should you cover panels that are not being used

[MarineLiner]

This is one of the big flaws with battery systems, you cannot use all the possible power the system is capable of.
Technically it is called dumping power. Think of it like this, you have a water well in the desert, with a wind mill pump pumping water into a 5 gallon bucket.
Once the bucket is full, .....

[Sunking]

Boy, I'm glad I found this site. People on it who actually know what they are talking about. So I ask, what happens to the additional electricity not used to charge the batteries? Does the charge controller have a means of using this up?

Short answer is nothing happens. The same thing happens when you turn off a switch, current stops and no power is generated.

This is one of the big flaws with battery systems, you cannot use all the possible power the system is capable of. Technically it is called dumping power. Think of it like this, you have a water well in the desert, with a wind mill pump pumping water into a 5 gallon bucket. Once the bucket is full, the water flows over the rim onto the desert sands never to be seen again.

[jockellis]

Boy, I'm glad I found this site. People on it who actually know what they are talking about. So I ask, what happens to the additional electricity not used to charge the batteries? Does the charge controller have a means of using this up?

[Mike90250]

If you have charge controllers (and you should), leave the panels exposed to sun, they will keep the batteries topped off / on float, and help preserve them. Nothing in the panels to age or wear out, unless a squirrel drops a giant pinecone on them and breaks them.

[Sunking]

No reason to cover them up assuming you have charge controllers. Once the batteries are charged, no more power is used or generated. All it will do is keep the batteries fully charged up and in good shape ready to go when you come back. Only thing you have to worry about is some of my friends finding them.

[sylls]

I run some remote stations as part of an ongoing fisheries study. To power these stations I use solar panels. This summer two of my sites are under construction and I need to disconnect my set up. Should I cover up the solar panels so that they are not drawing any energy. Can they overcharge my batteries if not covered since there is no draw off those batteries.