- Sep 1, 2017
- 222
- 85
- Funster No
- 50,291
Ok, so you can never have enough power - right?
I have x2 90A/Hr Vartas charged via a 150W panel.
This works fine (over our last 30 odd day stay in Spain in January).
However, when charigng the e bikes, the voltage dropped lower than I ideally would like. (approx 90 - 100w load via the inverter and bike 240v charger).
This leads to some 'micromanaging' on my behalf - monitoring battery voltage and switching off inverter etc .
I also used a 50w folding panel (with its own 3A controller) direct into the battery terminals to help stem the draw (so to speak) but still thought the battery voltage was dropping too much. (perhaps the two controllers argue with each other too much).
So, my question is:
I have a 100 A/Hr ish starter battery (also getting a trickle charge via the Electroblok and LRM solar charger) that is basically sittting there. (in this case for 21+ days doing nothing).
So why can't I link in the starter battery to supplment the (high) load when utilising an Inverter (for a relatively short period of time)? The using the LRM solar charger to gradually replace the current used?
To me it seems an easy, cost effective solution to short term, high load scenarios?
Of course you wouldnt use it if you thought you would need the starter motor to be used straight after.
But, is it not better than fitting and carrying a third hab battery for those 'sort term high drain' situations?
Ok, I am aware that a starter battery is designed for short term high load and not longer term low loading, but how much could 100W / 3 batteries = 33 = < 3 amps harm a starter battery - that's akin to having your sidelights and radio on in your car?
I couldnt find any previous posts on this and the question intrigues me.
I have x2 90A/Hr Vartas charged via a 150W panel.
This works fine (over our last 30 odd day stay in Spain in January).
However, when charigng the e bikes, the voltage dropped lower than I ideally would like. (approx 90 - 100w load via the inverter and bike 240v charger).
This leads to some 'micromanaging' on my behalf - monitoring battery voltage and switching off inverter etc .
I also used a 50w folding panel (with its own 3A controller) direct into the battery terminals to help stem the draw (so to speak) but still thought the battery voltage was dropping too much. (perhaps the two controllers argue with each other too much).
So, my question is:
I have a 100 A/Hr ish starter battery (also getting a trickle charge via the Electroblok and LRM solar charger) that is basically sittting there. (in this case for 21+ days doing nothing).
So why can't I link in the starter battery to supplment the (high) load when utilising an Inverter (for a relatively short period of time)? The using the LRM solar charger to gradually replace the current used?
To me it seems an easy, cost effective solution to short term, high load scenarios?
Of course you wouldnt use it if you thought you would need the starter motor to be used straight after.
But, is it not better than fitting and carrying a third hab battery for those 'sort term high drain' situations?
Ok, I am aware that a starter battery is designed for short term high load and not longer term low loading, but how much could 100W / 3 batteries = 33 = < 3 amps harm a starter battery - that's akin to having your sidelights and radio on in your car?
I couldnt find any previous posts on this and the question intrigues me.