I have done some searching and not fully found the answer i am after. We are new the caravan scene having decided that camping was no longer for us.
I would like to keep and use a 2nd battery with my caravan, so that we can use one and charge the other (for example) as we already have large solar panels and like to be grid free where we can.
My caravan and car have the 13 pin plug.
I was hoping to use a 13 male (socket) and wire it to the battery and then i can connect it to the caravan via the 13 pin socket so that i can switch between the 2 batteries as needed using the caravan panel. In theory i can leave the solar panel connected as well using the charge controller i got with the panels.
My question is this:
Is this possible? and if so which wires do i need to connect the the battery Pin 9 is perm live but not sure about earth etc.
We are mainly off EHU caravanners so faced the issues I believe are underling your question.
I have not gone that route so can't answer your specific question, but feel there might be issues with the van's "habitation relay". This isolates the van's system on sensing the car being coupled, though it could be voltage sensitive, so if the engine is not running might not be an issue.
Anyway, I carry a second battery that can be recharged by the car, but I use that battery for the TV system my largest non essential user of power. That battery is "portable" in the sense it is just a 60Ah one so weight its handlable. I have this arranged to share the van's negative wiring, so only needed to run in a second positive feed. The van's and this positive feed come to a change over switch, so the TV can be powered from either source. Additionally, my solar panel feeds a "Duo" controller that services independently the two batteries. That is smart enough to suss out if the portable is there or not and act as needed.
The portable I arranged could be recharged by the car, but apart from testing it, in 7 odd years I have never needed to do so; my 85 Watt solar does all that we need.
Again in 7 years I have not had to remove the van's battery, it has coped with the essential duties and been recharged by the solar.
using the 12s socket will not provide power to the rest of the caravan, it will only do the fridge and then only for a short time as running that on 12volt is only for when the car engine is running - its a maintainence thing really, wont get it cold in there, just keep it cold that's all, you are better off just using a battery while charging the second back up with the solar panel, if this is fitted t the caravan then just extend the wires to reach the second battery
So you have a solar panel with a duo controller, one connected to your portable battery the other connected to your van battery.
Could you confirm if you have directly connected it to the van battery or have you used any internal wires supplied by the vans manufacturer?
For example, i was going to to connected directly to the battery even if were using it, which is what i do with own home grown solar system,
Regards,
Quote: Originally posted by JTQU on 10/5/2015
We are mainly off EHU caravanners so faced the issues I believe are underling your question.
I have not gone that route so can't answer your specific question, but feel there might be issues with the van's "habitation relay". This isolates the van's system on sensing the car being coupled, though it could be voltage sensitive, so if the engine is not running might not be an issue.
Anyway, I carry a second battery that can be recharged by the car, but I use that battery for the TV system my largest non essential user of power. That battery is "portable" in the sense it is just a 60Ah one so weight its handlable. I have this arranged to share the van's negative wiring, so only needed to run in a second positive feed. The van's and this positive feed come to a change over switch, so the TV can be powered from either source. Additionally, my solar panel feeds a "Duo" controller that services independently the two batteries. That is smart enough to suss out if the portable is there or not and act as needed.
The portable I arranged could be recharged by the car, but apart from testing it, in 7 odd years I have never needed to do so; my 85 Watt solar does all that we need.
Again in 7 years I have not had to remove the van's battery, it has coped with the essential duties and been recharged by the solar.
My van's controller a Schaudt, features a solar input but Schaudt recommended with the Morningstar to connect directly to the battery. The Schaudt input is designed for inputting their own solar controller.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 10/5/2015
Would it be worth trying with one battery and the solar to see if you actually need another battery. Would save all the faff of connecting it all up.
Can i charge the battery whilst its in use, for example i was going to add a power pole connector from the battery to the solar regulator connected to the panel.
yes of course you can, our solar panel gets put on the roof and then the wires go straight into the battery box from the outside and connected to the battery via the regulator never had a problem yet and been doing this for about 15 yrs now
Quote: Originally posted by jgrove on 10/5/2015
Can i charge the battery whilst its in use, for example i was going to add a power pole connector from the battery to the solar regulator connected to the panel.
Thanks
I for one can't understand all the question, however I know for sure my solar set up can charge the battery whilst the battery itself is on load.
I can understand that the elevated voltage under a charge could upset, voltage critical electronic uses, but I have not "damaged" anything myself [ TV, computer chargers etc].
I can't answer the teccy question but we go rallying a lot. We use a 90ah battery and 60 watt panel. If we have bit of sunshine the battery is fully charged when we leave. Never had a problem wether summer or winter vanning.
The standard caravan on board charger maintains the battery voltage at 13.8 volts. I'm not sure if the solar charger will take it higher, although 13.8volts will not charge a battery to absolute full capacity.
Electronic equipment now is a lot less susceptible to overvoltage than it used to be so should be OK.
my van has a good 110 amp hour onboard.. with summer time use (i have led lighting) and careful power usage i think i would be okay for around four days off grid..
i would simply put another battery in the van but the weight penalty stops me from doing this..
i tour a lot and rely on the car charger to keep the van battery up.. providing i dont stay in one place for too long i could stay off grid for ever..
i have thought about fitting a solar panel but so far havnt really needed one..
it does all come down to how much battery power gets used though.. led lighting saves a fair bit.. light you have to have other things maybe not so..
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Topic: 2nd Battery - Newbie
