Turn off Solar Panels When Storing? May 07, 2009, 02:26:13 pm Yahoo Message Number: 102196If you've got a charge controller on there, and you should, it is a great way to not have to worry about your batteries losing charge. If you don't have a charge controller or it's not functionally properly you should fix it. It shouldn't be overcharging to the point of burning off your batteries. Obviously you could just pull the lead off the batteries and have them standing alone, but if you do that, it would be wise keep a battery maintainer plugged into them. If you keep them properly charged they will last much longer than letting them die, and then re-charging them back up. You should throw a volt meter on the batteries and see how many volts are feeding into them. If it's more than say 14 volts you have something wrong with your controller. The only way to turn off solar panels, would be to wrap them up in a black garbage bag, shut down the sunlight to them. Which would work also, but you should just get your charge controller functioning properly so they work like they should.