I have a dual battery system on the car connected to a solar panel this in turn is connected to the Anderson plug ,
I also have a solar panel connected to a battery in the caravan (stand alone) that powers the fridge and an inverter this also is connected to an Anderson plug that plugs into the car (both Anderson plugs are alive)
So when I connect the caravan to the car there will be 3 X 12v batteries connected together powered by 2 X solar panels
so what I'm asking is should I connect car to van or leave them unconnected when traveling
regards Harry
-- Edited by nuggethill on Saturday 9th of July 2016 03:20:39 PM
Peter_n_Margaret said
07:43 PM Jul 9, 2016
Whatever you like.....
Keeping them connected will provide for the best opportunity to charge all the batteries while driving.
Cheers,
Peter
nuggethill said
06:16 PM Jul 10, 2016
Thanks Peter the solar panels are working 24/7 charging both systems
I just don't want to over charge all the batteries if that's possible
Peter_n_Margaret said
07:09 PM Jul 10, 2016
About 10/7 actually :)
I presume that the solar panels have controllers that are appropriate for the batteries.
If this is so, you won't over charge them.
Cheers,
Peter
Hewy54 said
08:35 PM Jul 10, 2016
I was concerned with some similar issues with solar, but had it explained to me in a simple way that helped my understanding of solar input, storage and usage.
Consider it as water flow, and the battery is a tank, with the panel as an inlet and the power consuming items as an outlet.
If the tanks are not full and no other outlet, flow will be to the tank.
As long as you have a suitable solar regulator from the panel (preferably near the battery), it just means that if the tanks are full, no input takes place.
Different inputs are possible. It does not work to have 2 controllers on the same line as they will cancel each other out.
I have 2 batteries in the car, 2 in the trailer and up to 4 panels in use at any one time. I leave the car plugged in to the van as much as possible so all batteries can be charged. This also works well if ever I plug into 240V power as the trailer charger then also charges the car.
nuggethill said
10:41 AM Jul 11, 2016
Sorry over statement LOL yes 10/7 thanks Peter
Thanks for the explanation Hewy54 I've done a number of wires courses over the years
so I should have realised how it works but there is always some doubt
Thanks again for your comments
regards Harry
I have a dual battery system on the car connected to a solar panel this in turn is connected to the Anderson plug ,
I also have a solar panel connected to a battery in the caravan (stand alone) that powers the fridge and an inverter this also is connected to an Anderson plug that plugs into the car (both Anderson plugs are alive)
So when I connect the caravan to the car there will be 3 X 12v batteries connected together powered by 2 X solar panels
so what I'm asking is should I connect car to van or leave them unconnected when traveling
regards Harry
-- Edited by nuggethill on Saturday 9th of July 2016 03:20:39 PM
Keeping them connected will provide for the best opportunity to charge all the batteries while driving.
Cheers,
Peter
I just don't want to over charge all the batteries if that's possible
I presume that the solar panels have controllers that are appropriate for the batteries.
If this is so, you won't over charge them.
Cheers,
Peter
Consider it as water flow, and the battery is a tank, with the panel as an inlet and the power consuming items as an outlet.
If the tanks are not full and no other outlet, flow will be to the tank.
As long as you have a suitable solar regulator from the panel (preferably near the battery), it just means that if the tanks are full, no input takes place.
Different inputs are possible. It does not work to have 2 controllers on the same line as they will cancel each other out.
I have 2 batteries in the car, 2 in the trailer and up to 4 panels in use at any one time. I leave the car plugged in to the van as much as possible so all batteries can be charged. This also works well if ever I plug into 240V power as the trailer charger then also charges the car.
Thanks for the explanation Hewy54 I've done a number of wires courses over the years
so I should have realised how it works but there is always some doubt
Thanks again for your comments
regards Harry