split charge with solar and 2 leasure batteries

[philgb]

I cant get my head around my latest self build 12v electricary and could do with a bit of this will work or that wont work dialog.

Have 2x110 amp leasure batteries. 1x 100 watt solar panel. 1 waeco 12v fridge 48amp. Plus 4amp tv. Led lighting, water pump.

Swmbo wants the fridge running 24/7 plus a couple of hours tv. Even though we only do 4/5 days wilding at a time and move the motor regularly.

Not sure if to keep the leasure batteries seperate, charging 1 (tv etc) off split charger. The other (fridge) off the solar panel or to connect both batteries together connected to both split charger and solar controller?

The solar controller can charge 2 batteries at the same time. Would it be best to connect the solar to the lessure battery(s) plus van battery or to the 2 seperate leasure batteries.

Hav'nt purchased the split charge unit yet, what size do you need to charge 2 leasure batteries?

Sorry if this sounds confusing as I am ha ha confused. So any dialog that could give me a eureka moment would be appreciated

 

[noarlunga]

I've got two 60Ah batteries fed from the alternator via a split relay. The split relay is merely a switch and only needs to be robust enough to take the current passed from the alternator to the leisure batteries. An auto electrician will sell you a suitable unit (or fit it for you).

Like you I'm running a Waeco cooler (24/7 on low-ish setting), LED lighting and water pump - I haven't fitted a tv yet although it's on the wish list for dark winter nights. I also charge my tablet and phone from the leisure batteries.

I have a newly fitted 100W solar panel feeding the leisure batteries.

I don't have any electric hook up at all.

I've just spent a week parked up at a music festival and had no problems with the batteries running out of juice, and I've got half your capacity. The week was 75% sunny and 25% torrential rain (pooh!).

If it were me I'd keep the leisure batteries in tandem and not isolate them (or one of them) from the alternator. Then you can always have the option of running the engine to get some charge into them. If your charge controller also allows the engine battery to be charged then all the better.

I hope that helps.

Johnny A

 

[Captain Biggles]

I cant get my head around my latest self build 12v electricary and could do with a bit of this will work or that wont work dialog.

Have 2x110 amp leasure batteries. 1x 100 watt solar panel. 1 waeco 12v fridge 48amp. Plus 4amp tv. Led lighting, water pump.

Swmbo wants the fridge running 24/7 plus a couple of hours tv. Even though we only do 4/5 days wilding at a time and move the motor regularly.....

I hope that it is an error and that your Waeco Fridge doesn't really require "..48 amps..", that's 576 Watts! you could almost run half of Warwickshire on that.

If this is not an error then I can well see why you need to delve deeper into your likely electricity consumption/production ratio, you may even need another 100w solar panel just to keep you ticking over, ever thought of constructing a small nuclear reactor in your MH....lets just hope that shmbo doesn't run her curlers in your MH

Good luck

lane: Captain Biggles

 

[philgb]

Thanks noar and biggles, ref waeco fridge and tv should read watts (brain overload)
Cheers

 

[mrbigglesworth]

I would recommend another 100w panel to cope with dull days and keeping your batteries in one bank is more efficient.
A simple way to keep the veh. battery charged up from the solar panels is by a fused lead from a leisure battery positive to the veh. battery. Just pull the fuse before starting otherwise you might blow it as it tries to draw power from the lb's.
I use a Sterling b-b charger but a cheap alternative like this SPLIT CHARGE EASY FIT LEISURE & ENGINE BATTERY CAMPER MOTORHOME BOAT 12V SOLAR | eBay might suit you.

Mr B.