Plugged in w/batteries disconnected?

[cpd520]

Adding batteries and solar panels to our new to us 2004 Itasca Suncruiser. It is much more sophisticated than our little TT. Has a converter and inverter.

Want to leave it plugged in for heat while we do the install. Any reason this would cause a problem?

Plan to disconnect the batteries and tape the leads to insulate them while while I install panels, batteries and cable batteries.

[skigramp]

I am not sure I follow your intentions completely ... but I think you will find that your LP furnace runs on 12V DC ... the heat pump runs on 120 V AC however I believe the thermostat for the heat pump runs on 12V DC ... at least that is the way it works on our 2004 Journey

[jerichorick]

I agree. 12V is needed for most things in the coach. Heat will not work nor will the lights. Run a heavy duty extension cord and a space heater. Hope the conversion goes well and as planned.

[tderonne]

When you are plugged into shorepower, the converter will power the 12 volt things in your coach. Hitting the battery disconnect will disconnect the batteries from the converter. The only source of electricity in the battery cables at that point is the batteries. Once the cables are disconnected from the batteries, they'll be dead, no point in taping or covering them. (Chassis battery will still be connected and hot, but you won't be working on that, right?)

[Luv2go]

Originally Posted by tderonne

When you are plugged into shorepower, the converter will power the 12 volt things in your coach. Hitting the battery disconnect will disconnect the batteries from the converter. The only source of electricity in the battery cables at that point is the batteries. Once the cables are disconnected from the batteries, they'll be dead, no point in taping or covering them. (Chassis battery will still be connected and hot, but you won't be working on that, right?)

This is true for most cases, except when you have an inverter connected directly to the batteries, usually because it draws too much current for the battery disconnect. Also on our coach, the converter is wired directly to the batteries so it would charge even with the battery disconnect off.

When I installed solar, I left everything hooked up until it was time to wire the charge controller to the batteries. The wire from the charge controller to the batteries had a circuit breaker, I just left the breaker off until done with the wiring.

I did double-check the wiring to the breaker to make sure I didn't reverse polarity, and I also used insulated tools around the batteries to prevent unintentional welding!

[tderonne]

Originally Posted by Luv2go

This is true for most cases, except when you have an inverter connected directly to the batteries, usually because it draws too much current for the battery disconnect. Also on our coach, the converter is wired directly to the batteries so it would charge even with the battery disconnect off.

Right, I forgot that could be the case if an aftermarket inverter/charger has been, or will be installed.

The Winnebago one is just an inverter and it just powers the TV's, it shuts off when the disconnect is used.

[dengraham]

cpd,
Do not forget even a light bulb on the solar panel will generate electricity. So, the panel wires are "live" if there is any light around. Be careful.