Does a solar panel charge the vehicle battery? (1 Viewer)

[BobtheBass]

Sorry for asking what is probably a question to which I really should know the answer, but does a solar panel fitted by a dealer (Elite Motorhomes to my Carthago) usually charge the vehicle battery as well as the hab batteries? Just thought I would ask here before I make a silly of myself asking the dealers. Thanks,
Bob.

 

[two]

You may need to ask Elite, Bob, as there is more than one way to install, with or without charging the starter battery. Chances are that it will do, from the solar controller. It should have two sets of output, one to the habitation battery(ies) and the other to the starter battery.

 

[Clarky]

The panels on our Carthago were fitted by the dealer and they didn't charge the vehicle battery. Actually they didn't charge the hab batteries either but that's another story and it was soon fixed.
As we were going to VanBitz we had them fit a Batterymaster while they fitted the Growler.
No more problems.

Richard.

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[pjay]

Mine didn't on my Hymer.

I bought a Batterymaster and had it fitted by someone who knows about electrics (ie, not me).

Works a treat.

Pete

 

[karl c]

Get a solar charger that dose two batteries.
You can set them how you want 10% to 100% .
As you need more to the house batteries.
I have one up for sale take a look it has a meter so you can see.

 

[MikeD]

We had our solar panel fitted by Dave Newell and if I remember right he asked how we wanted to charge to be split between both sets of batteries

I think we agreed 10% to the vehicle battery

So i assume it can be set u in lots of different ways.

All I know it works a treat

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[Zigisla]

Vanbitz fitted mine. Just charges hab batts and have the battery master for the cab.

 

[Minxy]

I fitted ours myself and used the recommended connector for my control unit and it therefore charges both hab and engine batteries, but if I hadn't it would only do the latter. You either need to have a shuftie yourself at where the wiring goes or just ask them!

 

[funflair]

As you can see its not a straight answer to what you thought was going to be a simple question.

One thing you could try is reading the cab battery voltage after it has been stood for a day or even a week, if the voltage is anything over 12.7 (should really be 13+ to 14) it suggests that there is something charging the cab battery.

Martin

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[Wagoneer]

Carthago use the CBE system. When on EHU the system charges both the engine and leisure batteries but gives more charging current to the leisure batteries.

If your solar is routed via the CBE system then I guess it will charge both the engine and leisure batteries.

It would be worth checking with your Dealer how he has wired up the system, either via the CBE or direct to the leisure batteries (or even the engine battery or both).

 

[two]

I should’ve added that, if your SP only charges the habitation battery, it’s an easy addition to install a BatteryMaster (or one of the many alternatives) to pass charge to the vehicle battery.

 

[Saltings]

In our Chasson 626 Flash, Elite Caravans (not Elite Motorhomes) fitted an 80 v SP and the charge in the Chasson is split (using a SOLAR Tec. Int Charge Controller) so it firstly tops up the Ducato battery and after having reached 80% then charges the hab batt and the motor battery equally.

Worked a treat in the winter of 15-16 but is haywire this winter and for some reason the hab batt is receiving no charge at all. We have an ongoing post on this website which has been v. helpful.

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