Solar wiring issue

[Peter_374304682]

im upgrading my caravan roof solar to 300w with a 30amp Victron controller (standard battery) my question is I want to cut the solar cables before the charge controller and put in a switch so I can take a feed to my power station, which has a built in MPPT controller I know I can't charge both at the same time but this will give me the option to top up the power station when needed. Has anyone done this ? or am I over thinking as usual.

Thanks

 

[JTQ]

I switch between using my panel to charge my caravan's battery, or charge my EcoFlo Delta 2.
I simply wired the panel to a TX60 male, and wired a TX60 female to feed this into my Morningstar solar controller that charges the van's battery.
So I plug the panel into that or the EcoFlo's TX60 solar port depending on what I want the panel to feed.

There is no complication the panel can be used on either.
Doing the make and break on the solar panel's feed achieves the required connect battery first, disconnect battery last that the Morningstar manual instructs me to do in connecting it up.

I also have had the panel charging the EcoFlo Delta, and the AC feed from the Delta 2 into the van's EHU point to then charge the van's battery. Setting the levels so nothing drains too much.
This has to be pretty inefficient, but in summer there is way more available solar than is needed and doing the connection this way both the van and Delta end up fully charged. Plus we can use the electric kettle in the van or directly from the Delta2.

 

[IanB1485]

Interesting question , JTQ has gone down the simple change connectors ( if I have read it correctly). Personally I would splice into the wires and let the the two mppt controllers 'do their stuff' i.e split charge and when one or the other batteries have been charged to full the other will charge to to full ( if there is enough sunlight) Don't overthink it. I'm still trying to source a chassis connector to connect a 280 Ahr battery (sat outside the caravan on the LHS ) to my caravan internal battery with a weatherproof cover , currently i have a " Durite 0-601-26 16A DIN Plug and socket " (bit like a standard cigar outlet connector but better), but it's only 16 A and when using a NBR-360W-12V charger it charges up at about 16-17A for 12 hours so I'm concerned the connector will get hot which the standard cigar outlet socket and plugs do even charging at 6A . Suggestions on a postcard please, otherwise I will have fit a housing (similar to a mains outlet housing) and put an anderson connector inside. I will leave it to the mppt solar to charge both batteries

 

[Peter_374304682]

I switch between using my panel to charge my caravan's battery, or charge my EcoFlo Delta 2.
I simply wired the panel to a TX60 male, and wired a TX60 female to feed this into my Morningstar solar controller that charges the van's battery.
So I plug the panel into that or the EcoFlo's TX60 solar port depending on what I want the panel to feed.

There is no complication the panel can be used on either.
Doing the make and break on the solar panel's feed achieves the required connect battery first, disconnect battery last that the Morningstar manual instructs me to do in connecting it up.

I also have had the panel charging the EcoFlo Delta, and the AC feed from the Delta 2 into the van's EHU point to then charge the van's battery. Setting the levels so nothing drains too much.
This has to be pretty inefficient, but in summer there is way more available solar than is needed and doing the connection this way both the van and Delta end up fully charged. Plus we can use the electric kettle in the van or directly from the Delta2.

Thanks so you don't use a switch you just disconnect the solar cables before your charge controller and connect a TX60 and plug into your power station ?

 

[JTQ]

Thanks so you don't use a switch you just disconnect the solar cables before your charge controller and connect a TX60 and plug into your power station ?

First I should have said XT60 the polarised DC plug and socket system not TX60, apologies.
XT60, these things LINK

Yes, I connect the solar panel to either the van's solar controller, or to the power station. Its not "cables" in my case but locally I used a single twin core cable which makes for a neater installation.

As the EcoFlo Delta2 features a XT60 solar panel input, I added one to the van's Morningstar solar controller, so I could charge either the van's battery or the EcoFlo power station, as I require.

I could have used a switch, but as the EcoFlo power station is portable, taken out on picnics, used in the garden for power tools and is chargeable in the car, then things for me with these permutations, is use a plug of the XT 60 type it features.

