Solar connection, will this work?

[Jev88]

I now have a single solar panel and 10amp controller. All working well charging leisure and supplying a roof fan on Load terminals. Have been offered a second panel for £30! so may add another in parallel but would probably need a larger controller....but on to my real question.

I would like some of the energy to go to my engine battery when in storage without adding much more wiring etc....

If I connected my Load terminals to a car cig plug and plugged this into the dash socket when MH is in storage is this a simple and viable solution?

Being an old 1999 Fiat the 12v cig socket is always live (at least in mine anyway).

Thoughts?

 

[Robert Clark]

The load output of a solar controller is not designed to be used as a battery charger.

Two simple solutions to consider;
Buy a solar controller which has two battery outputs.

Fit a battery maintainer (or similar) which will help keep your engine battery charged if your leisure battery is being charged by solar. It’s easy to connect one simply by bridging your split charge relay, or you could connect directly to both batteries if you prefer

I fitted two of these on my van - I chose them as they have a 3a charging rate

Sterling Power

Sterling Power is a market leader for battery to battery chargers, inverters, pro combi charger inverters, mains chargers.

www.sp-shop.co.uk

 

[tacr2man]

It would depend on what load your terminal was capable of sustaining , if the vehicle battery was discharged there could be a surge , putting a fuse say 5 amp or 10amp inline would provide a safety ( the cig would most likely be fused anyway ) . I am not fully knowledgeable on configuration of the voltage stability on the load terminal of your controller . It might be that the feed would be capable of preventing the battery from going flat , but not enable a full charging regime . JMHO Trying it would provide a real world (cheap) answer

 

[138go]

Just fit a solar controller that has TWO battery outlets. They are available and work. You can select how much charge goes to each battery and when its full all the charge goes to the other one. Have a look at Photonic Universe.

 

[TerryL]

I'm a strong supporter of the KISS principle. Fit a battery master - just 2 simple connections plus an earth then forget about it. Been serving me well for years.

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[Stealaway]

I don't think the load terminal voltage will be high enough to charge the battery. You need a dual battery solar controller.

 

[Campervan_man]

I have an Iveco 4 berth box motorcaravan that I am trying to sell with a Maplins 20W small solar panel in the windscreen, connected to a solar charge controller, connected to the engine battery. I also have a Big plastic key under the bonnet to isolate the engine battery. Engine battery is always fully charged.

 

[Jev88]

I have an Iveco 4 berth box motorcaravan that I am trying to sell with a Maplins 20W small solar panel in the windscreen, connected to a solar charge controller, connected to the engine battery. I also have a Big plastic key under the bonnet to isolate the engine battery. Engine battery is always fully charged.

Battery isolation switch for long term storage sounds good but doesn't it annoy you losing radio settings etc?

 

[Reallyretired]

The solar controller is a bit unecessary for a 20w panel in the windscreen.

 

[Campervan_man]

On a Previous van without the charge controller the battery goes up to 18V and pops fuses when you turn the ignition on.

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[Campervan_man]

Battery isolation switch for long term storage sounds good but doesn't it annoy you losing radio settings etc?

Iveco Motorcaravan is just up for sale, parked on the driveway with a fresh MOT not being used so radio not being used either. Iveco drove 50 miles since last MOT.

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