Randommoose
Free Member
- Sep 17, 2017
- 190
- 187
- Funster No
- 50,578
Hi,
We are currently living in our motorhome for about the next year as we are travelling. The solar is essential for charging the batteries and at the moment the controller doesn't seem to be doing the best job. So maybe it needs replacing but which one should we get?
Set up
Hymer B774
2 panels on roof (no further knowledge)
'SunWorks' DB2C solar controller
3x 100(110?)ah Numax batteries
1x 90ah Varta engine battery
Panels - appear to be working fine - we are getting up to 8.5a in Spain/France in February.
SunWorks controller - instructions are only one page. On 'boost' or 'P' mode it seems to charge well. However on Float or Winter mode it does very little. Most mornings it goes into float or winter. If we go in a tunnel it resets to boost.
Batteries - a few years old as far as I know. Doing the job but discharging faster than I would expect. They are lasting two nights if it isn't sunny with heating fan, led lighting, water pump, charging two phones/occasionally a tablet. Normally our load doesn't exceed 5A with heating running at full pelt. By lasting I mean on the second morning the heating cannot run on fast fan or will cut out if you turn a tap on. The reading will be around 11.9V. Fully charged the controller reads somewhere around 13.7. Once we start putting a load on it drops to 12.8 then soon 12.4 and it stays around there. Pretty much always 12-12.2 in the morning then solar charges up to about 12.6 in the day if not really sunny.
Engine battery is fine.
Our solar runs direct to batteries and doesn't go through the electroblock (EBL100) or the Hymer control panel (DT200).
Driving charges the batteries to some extent but cannot fully charge them in a couple of hours, it takes more like 4 hours + solar.
My husband is trying to read up about this but it is confusing so thought I would ask here for help.
Possible replacements we have looked at:
Victron MPPT - like for like replacement. £110ish Can this only work on one battery though? Has Bluetooth app display/settings. Supposed to be good in low light.
Schaudt LRM1218 - wiring up through the electroblock. More complicated? Expensive £200+
Votronic MPPT250 - like for like replacement, dual battery. No display (we would need to buy separately as our EBL isn't compatible)
Priorities:
Charging batteries! Esp in more northerly areas (UK, Ireland, Scotland, Scandinavia)
The cheaper the better
Easy to fit (DIY)
Able to get this week as we are only in England for a week.
Any advice please?
Thanks,
Moose
We are currently living in our motorhome for about the next year as we are travelling. The solar is essential for charging the batteries and at the moment the controller doesn't seem to be doing the best job. So maybe it needs replacing but which one should we get?
Set up
Hymer B774
2 panels on roof (no further knowledge)
'SunWorks' DB2C solar controller
3x 100(110?)ah Numax batteries
1x 90ah Varta engine battery
Panels - appear to be working fine - we are getting up to 8.5a in Spain/France in February.
SunWorks controller - instructions are only one page. On 'boost' or 'P' mode it seems to charge well. However on Float or Winter mode it does very little. Most mornings it goes into float or winter. If we go in a tunnel it resets to boost.
Batteries - a few years old as far as I know. Doing the job but discharging faster than I would expect. They are lasting two nights if it isn't sunny with heating fan, led lighting, water pump, charging two phones/occasionally a tablet. Normally our load doesn't exceed 5A with heating running at full pelt. By lasting I mean on the second morning the heating cannot run on fast fan or will cut out if you turn a tap on. The reading will be around 11.9V. Fully charged the controller reads somewhere around 13.7. Once we start putting a load on it drops to 12.8 then soon 12.4 and it stays around there. Pretty much always 12-12.2 in the morning then solar charges up to about 12.6 in the day if not really sunny.
Engine battery is fine.
Our solar runs direct to batteries and doesn't go through the electroblock (EBL100) or the Hymer control panel (DT200).
Driving charges the batteries to some extent but cannot fully charge them in a couple of hours, it takes more like 4 hours + solar.
My husband is trying to read up about this but it is confusing so thought I would ask here for help.
Possible replacements we have looked at:
Victron MPPT - like for like replacement. £110ish Can this only work on one battery though? Has Bluetooth app display/settings. Supposed to be good in low light.
Schaudt LRM1218 - wiring up through the electroblock. More complicated? Expensive £200+
Votronic MPPT250 - like for like replacement, dual battery. No display (we would need to buy separately as our EBL isn't compatible)
Priorities:
Charging batteries! Esp in more northerly areas (UK, Ireland, Scotland, Scandinavia)
The cheaper the better
Easy to fit (DIY)
Able to get this week as we are only in England for a week.
Any advice please?
Thanks,
Moose
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