How do I connect a solar charger?

[Robert_374344761]

I'm new to caravanning so bear with me! I have a Pegasus 554 with a 110 amp battery fitted. Looking at the batery is seems VERY tight in the battery box and I might just be able to connect the solar clamps on to the terminals.

I need to keep the battery topped up for the alarm/tracker and to use the motor mover (it's in a storage compound) thus the solar charger seems the ideal way.

My query is this: Is there access to the battery box from within the caravan (I haven't looked yet)or do I have to connect the solar charger from the side of the van and run the cable via the caravan door which is next to the battery box. I understand that the cables from the solar panel can only be so long due to voltage drop, so how long are these leads normally?

My understanding is that the battery boxes are sealed so is there any other way of accessing the battery?

 

[Damian]

I would check your van information as I am almost certain that provision for solar charging is inbuilt, you just need the panel.

 

[emmitdb]

Robert.

You are right about 'voltage drop but any voltage is good voltage.

You haven't said what type of solar panel you are intending to use whilst the van is in storage but if you get one of those 'trickle charger' type panels the length of the cable supplied with it would limit where it could be placed.

However, I can point out that at the bottom of the battery box door you will find a notch cut out. This is normally to allow your Electric Hook up cable to pass through. You could use that cut out to get the wire out of the box and through the nearby window where your solar pamel could sit all snug and safe.

Assuming that the trickle charger is fitted with a cig lighter socket (male) you could buy a female socket and connect that to the battery and leave it inside the van. I'm sure there would be somewhere in the box to accomodate it. Enjoy.

 

[Robert_374344761]

Robert.

You are right about 'voltage drop but any voltage is good voltage.

You haven't said what type of solar panel you are intending to use whilst the van is in storage but if you get one of those 'trickle charger' type panels the length of the cable supplied with it would limit where it could be placed.

However, I can point out that at the bottom of the battery box door you will find a notch cut out. This is normally to allow your Electric Hook up cable to pass through. You could use that cut out to get the wire out of the box and through the nearby window where your solar pamel could sit all snug and safe.

Assuming that the trickle charger is fitted with a cig lighter socket (male) you could buy a female socket and connect that to the battery and leave it inside the van. I'm sure there would be somewhere in the box to accomodate it. Enjoy.

I know I need at least a 15w solar charger which I was looking at placing it in the front window as either side of my van, in storage, are other vans!

I don't know if the 'standard' lead would reach.

I haven't checked to see if the manufacturer has thought about us van users wanting to connect a solar charger and have made provision for it. Having the lead come out via the mains hook up slot and in through a window or door doesn't seem, to me, to be a good thing.

How are the rest of you managing with this problem?

 

[VonRyan]

Hi Robert

Look at the thread Solar panels again on the previous page. Have a read to see if this is what you want to do and if so post a thread for the attention of Von Ryan

regards

Von Ryan

 

[marlot]

I haven't done mine yet, but a I found a permanently connected negative feed goes to the mover controller (and easy to tap into). I also found a permanent +ve on one side of the isolator key switch for the mover. Both of these are in the wardrobe on my van, and I've bought a decent 12v socket to wire in.

If you do something like this, make sure you put a fuse in the feed, as close to the battery as you can. For a 15W panel, a 2A or 3A fuse would be fine.