Solar panel

[S m w]

Hi
wonder if anyone could advise me on this particular issue
I recently had a solar panel fitted to my swift escape and when I pick it up after installation it was all fine
The reason I had one fitted was charging the leisure battery whist in storage during days of no use in winter periods and as present, I understand that my tracker is using this power source which is fine
The issue now I have means I can’t get to the Motorhome at present due to lockdown instructions and have noticed a drop in my vehicle battery to 12.1 today via my swift command app
And now read a article in a Motorhome magazine saying a battery master unit would share the charge between leisure and vehicle batteries is that ok to buy one of these
Or can it be wired through the Sargent control unit by a technician when the lockdown is over
Any advice will be much appreciated
Steve

 

[Revolvor]

It sounds as if your solar charger is only charging your Leisure battery. A Battery Master will trickle charge the Engine Battery from the Leisure battery. See Details HERE including a description and answered questions.

Note that it is cheaper to buy the unit from Jim's Shop: Link Removed

Installation is very straight-forward - Three wires, one to Leisure Battery +ve, one to Engine Battery +ve and one to common Earth.

 

[autorouter]

A BatteryMaster is an ideal solution to the problem of keeping the starter battery topped up when the solar panel is charging the leisure battery. Once fitted it will just work, without any further attention.

There is another 'quick and dirty' fix, useful during the lockdown for example. A simple wire connection between the leisure and starter batteries will keep the starter battery at the same voltage as the leisure battery. It should only be connected once the vehicle is parked, and should definitely be disconnected before starting the engine. In theory there should be a fuse at both ends of the wire, and a 5 amp fuse value is quite sufficient for normal use, assuming both batteries are nearly full. If the starter battery is low, then there may be a sudden surge of current, so it's best to connect something like a jump lead for a few minutes until the battery voltages equalise.

The reason for the fuse, apart from the normal protection of the wiring, is if you accidentally start the engine with the wire still attached, the heavy current to the starter motor will blow the fuse to avoid overheating the wire.

 

[The Wino]

Worth looking first at the solar controller as some can charge both batteries it might just have not been wired in like that.

 

[S m w]

Thanks for all your answers I will have a check with the regulator so see if it’s just a simple thing to do
Perhaps after that will invest in a battery master unit like you say if it isn’t a regulator issue
Thanks for the link
Cheers steve

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[Rob Turner]

Check if it’s a Votronic controller, if so there’ll be a 1a feed for your cab battery.

 

[Revolvor]

Check if it’s a Votronic controller, if so there’ll be a 1a feed for your cab battery.

Unlikely for something as good as that to be fitted by a dealer!

 

[S m w]

Thanks Rob will check next time I’m allowed back to storage site ?

 

[Lenny HB]

Unlikely for something as good as that to be fitted by a dealer!

Yep, they won't spend 100 quid on a regulator when they can get away with a five quid one.