Charging Deep Cycle Battery and Breakaway Battery on Trailer with Solar Panel

Updated 02/19/2019 | Published 02/15/2019

Question:

So Im turning my enclosed car hauler into a semi-camping trailer. My trailer came with a breakaway battery that Id like to keep charged along with my completely separate deep cycle battery that will run my lights and a few small accessories. What Im looking to do is permanently attach a 12v solar panel kit with a dual battery charge controller. From what Ive noticed it that most dual battery charger controllers are 20A-40A. Can I just hook up the breakaway battery to one of the battery charge ports and the separate deep cycle battery to the other charge port? Or would I need a resister of some sort in line with the breakaway battery?

asked by: Scott S

Expert Reply:

When hooking up both your deep cycle 12V battery and breakaway battery to a solar panel controller you shouldn't need to add a resistor in line between the two batteries. When using a controller that features dual battery profiles like the Go Power # 34276119 there won't be any concern with the breakaway battery draining.

A 100 watt panel like the Overlander Charging Kit # 34272635, which includes the above-mentioned controller, should be sufficient to keep both batteries charged according to my contact at Go Power.

expert reply by: Chris R