Hello, we have just acquired an old but nice Swift Gazelle F63. It came with a solar panel which is charging one of the batteries, which I would expect to be the leisure battery. The graphics on the KT9M5 panel are a little worn although the vehicle has very low mileage. Using the battery "test" mode one of the batteries shows as fully charged the other being close to needing charge. With the battery selector switch in the up position (pointing towards what could be the front of a panel van or a motorhome) the battery reading is poor with the switch down (pointing towards what looks like a battery icon) it's the reverse.Can anyone just confirm that I am reading the icons correctly and how I think the the solar panel has been connecetd is correct?
Solar Panel/KT9M5 Panel
- Thread starter Gazelle73
- Start date
- Mar 14, 2020
- 896
- 869
- Funster No
- 69,394
- MH
- Autotrail Cheyenne
- Exp
- Since 2015, still learning
Welcome.
i don’t have experience of your system but what you infer seems logical to me, if the age of the system matches the van. Modern solar controllers can charge both. It might be worth fInding out if you have a pwm controller. You could replace it with a more efficient mppt and dual controller that could keep your vehicle battery topped up.
Hopefully this reply will bump your question and get a reply from someone that is familiar with your system. Enjoy your van.
The advice on here can be priceless, especially when you can learn from others’ mistakes
i don’t have experience of your system but what you infer seems logical to me, if the age of the system matches the van. Modern solar controllers can charge both. It might be worth fInding out if you have a pwm controller. You could replace it with a more efficient mppt and dual controller that could keep your vehicle battery topped up.
Hopefully this reply will bump your question and get a reply from someone that is familiar with your system. Enjoy your van.
The advice on here can be priceless, especially when you can learn from others’ mistakes
This problem is quite common, even on some newer MHs. The solar power charges only the leisure battery, and the starter battery slowly discharges, especially over the winter if the MH doesn't get much use.
There's a number of solutions. A 'battery maintainer' will take a small trickle charge from the leisure battery to keep the starter battery topped up. Examples are the BatteryMaster, Sterling Battery Maintainer, and others made by CBE, Ablemail, Renogy etc.
A dual output solar controller will keep both batteries topped up. Some of them can be set to split the charge between the two, with 90/10% a typical value. Look at Votronic, Renogy etc.
There's a number of solutions. A 'battery maintainer' will take a small trickle charge from the leisure battery to keep the starter battery topped up. Examples are the BatteryMaster, Sterling Battery Maintainer, and others made by CBE, Ablemail, Renogy etc.
A dual output solar controller will keep both batteries topped up. Some of them can be set to split the charge between the two, with 90/10% a typical value. Look at Votronic, Renogy etc.
- Mar 14, 2020
- 896
- 869
- Funster No
- 69,394
- MH
- Autotrail Cheyenne
- Exp
- Since 2015, still learning
See. I told you someone that knew what they’re talking about would be along.
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Thanks Autorouter, it never crossed my mind that it might be an issue on newer motorhomes! Dual output solar controller it will need to be then. The vehicle is stored away from home so I don't have the option of popping a charger on it now and again.
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