Second Leisure Battery

[Homer-Adria]

I want to install a second Leisure Battery in our new Adria Matrix 600DT. Its currently got x1 AGM 100Ah, that I feel is not enough for when we go touring/off-grid. There's also a single 100W (?) solar panel preinstalled....

Two questions:
1. I'm guessing I only need to connect the second battery (same make and size) in parallel then adjust the main connecting leads - positive to one battery and negative to the second battery.
2. Should I upgrade/add to the solar panel?

Any thoughts or advice would be welcomed

Thanks

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

An upgrade to your solar would help keep you off grid longer ,provided you have the roof space and your current controller has enough capacity..
Your battery configuration is ok.

 

[Just smiffy]

You doubled the capacity of your van… now as you already know you need to double the input of your van.
Having loads of power Is good but you need to put it back in as quickly as you can so increasing your solar to however much you can get on the roof is good…

 

[Just smiffy]

1. Yes
2. Yes

 

[Homer-Adria]

Thanks

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[two]

The two decisions are quite separate:
1. Batteries define the amount of electricity you can store. The old one may have lost much of its capacity to hold electricity and hence your need to 'upgrade'. A simple replacement may do better and give you payload for something else.
2. Solar defines the amount you can use each day without needing to hook-up. Only add more panels if you are using more than you can harvest in a day. If you do get more solar, make sure that the controller can cope with what your set-up can provide.

The battery is a buffer for when no other source of power is available. As solar is unpredictable, a bigger battery capacity will help you survive for longer if that's your only means of replenishment (you're not going to run the engine or hook-up). More panels will help you grab more power when the sun appears but there's little point in doing that if you're not going to need it before the next spell of sunshine. What I'm trying to say is that there isn't a simple equation for determining what to install. It will depend on where you go and what you do. Solar will give you very little, however many panels you have, at this time of year and battery capacity also drops off. If you're out in Winter, look for EHU (or a genny).