check out the new remote control Jockey Wheel SmartBar Canegrowers rearview170 Cobb Grill Skid Row Recovery Gear
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Post Info TOPIC: Solar Panel Connection To 'Van.


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 202
Date:
Solar Panel Connection To 'Van.


Is it feasible to connect a portable solar panel to the van by using the battery pin in the 7/12 pin plug?

Are there any problems in doing it this way?

Keith.smile



__________________


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4375
Date:

Yes, provided the solar controller is before the plug.
The down side is there will be some voltage drop after the controller and before the battery, so the results will not be as good as having the solar controller very close to the battery.

Cheers,
Peter

__________________

OKA196, 4x4 'C' Class, DIY, self contained motorhome. 960W of solar, 400Ah of AGMs, 310L water, 280L fuel. https://www.oka4wd.com/forum/members-vehicles-public/569-oka196-xt-motorhome
 

 



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4711
Date:

Don't think of doing that on a Jayco van with standard wiring. There is a diode pack in the charge line that will drop the charge voltage by 0.6 V. This will stuff up the charging.

If you are going to do that on a van that does not have a power supply like the jayco's Setec then get rid of the regulator that comes with they regulator. Put a quality model near the van battery and feed the solar panel power direct to the regulator.

With any van you are far better off installing a new input connector. Wire that with a heavier cable than the van manufacturers use from the trailer plug to the battery. Mount a good regulator close to the battery and wire the new input connector directly to that. The regulators supplied with portable panels are generally of poor quality. Source your own good regulator. You are better off purchasing a couple of panels and a pair of hinges, simply make up your own portable panel.

__________________

PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 



Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 202
Date:

Thanks for that Peter n Margaret.

A fella here where we live has bought the panel and wants me to connect it for him.

What I would prefer to do would be to run a short length of twin 10 mm from the battery to a convenient location outside the van and terminate it with an Anderson type plug for connection to the panel.

However not having looked at the existing setup yet I may have to take the easy way out-if you know what I mean. 

Keith.smile

 



-- Edited by Sparkster on Friday 13th of April 2018 08:39:08 PM

__________________


Senior Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 202
Date:

Thanks for the heads up PeterD, would you believe it's a Jayco about 10 yeras old I'm guessing.

So I'll go for my second option with the necessary modifications.

Keith.smile



__________________


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 879
Date:

The 12v from my vehicle goes to an OmegaLec controller in my Jurgens. Most vans have an equivalent controller. Current coming down that line is used to detect all sorts of things including how my fridge runs. Do not put anything other else down the car plug. Solar power must be connected direct to your van battery via a solar controller (most panels come with one). One of the manuals that came with my van emphasise this.

I have run some very heavy wire direct from my van battery to my A-Frame and terminated it in an Anderson Plug. This wire is cable-tied to the cable that connects to the vehicle. I connect my solar panel (which has a controller built in) directly to this Anderson plug.

__________________

Centrelink - Living the Dream.



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4711
Date:

Rusty, do you have a link to download info about your OmegaLec controller, particularly the handbook.



__________________

PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 879
Date:

PeterD wrote:

Rusty, do you have a link to download info about your OmegaLec controller, particularly the handbook.


I keep meaning to scan. I will do that tomorrow and post a copy. Its only a few pages. 



__________________

Centrelink - Living the Dream.



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4711
Date:

Tks Rusty.

__________________

PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 879
Date:

PeterD

My Omegalec manual, a page I found on the internet and what I have electrical-wise in my van & ute (Jurgens Sungazer & 2015 Ranger XLT 4dr).

VAN - Omegalec 1 of 4.jpegVAN - Omegalec 2 of 4.jpegVAN - Omegalec 3 of 4.jpegVAN - Omegalec 4 of 4.jpegVAN - Omegalec OEM Info.jpgVAN - Electrical Specs 1 of 2.jpg

VAN - Electrical Specs 2 of 2.jpg

 



Attachments
__________________

Centrelink - Living the Dream.



Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 4711
Date:

Tks for that, I have downloaded a copy.

__________________

PeterD
Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top
Retired radio and electronics technician.
NSW Central Coast.

 

Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.

Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
Purchase Grey Nomad bumper stickers Read our daily column, the Nomad News The Grey Nomad's Guidebook