12v Solar question

Submitted: Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 13:03

ThreadID: 65171 Views:2611 Replies:4 FollowUps:5

This Thread has been Archived

dolfn

Hi again everyone.

I have had a an 80w solar panel mounted permanently on the roof of my truck for a couple of years now. I run it through a 6A regulator, which is mounted under the dash, to charge my 80A sealed HAZE gel accessory battery. I run a 47l EvaKool constantly off this battery.

I have just fitted a 110l waeco 12v fridge in my camper trailer and have fitted a pair of HAZE 100A gel batteries in the trailer to run the fridge. To keep these two batteries going for more than a couple of days, I have purchased and plan to mount on a hinged rack, a 130w solar panel which I will regulate with a morningstar sunkeeper 12A regulator.

In the past before the 2nd solar panel, I used to connect the truck accessory battery up to the trailer battery via a heavy duty cable. This had two advantages, one when the truck solar panel was charging, the trailer battery also received charge, but more importantly for the longer stays, I could hook up my gen and recharge both batteries at the same time with my 25A charger.

Question is, can I still connect the all the batteries, in parallel, even with regulated charge coming into the trailer from the 130w panel and the truck from the 80w panel via two seperate regulators.

Regards

Kelvin

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Robin Miller - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 13:11

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 13:11

Yes that should be ok Kelvin.

Make sure that both terminals of each regulator or charger are connected directly to the battery bank(s).
This prevents a regulator from including currents from another regulator in the voltage that it sees.

Robin Miller

Member
My Profile Send Message

AnswerID: 344602

Follow Up By: dolfn - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 13:15

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 13:15

Thanks Robin,

DOes this also mean that There is no prblem having the truck solar still connected whilst the truck is running and obviously also providing its own charge to the accessory battery?

Regards

Kelvin

FollowupID: 612541

Follow Up By: Cruiser Crazy - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 13:55

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 13:55

That shouldn't be a problem. You can connect as many alternators/chargers parralell as you want, as long as you (like Robin said) keep each charger connected directly to a battery.

FollowupID: 612548

Follow Up By: Robin Miller - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 13:57

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 13:57

Yes thats ok Kelvin - however I note Johns reply below , and I also prefer to keep to seperate systems just in case someone leaves the headlights or whatever and flattens everything.

Robin Miller

Member
My Profile Send Message

FollowupID: 612549

Reply By: Member - John and Val W (ACT) - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 13:16

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 13:16

Kelvin,

You have a system that works for you and the only change you're making is to add the second panel and regulator. Sounds good to me, with no risk and no downside. I use multiple batteries too and two panels. The only difference is that I prefer to keep the batteries seperate from each other. Any one (or more) can be connected to load/charge simply by inserting or removing the corresponding fuse. By keeping them seperate I always have a fallback in the even of one failing.

I see no problem in proceeding as you propose.

HTH

John

J and V
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

AnswerID: 344604

Reply By: Member - Phil B (WA) - Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 14:04

Friday, Jan 16, 2009 at 14:04

Hi dolfn

I have a CT and am struggling with ideas on a hinged rack for two 80 watt solar panels. I am hoping to swing them away and have them charging whilst the camper up.

Did you make yours?

Any ideas would be appreciated.

cheers

Phil

There is a lot of difference between
‘Human Being’ and ‘Being Human’.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

AnswerID: 344615

Follow Up By: dolfn - Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 18:17

Saturday, Jan 17, 2009 at 18:17

Hey Phil,

No I havent, but have a plan.

Pretty simple design for me as I have an Ultimate Camper. It has Rhino Racks on the lid. so Im just going to mount it on those and when the lid opens, swing the solar panel from a hinge on the forward edge.

Regards

Kelvin

FollowupID: 612772