The application of 12V technology to my situation

Hi Kevin, first up have you an Anderson plug between the vehicle and caravan so you can charge whilst travelling? This is the best way to plug in external power supplies to the van, Anderson plug on solar panels etc.
Keeping an eye on usage with an amp meter can be expensive and a pain, I just use a volt meter, it will give you a pretty good idea of how the solar is charging and how the storage is when not being charged as well. A nice digital one can be placed any where in the van for as little as $10 on E.Bay, I have put one in the D.Max as I do not like the gauge that they have in any cars and it is good as it shows like 13.2 volts etc.

Hi Kev,

It is important to have a regulator in the solar circuit as it will look after your battery as you may well overcharge it without a regulator. Depending on battery type this could lead to an explosion.

I have an anderson on the draw bar to accept power from the car and a couple of others which I can plug anything into to draw off 12 volts, such as a 12 volt drill, with the extension lead I made with anderson plugs each end.

Here is a simple diagram showing extra plugs as optional



If you gat a 12 volt solar regulatorLike this it shows the battery level as well as regulates the incoming current. It is a PWM unit and is good value for money and will do everything you need.

If you wanted to go the extra you could go for an MPPT unit of This type.

The regulator coulb be fitted inside the lockable battery box if needed provided the battery is an AGM, or perhaps a GEL battery. Definitely not if it is a flooded cell (car battery).

I am mindful of your last words re time left to travel but I think these suggestions are valid under the circumstances. The regulators are important.

Both of these regulators give multiple read outs of batter voltage, solar panel output and also have a power used meter included in the display.

They are also dead easy to hook up so some expense can be spared there.

A good set of reasonably heavy cabls run to an anderson plug at the back of the car is essential also. This is just advice, what you do is your business so please don't feel pressured.

Cheers, Bruce.

G,Day Kev
I'm in the process of doing a exercise as you.----I've got a pair of folding solar panels, and want to charge up the battery in the van. Like you, I've got a 12 pin plug on the van to the car, and that services the "smart" fridge as you call it whilst travelling.---After talking to my autolec, we're just going to fit a Anderson plug at the end of the solar panel cable like most people do,and make up a Anderson to 12 pin adaptor and plug straight into the van as if it was connected to the car.---The van already has a controller, as your's probably has, -if it hasn't, the panels have a controller on them,---so no problem there.
Good luck.......Sapper D

Well, nothing is ever as simple as it seems! I removed the cheek plate from the 12 pin plug to find that terminal 9 that should carry the battery wire is empty. So how does charge get to the battery? The answer from the dealer is via the fridge wire. The techo there said that, as it is a fairly long journey to the battery, my best approach is to drill a hole in the bottom of the battery compartment and run a lead to an Anderson plug on the A frame. It all looks feasible.
If there is another installment to the story I will let you know.
Cheers,
Kevin