Question Regarding Solar and Battery Cut Off Switch

[tkkmcjo]

Rig is a 2020 294RL. Just had a Zamp 170w solar panel and a 30amp charge controller (with a remote panel in the coach). It was installed using the existing pre-wiring that is included in most Keystone "Solar Ready" 5th wheels. Although I will grow the system over time to include additional panels and an inverter, it's purpose right now is to keep the batteries up and ready while the rig is in storage.

My question is... does the solar wiring bypass the battery cutoff switch (in the wet bay) and charge the batteries, even with the batteries shut off to the rest of the rig? Or to put it another way, am I supposed to leave the battery switch on while the rig is in storage so the solar system will charge the batteries? No one at the Dealer, including the installer seemed to be sure.

Logic tells me that the way the pre-wiring is set up, the panel will collect energy, run it through the controller/charger, and on to the batteries, independent of whether the batteries are supplying power to the rest of the coach. But I can't seem to find anyone who can verify this.

Anybody out there in the Forum have a similar set up who can tell me if the battery cutoff switch needs to be 'on' while the solar system is charging the batteries?

Thank for sharing your knowledge and experience!

Tom and Kathleen Jones