Brian Peters Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 hello again, i recently posted a message regarding "fried leisure battery" the advice given was to just let the solar panel trickle charge the battery and not the elektrobloc charging unit. i can isolate the 12volt charging circuit by turning off the elecktrobloc unit but would this also stop the solar panel giving a charge????? i do need my mains on the van to run a dehumidifier, and in the winter a heater. many thanks brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel E Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 How big is your solar panel (watts)? Anything with a max rated output of over about 15 watts will eventually gas a battery dry. Only solution I can see is to put a proper charge controller between the panel and the battery. They start from less that the cost of a new battery! Mel E ==== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Brian I do not know just what the charging arrangements are in your van, so cannot give you a specific answer, but the following may be of help. If your solar panel regulator is a separate unit and not a part of the mains to 12-volt unit, then almost certainly it will continue to charge the leisure battery when the mains to 12-volt unit is turned off. I.e. if the regulator is connected directly to the leisure battery then the mains to 12-volt unit is irrelevant. This is the crucial bit, is the regulator separate to the mains to 12-volt unit and is it wired directly to the leisure battery? Leaving the mains connected in order to run a dehumidifier would not pose a problem at all, provided the mains to 12-volt section is turned off. Leaving or France in the morning, so I cannot comment further beyond this evening if you have any further queries........ Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Peters Posted September 12, 2008 Author Share Posted September 12, 2008 michael, thanks for info, its been a great help to me. enjoy your french trip. many thanks brian. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abb Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 Mel E - 2008-09-12 2:07 PM How big is your solar panel (watts)? Anything with a max rated output of over about 15 watts will eventually gas a battery dry. Only solution I can see is to put a proper charge controller between the panel and the battery. They start from less that the cost of a new battery! Mel E ==== My MH is fitted with a 100w S.panel and the batteries(2) are directly connected to a small black box (presumably a regulator!). In your opinion how long would this solar charging gas the batteries dry ( assuming the MH is standing still for weeks). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel E Posted September 12, 2008 Share Posted September 12, 2008 If the small black box is indeed a regulator, then there should be no problem with the batteries as it will cut off the current flow from the solar panel when the batteries are fully charged. But a 100 watt panel is quite large and needs a minimum 10 amp regulator since its rated maximum output will be around 6 to 7 amps. It could be that your regulator, if that is what it is, is simply not up to the job. However, parked up in the UK, you will never get close to 6 amps, since the angle of the sun (if you see any) reduces the solar input to the panel quite severely. So you either have a knackered charge regulator, or the box you think is one isn't. Sorry, on meagre input can't do better than this! Mel E ==== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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