Roof Top Solar charging house and chassis batteries

[Ronald1955]

We had 4 solar panels installed for a total of 800 watts on our 2022 BT 5230. E350 Ford chassis. Is it acceptable to link house and chassis battery together for charging when dry camping or parking the rig for a month or two. I am looking at linking the batteries together with a key switch so the solar can keep all three batteries charged.

 

[djdot2k]

Yes and no.

Yes. you can keep all the batteries topped of with your solar.

If the house batts are lithium (LiFePO4) and the chassis battery is lead acid, you will need a separate dc to dc charger.

No. you will need more than a simple on/off switch. A direct link with a switch will force the Lead-Acid battery to adopt the Lithium profile, which can cause long-term harm if not managed.

You can put the switch before the chassis battery. This way during long term storage it's disconnected from loads, keeping it's charge till when next it's needed.

 

[Den-GSO]

Yes and no.

Yes. you can keep all the batteries topped of with your solar.

If the house batts are lithium (LiFePO4) and the chassis battery is lead acid, you will need a separate dc to dc charger.

No. you will need more than a simple on/off switch. A direct link with a switch will force the Lead-Acid battery to adopt the Lithium profile, which can cause long-term harm if not managed.

You can put the switch before the chassis battery. This way during long term storage it's disconnected from loads, keeping it's charge till when next it's needed.

My 5345 has a circuit breaker right next to the truck battery just push the yellow button disconnect it no extra switch needed.

 

[Ronald1955]

Our coach has two AGM house batteries and the Ford supplied coach battery. I understand the profile issue with Lithium batteries. I have been testing the reserve voltage of the coach battery ability to maintain 12.6 volts. The two AGM batteries happen to of been New prior to solar install. My other issue is the emergency start switch does not currently link coach and house batteries. Thank you for the input, after further research I am on hold about charging coach battery with house solar. The roof does have space for a extra solar panel, I will check with solar installer about adding one panel for coach battery.

 

[Den-GSO]

Our coach has two AGM house batteries and the Ford supplied coach battery. I understand the profile issue with Lithium batteries. I have been testing the reserve voltage of the coach battery ability to maintain 12.6 volts. The two AGM batteries happen to of been New prior to solar install. My other issue is the emergency start switch does not currently link coach and house batteries. Thank you for the input, after further research I am on hold about charging coach battery with house solar. The roof does have space for an extra solar panel, I will check with solar installer about adding one panel for coach battery.

A factory Ford battery and AGM‘s are compatible so you really don’t have to worry at all. I upgraded the house batteries the group 27 lithium that’s why I needed to save the alternator during those high amp charging cycles that the lithium demands.

 

[djdot2k]

My apologies, I assumed you had a lithium bank.