is there anything special I need to do with the solar panel while disconnected?  Thank you all for the information!

AnOldUR

Not familiar with this converter, but would think that switching "charger enabled" to off in the Victron app would work.

pthomas745

Can you tell us what exact converter you are working on?  The "Auto Detect" converter?  Or the "lithium switch" converter?  The Auto Detect converters have been pretty problematic, but there are some fixes.

The "Charging off" switch in the Settings on the Smart Solar part of the Victron app will stop the charging from the solar panels. 

While you are checking out the Solar Settings page....have you changed the charging parameters of the controller for lithium charging, also?

donmontalvo

Charlessyverson said:

I am installing a lithium battery and need to disconnect the solar to get the converter to switch to lithium properly.  Is there a simple way to disconnect the solar?  Is there anything special I need to do with the solar panel while disconnected?  Thank you all for the information!

I ordered a 30A DC Circuit Breaker to make it possible to disconnect the two stock 190W solar panels on the roof of my nuCamp T@b 320S Boondock Back Canyon those times I need ro "reset" the Victron SmartSolar charge controller 100|30. A not so uncommon issue is the Victron charge controller falls off in the VictronConnect app. A reset brings the charge controller back online in the VictronConnect app.

Install the 30A DC Circuit Breaker on the red "+"  PV wire between the solar panels and the charge controller. Use the red button to disconnect the solar panels, and the blue lever to connect the solar panels.

So to reset in the right order:

1. Disconnect the solar panels by hitting the red button on the 30A DC Circuit Breaker, then turn the master battery switch to off.

2. Turn the master battery switch back on, then swing the blue lever on the 30A DC Circuit Breaker to connect the solar panels again.

On a side note, if the thought of completely disconnecting the battery makes you cringe, it is possible to add a second 30A DC Circuit Breaker to the "+" Power wire on the charge controller. This way you can do both steps from the same place.

PS, credit to Paul Thomas over at the Tab 320 Campers page on Facebook he is an incredible resource.

HTH

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DC3YM1NL?psc=1&ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_ct_BJSPSKYRDP0T86BW3MTX

pthomas745

Did this work to "restart" your Victron?  This is definitely easier than pulling fuses, etc.

donmontalvo

pthomas745 said:

Did this work to "restart" your Victron?  This is definitely easier than pulling fuses, etc.

The reset steps are from Victron Support, and yea, not having to deal with wiring is sooooo much easier. :-)

donmontalvo

pthomas745 = Paul Thomas on the Facebook page? Small world!

donmontalvo

I should mention, once I have the breaker in place, and once I can get to the charge controller settings in VictronConnect, I hope to sift through the settings. I think I may have set something wrong, causing it to fall off.