New Podder Here - Event Date: 01 Feb 2023

Wow, thanks so much offgrid. I will take your advice and order a multi meter from Amazon.

Dirt Sifter, sorry if I offended you.

I can see rereading the thread why you could think I was directly responding to your post but I wasn't intending that. The OP was asking if he should leave his solar module and battery connected, so I answered, and provided some troubleshoot tips along the way.

Re being smart and experienced, on this particular subject I do happen to be an expert. My suggestions, and they are only suggestions,are based on 40 years experience as a professional solar engineering specialist. In other areas my suggestions might or might not be as well grounded as anyone else's. I'd probably still provide my opinion if I have one though...

But that doesn't mean anyone has to follow my suggestions, yours', or anyone else's. We are all free agents and can do what we want.

I didn't say that disconnecting your battery and solar module wouldnt work, only that if you needed to do that there is likely something else that's not quite right.

So feel free to stick with your method, that's fine with me. But if you're providing advice to someone else, you and all of us should expect other forum members with differing points of view to chime in as well. That's what forums are for after all.

You will need to leave the battery connected if you want your solar module to keep it charged. And park in the sun of course and keep the solar module clean and clear.

Alternatively you can connect the solar charge controller to the battery side of the battery disconnect (via an appropriate fuse for the gauge of the controller wire).

But you really shouldn't have to bypass the battery disconnect. If you have a clean, clear 80 to 120 watt solar module or so and the battery is still discharging then something isnt right.

The parasitic drain on an rpod shouldnt be more than 100 to 200 milliamps at most, from the CO detector. That works out to 2 to 5 amphours per day max. A 80 watt solar module is going to provide more than that even in PNW winter, unless it's shaded, covered with snow or leaves.

Likely some load has been left on, or your solar charge controller isn't working properly. To find out which, buy a multimeter with DC current clamp on capability (about $40 on Amazon) and see what your battery draw and sunny day solar output really are. Be sure the meter you get measures DC current not just AC current, which is done with more common and less expensive technology.

Welcome! I tried leaving the battery switch on with our first (and only) solar charger on our 195. It didn't provide enough charge to overcome the drain experienced in our Eastern OR winters. So charge the battery up and turn off the switch. Have fun! (I'm enjoying your enthusiasm!)

Hi StephenH sorry late getting back to you and thank you for the nice welcome. Wife and I plan on spending more time in our new I Pod than at home! I have a question Stephen.... ours has a solar panel to keep the battery charged. Will it hurt to leave the battery power switch on all time? This is the first camper I've had with a solar panel which I think was a great idea to incorporate one on the roof for that purpose. Thanks again.......Happy Camping!