Connecting solar regulator to Schaudt EBL30

[golly]

I wonder if anyone could help with a solar problem. My solar regulator seems to have gone kaput, dosen't seem to be charging batteries, its a PV logic regulator fitted by Travelworld and Ive never liked it. I am thinking of replacing it with a Victron smartsolar reg

, I want to wire it to the solar plug of the Schaudt EBL 30

the regulator has two connections to battery, but the EBL solar plug has 3 wires, my question is how to connect the two, As I'm sure you have gathered I am not by any means an electrical wizz .Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[spongebob]

I have EBL 99 and purchased a

Schaudt LRM 1218 MPPT / MPP Dual Battery Solar Regulator​

This provided a link wire for the EBL as well, making an easy fitment (cost about £180)

 

[Guigsy]

Is this of any use?

Schaudt LR 1218 - Solar Regulator

The Schaudt LRM 1218 Solar Regulator is the best, most cost effective way to connect Solar Power to the Schaudt Elektroblock range, i.e the EBL 99 and EBL 100. The box includes all cables and instructions to use a EBL 99 to charge both the Starter and Habitation batteries.

www.aandncaravanservices.co.uk

Looks like one of the connectors is a data connector, so you can see the output of the solar panel on the van's main display. You'll lose this with the Victron, but the app will give you far more information.

 

[golly]

I have EBL 99 and purchased a

Schaudt LRM 1218 MPPT / MPP Dual Battery Solar Regulator​

This provided a link wire for the EBL as well, making an easy fitment (cost about £180)

Yes my initial thoughts were for a LRM 1218, but they are thin on the ground, a couple of German suppliers, but since Brexit dont seem to post to UK.

 

[Rustyspanners]

I think the 3 cables are one each for Hab and cab battery positive and common negative.
How about one of these Voltronic MPP

compatable with EBL

12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine

12V solar panel solar charging kits for motorhome caravan boat campervan yacht marine off-grid

www.photonicuniverse.com

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[golly]

I think the 3 cables are one each for Hab and cab battery positive and common negative.
How about one of these Voltronic MPP

compatable with EBL

12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine

12V solar panel solar charging kits for motorhome caravan boat campervan yacht marine off-grid

www.photonicuniverse.com

Thanks, thats certainly a possibility, I'll see if I can find more information.

 

[autorouter]

The 3-way connector : Pin 1 = negative, Pin 2 = Starter battery positive, Pin 3 = Leisure battery positive. You can see pins 1 and 3 are labelled, and pin 2 is the centre pin. I think the suggestion of a Votronic Duo is a good idea. It will keep both batteries charged.

The connector is a 3-way MNL (Mate'N'Lok) type, available from automotive electrical suppliers like Altec Automotive or 12VoltPlanet. They do a kit that contains a male and female connector shell, and some separate pins and receptacles. You crimp the pin onto the wire, and push it into the shell until it clicks locked.

3 way MATE N LOK FEMALE CONNECTOR ALT/26060-1-09

3 way polarised female MATE "N" LOK connection block suitable for use on automotive/motorcycle wiring systems. Male housing part ref

www.altecautomotive.co.uk

You'll need crimping pliers. There's two types, One type does insulated pins with red, blue or yellow plastic insulation. However you want the type that crimps non-insulated pins. Or maybe a friendly garage will crimp the pins onto some wires for you, it only takes a few seconds.

Be careful of the colours, it's the opposite of what some people expect. Black = leisure battery positive, Brown = negative.

Also be careful not to confuse the names: Victron, Votronic and Voltronic.

 

[golly]

The 3-way connector : Pin 1 = negative, Pin 2 = Starter battery positive, Pin 3 = Leisure battery positive. You can see pins 1 and 3 are labelled, and pin 2 is the centre pin. I think the suggestion of a Votronic Duo is a good idea. It will keep both batteries charged.

The connector is a 3-way MNL (Mate'N'Lok) type, available from automotive electrical suppliers like Altec Automotive or 12VoltPlanet. They do a kit that contains a male and female connector shell, and some separate pins and receptacles. You crimp the pin onto the wire, and push it into the shell until it clicks locked.

3 way MATE N LOK FEMALE CONNECTOR ALT/26060-1-09

3 way polarised female MATE "N" LOK connection block suitable for use on automotive/motorcycle wiring systems. Male housing part ref

www.altecautomotive.co.uk

You'll need crimping pliers. There's two types, One type does insulated pins with red, blue or yellow plastic insulation. However you want the type that crimps non-insulated pins. Or maybe a friendly garage will crimp the pins onto some wires for you, it only takes a few seconds.

Be careful of the colours, it's the opposite of what some people expect. Black = leisure battery positive, Brown = negative.

Also be careful not to confuse the names: Victron, Votronic and Voltronic.

Thanks for that, really useful.

