Solar use while on EHU

[82125]

Trying to understand how its working.

I have a lot of solar, connected direct to the batteries (not via the EBL).
With all the talk going on about sites (understandably) charging more for electric, I'm wondering if (as I suspect) I am actually using less site electric already because of my solar?

Sat here on EHU now, 9am, and my solar is showing its putting 2.5 - 3.5amps in to my leisure batteries.
I'm assuming even though the EBL is supplying the 240v supply, all the 12v systems are still being supplied by the leisure batteries and my solar is mostly covering that? (and not requiring the EBL's 12v charger to be used)?

I'm surprised to see any charge going in from my solar to be honest as Im on hook up. Is it perhaps because the solar MPPT has better charging profiles compared to the out dated EBL220-2 and the solar controller is performing a maintenance cycle (where the EBL 12v charger doesnt bother or cant)?

Im curious to know and whether that means if switch the inverter on I could reduce the EHU usage further (if sites did bring in metering). I had assumed it simply wasnt possible to reduce EHU usage by utilising our solar (as CAMC/CCC? have suggested we should).

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Your 12V systems get charged in any one of three ways
From the alternator when driving
From the EHU 240-12v charger when on hook up
From the solar panel controller

Many vans will have an ability to turn off the 240V EHU charger, even when EHU is active. Otherwise the EHU charger will be trying to trickle charge your habitation battery. Similarly you may have capability to turn off the solar controller. If you have them both on they will both try to charge the battery, you'll be relying on the capability of the charger systems to decide whether they need a bulk / absorption, or float charge.

Even when on hook up many of the van's systems remain 12v typically lighting, water pump, fans for any heater system. Yes you may well have mains power for hot water and those 240V sockets. You will want to keep the 12V battery topped up. At this time of year, in this nice bright sunny weather solar could well suffice so you could turn off the 240V EHU charger. But if you do now also start drawing 240V power through your inverter system, you may need that 240V EHU charger. I'd suggest leaving the solar alone to do the 12V stuff, and if you need 240V power for your gadgets that's when you rely on the EHU (until such time as they start metering).

 

[pappajohn]

Leave them all turned on .....at some point between them your battery will be charged.

 

[two]

You may not need EHU. I don't. But if it's an all inclusive price, you might as well take it. If you have electric heating, it will heat the water and save a bit of gas. EHU might only be of interest in Winter, when solar is weak.

 

[Reallyretired]

Some sites do have metered ehu, at least one we stayed on in Spain had, and quite expensive too. We found the best thing to do was not to plug in the ehu and use gas for fridge and water heating. All 12v covered by the solar charging.
Conversely the Carcassonne site has ehu and non electric pitches. The non-electric ones being those heavily shaded by trees and hedges to render solar ineffective.There is an aire next door but not a lot cheaper than the site.

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[Revolvor]

We have 200w of solar and 200Ah batteries. In the summer in UK we hardly ever use the mains charger when on EHU, just using 240v for fridge, and kettle, and occasional small fan heater. After a night using lights, TV, water pump, chargers etc, our batteries are usually fully charged by mid morning, and then aided by the B2B if we drive anywhere.

 

[82125]

thanks, sounds like I need to read up whether the mains charger can be turned off (switch off rather than having to go outside and pull the fuse I mean).