I have a smart charger (Lidl special) permanently connected to my battery and would like to add a solar charger for use on sites without EHU. Can anyone tell me if I have to disconnect the smart charger when the solar charger is in use? I'm guessing that as both have diode protection it shouldn't be necassary. The solar panel is a 13 watt suitcase type, do I need to use a charge controller? The 12v supply is only used for lighting and water pumps, one submersible and a Thetford toilet.
Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 27/3/2012
Yes it is recommended to disconnect the smart charger as you can only use one source of power input to charge the battery.
Absolutely untrue in respect to only one source can be used to charge a battery. Even at the same time various chargers can work in parallel. The 'smarter' they are the more competently they sense the influence of others and adapt their own strategies.
Here its even less of a worry as you are not on EHU so the mains charger is contributing nothing.
Thanks tango55, I will only be using one charging source at a time. The smart charger is permanently connected to the battery therefore the issue is wether or not it has to be physically disconnected when the solar panel is connected to the battery.
The solar panel will only be used when there is no EHU, so the smart charger will not be operating at the same time, but will the fact that it is connected affect the ability of the solar panel to charge the battery?
Quote: Originally posted by capnrhodes on 26/3/2012
The solar panel is a 13 watt suitcase type, do I need to use a charge controller? and a
Many thanks.
The general consensus is that solar outputs of this level coupled to our typical Ah size of batteries don't require charge controllers; the current is too low to sustain much overcharging damage. My 13 Watt original panel however was supplied with both a controller and meter and that quite frequently switched itself off from charging. Worried me first time as I thought it must be broken; then I realised why and switching on a load confirmed it was okay by waking it up.
JTQU is quite right so please ignore my original post. I was thinking that both were being used at the same time but I obviously didn't read the post properly. Sorry.
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Topic: Smart charger and solar charger wiring
