Split charger

[Andrewg55]

I have just purchased my Motorhome. It has a solar panel with a EP Solar duo battery controller which is hooked up to the Leisure battery. I want to keep the engine battery topped up. Do I connect the battery "2" terminal on the controller to the battery or purchase a seperate battery splitter? Can anyone advise me on this and easiest way to wire up?

 

[Lenny HB]

Normally on a duo controller the second output is connected to the starter battery.

Which controller is it? A photo would help.

 

[Andrewg55]

Terminal 1 and solar panel are connected

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes that one you can do it with.
You can change the balance of charge between the two batteries normal setting is 90% to leisure battery & 10% to starter battery.

 

[Andrewg55]

Thanks for the advice. Now for the stupid bit.......How?

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[Lenny HB]

If you do a Google search you will be able to download the instructions, it's a very common unit.

 

[Jo662]

And good luck sorting your controller

 

[Andrewg55]

Thanks for your help

 

[autorouter]

Can anyone advise me on this and easiest way to wire up?

Depends where the solar controller is located. If it's near the distribution/fusebox, there will be a substantial wire from the starter battery to one of the terminals. You could wire the trickle-charge output to that wire. Easier than running a new wire all the way to the starter battery.

 

[Andrewg55]

Solar controller is in the cupboard above the distribution box, so that's not a problem. Thinking about adding a

MT-1 Remote Meter. Good idea?​

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[Sapper520]

Same as mine……70 / 30 split in favour of the leisure batteries. Works well for us.


On the photo you will see ‘L’ and ‘E’.

 

[Lenny HB]

Solar controller is in the cupboard above the distribution box, so that's not a problem. Thinking about adding a

MT-1 Remote Meter. Good idea?​

Not important what the solar is doing its what the batteries are doing that is important.
Better to put your money towards a battery monitor like the Victron Smart Shunt or BMV 712.

 

[Sapper520]

Not important what the solar is doing its what the batteries are doing that is important.
Better to put your money towards a battery monitor like the Victron Smart Shunt or BMV 712.

I think in the menu it tells you how your batteries are performing…..I might be wrong, but it says in the manual the unit monitors battery performance.

 

[autorouter]

In some applications, the solar is the only method of charging, so the solar controller can keep track of the amps going into and out of the battery. However in a motorhome, the battery is also charged by the mains charger and the alternator, so that method doesn't work.

A proper battery monitor will have a sensing device right on the terminal of the battery, so it can monitor everything going in or out. Usually it's a shunt or sense resistor, which sends amps data to the monitor. Also measures voltage.

 

[Lenny HB]

I think in the menu it tells you how your batteries are performing…..I might be wrong, but it says in the manual the unit monitors battery performance.

Only monitors the voltage which is only a rough guide and will be useless when it's daylight as it will see the charging voltage.

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