How do I connect solar charger to vehicle & leisure batt Forums

bigfrank3

I have purchased a 55 watt solar panel and I hope to be fitting it this weekend with a regulator, or at least deciding where and how I will be fitting it.

I store my motorhome on a site away from my home and during the winter months I am worried about the vehicle battery going flat on me. I want to use the solar panel to keep the vehicle battery charged when the motorhome is being stored over winter and during the other seasons use it to charge the leisure battery.

I have a couple of question to ask.

My motorhome is a Lunar Champ 591. This has a Calira electric-system EVS 38/20-DS/IU fitted. This charges my vehicle battery through the alternator and when that is fully charged it starts to charge the leisure battery. Can I connect the regulator to the Calira system to do the same job.

Would I be better wiring the output of the regulator through a double pole double throw switch and then to each battery so I can switch whichever battery into the solar charge circuit.

Thanks for reading this and for any help or advise you can give, Frank sign2

dangerous

hi frank,
When I fitted a solar panel I was advised to connect straight from solar regulator to battery, this works fine.
When we bought our RV, that was how the panel was connected up as well. this seems to be the way to do it.

Dangerous

dangerous

Frank,
sorry I forgot to mention, we use a device called a battery master purchased fron outdoor bits, this connects both batteries together, so when leisure battery is charged and topped up, charge then transfers to vehicle battery and it works brilliantly.

Dangerous

GerryD

Frank,

Dangerous is right. Go direct from the regulator to the leisure battery and then use a Battery Master to balance the leisure and engine batteries.

Regards,

Gerry

wakk44

hi Frank,

you will have to connect your solar panel to the regulator,and then regulator to leisure battery.Then you will need a

gaspode · Moderator

I just fitted a 80w to our van (Neismann & Bischoff) and I found that the charger/distribution box (CBE as fitted to lots of German vans) has a terminal where the solar panel can be connected. This allows the van main control panel to monitor and display the charge current in the same way as it displays the current from the charger. As this terminal is linked to both the chassis and leisure batteries I assume this mode of connection also allows the solar panel to charge the chassis battery once the leisure batteries are full (as the mains charger also does).

Look at your charger/distribution panel wiring diagram to see if such a facility is included before you connect straight to the batteries. If you do connect straight to the battery terminals, be sure to fit a fuse next to the battery terminal that will protect the wiring to the panel in the event of a short circuit, a couple of hundred amps going into a 15 amp rated wire will have a good fire going before you realise it has happened.

aido

When you buy a solar panel does it come with a regulator ? Smile

Aido

GerryD

propolis

Hi bigfrank3,

I have Lunar Champ A630 with the same Calira electrics.
I have fitted a 65W solar panel with the regulator connected straight to do the leisure battery.
This has worked very well the last two winters, both leisure battery and vehicle battery
fully charged throughout.
You don't need any other electrics, the Calira control does everything to charge your vehicle battery.
See manual page 31,
when connecting external solar panel, the starter battery is also charged provided that the voltage
off the leisure battery has reached 14.3 volt. If the voltage of the leisure battery drops below 13.2 volt,
that parallel circuit is disconnected again.

Motorhometone

I have a similar problem so I purchased a Battery Master.The instructions suggest its a simple installation achieved by connecting the 12volt supplies from both leisure and engine batteries at the split charge relay.
Any advice where I can locate this relay please?
Chausson Welcome, Fiat X250
Regards
MotorhomeTone