 

[bz1109]

Hey super dumb question I have a similar setup and only have a 2 cable connector to my EBL 30 (there is a empty middle slot pin 2 on the BLOCK 6 connector) I want my starter battery to be charged. If I connect another positive cable from the MPPT to the center position PIN 2 will that start to charge the starter battery? Or is there something else I need to so?

 

[Lenny HB]

Hey super dumb question I have a similar setup and only have a 2 cable connector to my EBL 30 (there is a empty middle slot pin 2 on the BLOCK 6 connector) I want my starter battery to be charged. If I connect another positive cable from the MPPT to the center position PIN 2 will that start to charge the starter battery? Or is there something else I need to so?

You need a dual output solar regulator or if you don't want to change your single output regulator you can fit either a Battery master or CBE solar split charge relay.

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[autorouter]

I have a similar setup and only have a 2 cable connector to my EBL 30 (there is a empty middle slot pin 2 on the BLOCK 6 connector) I want my starter battery to be charged. If I connect another positive cable from the MPPT to the center position PIN 2 will that start to charge the starter battery? Or is there something else I need to so?

That pin, Pin2 on Block 6, is connected to the starter battery inside the EBL30. Not true of all EBLs, but OK in this case. However you need a proper second output on the MPPT, you shouldn't just connect another wire to the existing output. If you do, you are effectively connecting the leisure and starter batteries together with a wired connection, and that can cause all kinds of problems.

 

[bz1109]

OK good to know Dual output MPPT here we come. Any recommendations for a 310 watt system? I like Victron's stuff.. Oh and Thanks this probably saved me all the problems you speak about.

 

[peterc10]

Yes my initial thoughts were for a LRM 1218, but they are thin on the ground, a couple of German suppliers, but since Brexit dont seem to post to UK.

By the end of May I hope to have one to sell. Works well at the moment but I want one with a Lithium profile and also a link to my AES fridge's solar option.

 

[bz1109]

The Schaudt LRM 1218 says 275 watt max in a perfect world my system is 310 watt but I doubt I would get that. Would this Controller still make sense?

 

[peterc10]

The Schaudt LRM 1218 says 275 watt max in a perfect world my system is 310 watt but I doubt I would get that. Would this Controller still make sense?

I don't know. I used mine with 250w of solar for over 6 years without any problems.

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[golly]

By the end of May I hope to have one to sell. Works well at the moment but I want one with a Lithium profile and also a link to my AES fridge's solar option.

My solar panel (flexible) is fubar at the moment so having a rethink on the power management front.

 

[bz1109]

Last question on this issue for me. If I get the Victron Blue Solar PWM charge controller DUO and I put the Positive from battery 1 into the Leisure slot and Battery 2 in the Starter slot of the EBL can I share a single Negative from either of the controllers battery slots by putting that in the negative slot of the EBL 30

 

[autorouter]

This solar controller is capable of charging two entirely separate batteries with separate negatives as well as positives. In a motorhome the negatives of the two batteries are always joined together, and connected to the chassis. I think you would need to connect the negative from the negative slot of the EBL30 to one of the controller battery negatives, then do a short wire link from there to the other controller battery negative.

Note the bit in the manual that says always connect Battery 1 first, before Battery 2.

 

[Phill D]

A word of warning that you should check the spec of the ebl... Most are limited to a max of 14 amps solar through the ebl.
A 310 watt system may push that limit.

Worth a check, before installing.

 

[bz1109]

The 155w panels (x2) are rated at about 7.1 amp max output per panel and this is obviously in perfect conditions. The EBL 30 I think new version has a fuse on the solar for 15amp. So I think we are good. I am gonna wire the positives into their respective pin locations on the Block 6 of the EBL with negative from Battery 1 on the controller to the EBL and a jumper from Battery 2 negative on controller to Battery 1 negative on Controller (Victron Blue Solar PWM DUO).. Thanks for everyones advice and help this saved me a ton of time not having to run direct to Starter Battery from the Controller.

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[Manic]

When I fitted my Votronic duo , I connected both battery 1 and 2 going straight to the EBL output terminals.

 

[John Dearing]

Hi I've followed this thread - thanks very much- about linking Dokio 110w solar panel to EBL 30 Block 6 to trickle charge leisure battery. Wired the 2-wire cable from the Dokio 'battery socket' on controller to pin 1 (negative-black) and pin 3 (positive-red) using 3 way MTL connector and get about 14v on screen BUT zero amps. I find the controller instructions a bit tricky to follow but I presume it's not charging the leisure battery. Any ideas what's wrong?

 

[autorouter]

Did you fit a fuse in the Solar slot? The input from block 6 Pin 3 goes through a fuse, the one on the extreme left labelled 'Solar'. 15A is the suggested value.

 

[John Dearing]

Yes - there was a 15A fuse already installed.

 

[autorouter]

Do you have a multimeter? If you remove that solar fuse, you should get the leisure battery voltage on one of the terminals. and the solar controller output voltage on the other terminal.

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