 

[Peter_374304682]

thanks sounds like a plan, just noticed Vicron are doing 300w solar kit for £350 which seem a very good price, so i may use my 150w for the power station and the new 300w for the van, how solar stuff has dropped in price

 

[JTQ]

Suggestions on a postcard please, otherwise I will have fit a housing (similar to a mains outlet housing) and put an anderson connector inside. I will leave it to the mppt solar to charge both batteries

As already said I use XT 60 connectors, but along with these you can get XT90 and XT 120, all also available as bulkhead connectors.

For your application I would opt for the XT90 and mount it say in the battery box. Mine are just on a bracket under the floor, located readily accessible from outside.
The XT90 is rated at peaks of 60 amps but continuously at 30 Amps and are a dedicated high current polarised DC connection system, for example connecting Lithium batteries. These should be gold plated.

Just less bulky than the also functionally ideal Anderson range.

A randomly picked example LINK

 

[Peter_374304682]

you never stop learning thanks for that perfect for what I need, I am looking at the

Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2​

As my power station so the mrs can then use her hair dryer etc and possibly the air fryer and coffee machine I can have this hooked up to the 150w panel to put a bit back in, I was looking at the

Jackery Explorer 2000 v2​

but this wouldn't quite fit in a lower cupboard, the prices at the moment are good with Black Friday upon us

 

[JTQ]

If you're energy needs are not massive, then think how other than with the van you can exploit the usability of the power station. This favours not going to the higher capacity to be of a weight offering practical portability.

As said these can be better great for the kettle when out on a picnic or using the hedge trimmer down the garden as examples, plus if having to recharge it in the car, then weigh is important.


Ecoflo are "dumping" the older Delta 2 at some very low prices, so that's another well respected one to keep an eye on the snap offers particularly coming up to Black Friday.
There are some good solar panel offers too, any decent brand will do it does not need to be from the same source, that's often an expensive option.

 

[Buckman]

thanks sounds like a plan, just noticed Vicron are doing 300w solar kit for £350 which seem a very good price, so i may use my 150w for the power station and the new 300w for the van, how solar stuff has dropped in price

We bought a 500w Victron inverter when it was on special. A good reliable brand. Shop around as you may be able to better the price. See https://www.bmstechnologies.co.uk/

 

[JTQ]

We bought a 500w Victron inverter when it was on special. A good reliable brand. Shop around as you may be able to better the price. See https://www.bmstechnologies.co.uk/

Most power stations I know of there would be no need to buy an inverter, they basically make these redundant.
The better power stations, to supply AC, feature integral quite high powered pure sinewave inverters.
Our Delta 2, having a 1800Watt AC output, with boost capability to over 2500kW.
The OP's mentioned Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2, 2000W & 3000W respectively. The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2, 2200W.

The OP might want to consider locating the power station outside as "working hard" they can be IMO quite noisy {an aspect later generation units attempt to reduce]. Whilst being aware of this issue I went for the better discounts offered on the just superseded units.
Just did not wait quite long enough for recent offers!

 

[Buckman]

Most power stations I know of there would be no need to buy an inverter, they basically make these redundant.
The better power stations, to supply AC, feature integral quite high powered pure sinewave inverters.
Our Delta 2, having a 1800Watt AC output, with boost capability to over 2500kW.
The OP's mentioned Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2, 2000W & 3000W respectively. The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2, 2200W.

The OP might want to consider locating the power station outside as "working hard" they can be IMO quite noisy {an aspect later generation units attempt to reduce]. Whilst being aware of this issue I went for the better discounts offered on the just superseded units.
Just did not wait quite long enough for recent offers!

I have zero idea what you are on about?????? I referenced the brand Victron as being very reliable. However we bought our inverter so that during a power cut we can connect it to a 12v battery to get 240v. There is no 240v from any power station when there is a power cut unless you know different?

 

[JTQ]

There is no 240v from any power station when there is a power cut unless you know different?

Yes, in knowing different, "power stations" in the context of this thread.

You also can, by looking up what the OP's referenced Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2, Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 and our EcoFlo Delta 2, along with many "power stations" actually are.

Units that in a single package , designed neatly to achieve what you have done, plus some, quite a bit more.

 

[otherclive]

I have zero idea what you are on about?????? I referenced the brand Victron as being very reliable. However we bought our inverter so that during a power cut we can connect it to a 12v battery to get 240v. There is no 240v from any power station when there is a power cut unless you know different?

These portable devices being discussed are called "power stations", they are more than just inverters.