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Solar charger for battery ?


Grassy

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Apparently, I don't drive my truck enough and my Ultra shift gets cranky when the battery isn't running at spec.  I do unhook it when I store the unlt.

I am looking for some sort of solar changer that I can hook it up to when the wheels are not rolling and it is sitting..

My concern is that it has to be able to deal with the 2 batteries or will one of those little units work just as well ?

Thanks

. Arctic Fox 29-5T

. Beagle co-pilots - Faffy and Lulu

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Define "Little Units". We run either 2 75w panels, or 1 130w unit, depending on what I feel like setting up that day. A small charge controller keeps 4 batteries, wired parallel, happy. The panel size has also allowed us to run the inverter 24/7 in the sleeper, powering the small fridge in the sleeper. Depending on your extra loads, the smallest I'd recommend for vehicle maint, ois around 30w. For the price of a panel this size, you moight as well step up to a real panel, with a charge controller.

I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 

2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication
2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet
2007 32.5' Fleetwood Quantum


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If there is something that I have never been able to drum into my thick skull is electricity... I understand the concepts ..in general form and I have wired an older MOPAR ( and have kept several British cars ion the road)  but the process for me is incredible painful...

I think I have a 400 watt on top of my 5th but since we have stopped boondocking I tend to ignore it until we put the rig away... then I make sure it isn't trying to charge nothing..

I was think 5W like this ..

https://www.amazon.ca/Go-Power-GP-SF-5-SUNfilm-Solar/dp/B006Q7C7L6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498062055&sr=8-1&keywords=solar+charging+panel+for+car+batteries

Ok..min 30 w... I would want to keep it mobile so I can set up and take down at will.

Thanks...time to go on the hunt.

 

 

 

 

 

. Arctic Fox 29-5T

. Beagle co-pilots - Faffy and Lulu

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Another off the wall question.

I have a large solar panel on top of my RV. I usually park my TV in front of my RV.

Can I extend the solar panel cables that connect to my rv batteries to my batteries in my my truck ?  Or just parallel the two sets of batteries ? 

Thanks

. Arctic Fox 29-5T

. Beagle co-pilots - Faffy and Lulu

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Only if you're willing to accept the consequences. During occupancy, you may pull the whole battery bank down enough to be unable to start the truck. That's why motorhomes use a BIRD relay, or something similar. If you're talking just storage, the usual caveats apply. Size the panel big enough to cover the load, with a cushion to cover cloudy days.

I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 

2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication
2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet
2007 32.5' Fleetwood Quantum


Please e-mail us here.

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Darryl,

No, not during occupancy.  We really don't use our set up that much. My truck and trailer just sit in my driveway.

Apparently, there is enough draw within my truck to run the battery down below optimal levels which buggers up my ultrashift.

My trailer is always plugged in while at home because we leave our fridge on. There is zero draw from the trailer's solar panel. I think it is 400 watt ish.. 

You allude to the usual caveats..  would you mind listing them out..

I was thinking just to tap into the 2 wires that run to the trailer batteries..  maybe with a fuse and allagator clip to attach to my truck's batteries..  this would save me multi hundreds of dollars for a portable set up.  During winter storage, the batteries are disconnected.

Once we start hitting the road, i don't think this will be a problem.

Thanks.

. Arctic Fox 29-5T

. Beagle co-pilots - Faffy and Lulu

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Why not just put a panel on the truck. Or better yet, since you have power, why not put on a batteryMinder. 

Jack & Danielle Mayer #60376 Lifetime Member
Living on the road since 2000

PLEASE no PM's. Email me. jackdanmayer AT gmail
2016 DRV Houston 44' 5er (we still have it)
2022 New Horizons 43' 5er
2016 Itasca 27N 28' motorhome 
2019 Volvo 860, D13 455/1850, 236" wb, I-Shift, battery-based APU
No truck at the moment - we use one of our demo units
2016 smart Passion, piggyback on the truck
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
See our website for info on New Horizons 5th wheels, HDTs as tow vehicles, communications on the road, and use of solar power
www.jackdanmayer.com
Principal in RVH Lifestyles. RVH-Lifestyles.com

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The caveats I referred to were to size the array to be bigger than the expected load, under the worst possible conditions. Too often, people expect sunshine magic, and act disappointed when the sun goes down, with the battery bank still hungry. 

I have been wrong before, I'll probably be wrong again. 

2000 Kenworth T 2000 w/N-14 and 10 speed Gen1 Autoshift, deck built by Star Fabrication
2006 smart fourtwo cdi cabriolet
2007 32.5' Fleetwood Quantum


Please e-mail us here.

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I appreciate  the heads up. I had never heard of the battery minder.

I had thought about using a std battery charger since I have the power available but was uncomfortable with this possible solution.   This is better.

 

Thanks

. Arctic Fox 29-5T

. Beagle co-pilots - Faffy and Lulu

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6 minutes ago, Grassy said:

I had thought about using a std battery charger since I have the power available but was uncomfortable with this possible solution.   This is better.

The advantage of the battery minder is it will analyze the state of the battery/charge.  So it will not overcharge or boil your batteries.  A typical battery charger will just keep charging.  If the battery charger is capable of sensing a full charge and shutting down, typically they will not restart automatically like a battery minder will.

2017 Entegra Anthem 44A

SOLD - 2004 Volvo 780. 465hp and 10sp Auto Shift (from 2010~2017)

SOLD - 2009 Montana 3400RL

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