Ruminating About Charging the Batteries

Before the solar panels were installed, we charged the chassis and house (batteries for the living area of the motor home) three different ways.

  

Batteries are charged when the motor home is plugged in to an electric source (at a campground, friend or relative's home).

The Cummins Engine charges the batteries while we are driving.

When the Onan Generator, located at the front of the motor home is running, it charges the batteries.

Now we have batteries that are charged by using an electrical source, the engine, while driving, the generator,when running, and the solar panels.

These  battery charging sources don't communicate with each other.  They just do the job they're designed to do, when they are engaged. 

Eric and I don't want to always use electricity to charge the batteries.  Campgrounds are often set up like parking lots with RVs parked right next to each other.  As much as we enjoy people, we want to spend some time by ourselves.  Boondocking is a great way to explore areas of our country that are wild, free. 

The engine charges the batteries when we are driving.  Our goal is to NOT drive the motor home every day. 
The generator charges the batteries, when it's turned on, for heavy loads (running the air conditioner, running the washer/dryer.)  The generator isn't used every day.  Diesel is used to run the engine and the generator and it's expensive.

The solar panels are available to generate electricity every day, but there is no guarantee of sunny days.  Sometimes we will be parked under trees.  Sometimes it's going to be gloomy for days at at time. AND the solar panels can create enough charge to fry the battery system.  The TriStar-60 MPPT charge controller was installed to ensure that the batteries are not over charged by solar generated energy.