What is fuse near solar controller?

2025 T@b 360.  Since I've beaten a dead horse on the Facebook page - one more question over here.  I've confirmed via another post/thread on here that the green wire with a fuse holder and 30 Amp fuse on my battery positive terminal goes to the Victron solar controller.  So, is this wire that looks the same and is in front of the solar controller the fuse for the panels?  And, is it these fuses that must be inserted in the correct order in the spring to make sure everything works properly?  nuCamp said in the spring I insert the battery side first (controller) then the one near the controller (panels).  Photo of fuse near controller attached.  And, after the fuses are in I then turn on the battery and uncover the solar panels?  I just want to get this right now while I'm thinking about it.  I'll keep notes to refer to in the spring.

Comments

  • donmontalvodonmontalvo Member Posts: 181
    edited December 20
    I installed 30A circuit breakers so I wouldn't have to fiddle with inline fuses.

    OFF: turn off the circuit breaker between the solar panel and the MPPT. Wait a bit. Then turn off the circuit breaker between the MPPT and the LiFePO4 battery.

    ON: turn on the circuit breaker between the MPPT and the LiFePO4 battery. Wait a bit. Then turn on the circuit breaker between the solar panel and the MPPT.

    The circuit breakers are there for convenience...while the inline fuses are there for safety. No need to cover the solar panels when done this way.

    https://i0.wp.com/donmontalvo.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/20251219-Camper-schematic-1800-scaled.webp?zoom=2&resize=825%2C510&ssl=1
    Don Montalvo | Retired Veteran | Full time boondocker
    Camper: nuCamp T@B 320S BBC | 12V 2x100Ah LiFePO4 | 600W Solar
    Tow Vehicle: Jeep JLU Rubicon | 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 | 200W Solar
    https://revkit.com/donmontalvo/ | https://donmontalvo.com
  • LauraCLauraC Member Posts: 21
    Thank you!  This is very helpful.
  • MarcelineMarceline Member Posts: 1,734
    edited December 21
    LauraC said:
    2025 T@b 360.  Since I've beaten a dead horse on the Facebook page - one more question over here.  I've confirmed via another post/thread on here that the green wire with a fuse holder and 30 Amp fuse on my battery positive terminal goes to the Victron solar controller.  So, is this wire that looks the same and is in front of the solar controller the fuse for the panels?  And, is it these fuses that must be inserted in the correct order in the spring to make sure everything works properly?  nuCamp said in the spring I insert the battery side first (controller) then the one near the controller (panels).  Photo of fuse near controller attached.  And, after the fuses are in I then turn on the battery and uncover the solar panels?  I just want to get this right now while I'm thinking about it.  I'll keep notes to refer to in the spring.
    Think of it this way: pulling the fuse between the controller and the battery turns the controller off. Pulling the fuse between the panel and the controller stops the panel from sending power to the controller. 
    So in the spring, you want to boot up the controller first before it starts trying to figure out what to do with any electricity that's fed into it from the panel. To boot up controller, connect it to the battery by putting that fuse back in. You'll see the Bluetooth light start blinking and you'll be able to connect to the controller with your Victron app. Then you reconnect the panel to the solar controller by inserting the fuse in your photo.
    San Francisco Bay Area
    2013 CS-S us@gi
    2015 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner Double Cab
  • LauraCLauraC Member Posts: 21
    Thanks so much!  I love your simplified answers to my questions.  That all makes perfect sense.  I'm beginning to understand what's happening in my camper.
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