Dethleffs EBL119, solar pre wired question

[Mikey_748]

Hi - I’m looking to add solar to our Dethleffs and have traced the pre wiring of 2 x dual 6mm cables from the cupboard over the fridge to the EBL119 where they are zip tied but not connected.

So far so good, but looking at the EBL119, block 6 which is supposed to take the feed from the solar regulator already has 3 wires connected in. We’ve owned the van from new and there is no solar - any idea what these are connected to?

 

[paddymcc]

Could they be going to where Dethleffs thought they would put the solar controller, so not currently live either. Do you have a clamp meter to measure current in the wires?

 

[Lenny HB]

Could they be going to where Dethleffs thought they would put the solar controller, so not currently live either. Do you have a clamp meter to measure current in the wires?

That would be my bet too.

If you are fitting more than 200 watts of solar I would connect straight to the leisure batteries, if you have a dual solar controller or Batterymaster you can still take the starter battery connection via the EBL.

 

[autorouter]

Is there a fuse in the 'Solar' slot? This fuse connects Pin3 of Block 6 to the common point that all the chargers are connected to, inside the EBL. If the fuse is missing, then Block 6 isn't being used.

 

[Mikey_748]

Thanks for the suggestions. Haven’t got a clamp meter but may try to borrow one. There is a fuse in the solar slot on the EBL.

Tried to follow the wires connected to the solar block but lost sight of them.

Strange that there’s a set of pre wired solar cables unconnected at the EBL and a 3 wire set connected to the EBL solar slot….

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[autorouter]

Strange that there’s a set of pre wired solar cables unconnected at the EBL and a 3 wire set connected to the EBL solar slot….

I think you would struggle to crimp a terminal onto 6mm2 wires, that would fit into a connector that goes into Block6. That EBL route is for about 100W or 150W of solar panel, anything bigger the connector terminals won't take the amps. As Lenny HB says, better to route the solar directly to the leisure batteries. But then of course those wires are not really in the right place for that, so you'll maybe need to run some more wires.

 

[Mikey_748]

Thanks for the help - after removing the seat I managed to trace the wires coming from block 6 and they were just zip tied at the back of the EBL. Used these for the battery master and solar directly to the leisure batteries as recommended by Lenny - all worked a treat off grid for 5 days at Latitude.