Keeping battery topped up during winter

greylag
greylag Club Member Posts: 590
250 Likes Name Dropper
edited October 2017 in Motorhomes #1

I used a small solar panel last winter and the result was...a flat battery.  I have read from MMM that these type of solar panels are only just short of useless.  The type I used are sold by Halfords and others to sit on the dashboard, supposedly putting out 6 amps, in reality putting out a half amp.

I have no electricity where the van is stored and a solar panel would be ideal to keep it ticking over, but which one.....any help would be appreciated.

Comments

  • Unknown
    edited October 2017 #2
    This content has been removed.
  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited October 2017 #3

    They fitted the second panel to the MH today taking it to 120watt. Doesn't do anything for the engine battery though. I may fit another solely to keep the engine battery topped up for the alarm and was thinking a 20watt would have been sufficient for this.

  • Vicmallows
    Vicmallows Forum Participant Posts: 580
    500 Comments
    edited October 2017 #4

    On the boat I use a 15W rigid panel (about 12"x12") permanently mounted on the pushpit rail.  It maintains 160AH house batteries easily when not on board. (I deploy 80W of panel at anchor).

    On the caravan a 100W panel on the roof is enough to sustain us indefinitely off-grid,  but we are negligible users of TV (the big power-drainer!)

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited October 2017 #5
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited October 2017 #6

    You should be able to fit a controller capable of charging 2 batteries.  You normally select them so that they favour one battery over the other copulent of  examples. 

    Photonic universe

    Morningstar

    The photonic one is I believe identical to the Truma branded unit, the Morningstar is the one that I have. 

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
    500 Comments
    edited October 2017 #7

    I use one of these to keep all three batteries (Starter and two Leisure) topped up.

    I have an 80W Solar panel which does the job very well of keeping them topped up at all times of year and the CSB-2 diverts the power to the starter battery when the Leisure ones are at peak performance.

    Cheap and effective.

     

  • Unknown
    edited October 2017 #8
    This content has been removed.
  • Mastervanman
    Mastervanman Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited October 2017 #9

    I had a 100W NDS solar panel with a dual output controller fitted to my campervan earlier this year. The work was done by Roadpro in Daventry making use of the CMC discount. This has enabled me to stay at several C&CC Temporary Holiday Sites since. Even in in high season the cost was £8 - £11 per night for two adults, kids usually go free. Also both batteries are kept topped up when the van is parked up on the drive between trips. If you have the skills to fit one yourself you'll save a few hundred pounds.   

  • dougA
    dougA Forum Participant Posts: 142
    edited October 2017 #10

    I know greylag does not have an EHU when in storage but am I right in saying that while on EHU the vehicle battery and leisure battery are being charged up.

  • Mastervanman
    Mastervanman Forum Participant Posts: 11
    edited October 2017 #11

    It will depend on the individual electrical set up with each van. On mine I can choose between charging the engine battery or leisure battery but not both at the same time. But since having the solar panel fitted I don't have to worry as both are kept charged automatically.  

  • gellyanddave
    gellyanddave Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited October 2017 #12

    Hi I just need to charge my caravans batt over winter in storage which also has alarm fitted, will 20 w be any good and does it req being outside or can i just put in front full sun facing window.

     

  • dougA
    dougA Forum Participant Posts: 142
    edited October 2017 #13

    I was thinking about fitting the battery master to split the charge between vehicle and leisure battery.

    on checking my Elddis the solar panel fitted has a Truma solar dual battery charger.

    i have added a picture and looking at the cable connections it looks like it's just the leisure battery that's connected. So is it just a matter of connecting the vehicle battery to the dual charger so it charges both batteries?

     

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited October 2017 #14

    Yes, connect a lead from the controller to the engine battery, select how much charge you want go to each battery. When one battery is full it should send full charge to the other and then you are done. 

  • greylag
    greylag Club Member Posts: 590
    250 Likes Name Dropper
    edited October 2017 #15

    I know it is remiss of me, but I should have said that my storage is inside a barn, so a large panel on the roof would be no good for me.

    I do have a window behind the van facing south and I thought a panel could be fixed facing out and provide a decent charge.

    There is a 10/12 watt panel available from Maplins and it seems to get good reviews, I will do some more reading make a decision.  Thanks for the replies. 

  • smowe
    smowe Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited October 2017 #16

    my Elddis Avanti 866 caravan battery is losing power even with a solar charger and connected to mains with only the frost protection on the intellgent controller being the only draw solar and mains charger are definetly working have tested with volt meter

  • Unknown
    edited October 2017 #17
    This content has been removed.
  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited October 2017 #18

    If plugged into EHU it is hard to imagine charger can not manage any 12 volt demands

  • Unknown
    edited October 2017 #19
    This content has been removed.
  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
    500 Comments
    edited October 2017 #20

    We haven't had the Motorhome on hook up since being on an Aire in Ypres back on the 31st of July - and that was the first time since April.

    The Solar panel, two leisure batteries and starter battery, with help of the device I mentioned earlier on Page 1, mean I haven't needed hook up and rarely use EHU throughout the year. 

    Modern vans, and not so modern vans, shouldn't need so much attention to the charging side when fitted with todays inexpensive technology.and a few hundred pounds, after the initial mortgage type purchase price of the van, spent on  ensuring you don't have to worry must be a good investment - isn't it?

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited October 2017 #21

    by recording the discharge and comparing it to the input charge level the OP wont have to 'imagine' anything....he'll have the answer.

    Do try and keep up BB! I was not responding to the OP but to Smowe! laughing

  • Unknown
    edited October 2017 #22
    This content has been removed.
  • Gerald Haycock
    Gerald Haycock Forum Participant Posts: 17
    edited October 2017 #23

    I found this with mine, the drive battery was not getting enough. I found a good auto electrician and he swapped it so that the drive battery gets the power first and when that is full it automatically switches over to the leisure.