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Old 30-10-2014, 16:46   #1
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Leaving Solar Panels Disconnected For 6 Months. Damage?

Hi. I am laying up my yacht in krabi Thailand for 6 months. Have 4 solar panels hooked up to mppt controller and two 150 amphr agm batteries. Fully charged. I want to disconnect the solar panels and tape up the wires.
Also disconnect batteries at terminals to prevent short circuits and earth leaks to alloy hull.
Start battery is disconnected from system anyway.

Will this damage solar panels?

User book says ok to leave batteries uncharging for six months.
Thanks from keith.
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Old 30-10-2014, 19:11   #2
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Re: leaving solar panels disconnected for 6 months. damage?

I have left our panels disconnected for 6 mo. It's not like the panels are going to pop a cork sitting there not connected. I didn't trust the controller and switches to keep things safe, so two screws and that was that.
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Old 30-10-2014, 19:16   #3
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Re: leaving solar panels disconnected for 6 months. damage?

It's probably hot enough you won't have to worry about hailstone damage in thunderstorms.

Ann
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Old 30-10-2014, 19:33   #4
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Re: leaving solar panels disconnected for 6 months. damage?

My regulator specifically says not to disconnect the regulator from the batteries before I disconnect the panels from the regulator.

So, are you talking about disconnecting the regulator or the panels?
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Old 30-10-2014, 19:43   #5
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Re: leaving solar panels disconnected for 6 months. damage?

Thanks shipmates.
I am disconnecting the sola panels at the juction box on the targa arch. Before the mppt controller. Plus disconnecting the batteries at the terminals.
Last year left it all hooked up and one of the wind gennies untied itself so unregulated power into fullycharged batteries for how llong?
Wind gennies are super secured tied now.
Fly to aussie in 9 hours.
Thanks for the advice
Cheers frpm Keith.
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Old 30-10-2014, 19:48   #6
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Re: leaving solar panels disconnected for 6 months. damage?

Unless you have some older Sunpower brand panels there is really no harm in disconnecting the panels. Older Sunpower panels require a ground on the positive side to prevent polarization of the silicon cells, but this rarely, if ever happens on a boat.

If you have any doubts at all you can always put a cover over them but there really is no need.
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