Solar not charging Engine Battery (1 Viewer)

[eddie]

Hi
I have 100 w solar panel which doesn't appear to be charging the Fiat battery while in storage. The engine battery was in the red when I came to check the motorhome, leisure battery showed healthy.
Do I need more solar or is there a problem with the controller?
Thanks IA.View attachment 707543View attachment 707544View attachment 707545

So who used mains cable¿

 

[kimndon]

Local company, ADM Caravan Repairs, in the North West.

 

[eddie]

Local company, ADM Caravan Repairs, in the North West.

Appalling

Mains cable should only be used for mains voltage

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[Patiopat]

You now have the excellent explanation from auotorouter but I will add that there is a subtle difference between the battery maintainer from the likes of Votronic, Buttner and CBE, and the Battery Master from Vanbitz, to use the battery maintainer type you need to be sure that your solar is taking the leisure batteries above 13.6v as this is the point that the trickle charge to the starter battery starts, the Battery Master works a little differently in that it is just looking for a differential in the two voltages of something like 0.65v so your leisure batteries might only be at 12.9v but your starter battery would be maintained to over 12.2v, OK not fully charged by any means but usually enough to start the van.

The one warning re battery maintainers listed above is that they don't like LiFePO4 batteries, the Vanbitz seems to be OK with them.

I have the Votronic 350 Duo MPPT it charges both leisure and vehicle Batteries been great also charges any battery.

 

[Pukka]

Appalling

Mains cable should only be used for mains voltage

Speak with the Italians our motorhome 12v is wired in brown and blue. Also noticed on a Thetford toilet pump are wired in brown and blue.

I agree 3 core cable is not good

 

[SteveandSueJ]

Even in this day and age, motorhomes are still being produced that have a good way of charging the leisure battery, but no way to maintain the starter battery if parked up for an extended time.

One solution is to have a device which trickle-charges the starter battery from the leisure battery. That's what a battery maintainer is for. It's an alternative to a dual solar controller. It trickle-charges the starter battery when the solar is charging the leisure battery. It has the advantage that it also trickle-charges the starter battery when the mains charger is charging the leisure battery. There are various brands, but a favourite on here is the BatteryMaster (BM).

The Vanbitz Battery Master

No More Flat Engine Batteries The Battery Master keeps your engine starter battery topped up by linking it to the leisure battery. This automatic one-way action passes a small trickle charge to the engine battery whenever its voltage becomes less...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

Go for battery master. Easy to fit and then forget it. Only ever need charge leisure battery from solar...

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