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Hi all
Ok my rig has a dual battery system already. And i want to be able to hook up my solar panel to the car to charge the batteries.
My Solar panel is rigged up with all anderson plugs. So im wondering what i need to do to set this up?
Also want to get a compressor to install somewhere? not sure the best place to put a compressor. I dont really have any room under the hood.
Are the compressors easy to wire up also?
any info would be great
cheers in advance :bowdown:
To charge your battery from solar, you will need a dc to dc charger.
Something like this http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/280761714...84.m1438.l2649
hey leigh,
not sure on the solar bit, but am interested on the answers you get, but i have a compressor that triggers my lockers and also for pumping up tyres and it is under the drivers seat of my gu bolted to the floor, it is out of the way and the switch is below my stereo!!
Scotty
We have our compressor for the lockers under the drivers seat as well. Its a great place when pumping up tyres.
Our solar panel goes to the 3rd battery in the back. (we took out the back seats) and runs the freezer. (had an auto lecky set it up)
Snicko
Really? why is that?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mazodude
Im new to the solar stuff mate, so dont really have a clue YET! Got a bargain with a 80w Solar panel and regulator and all the Anderson extensions and so on.
I had it hooked up to my old rig, the Anderson was already in the back of the car from when i bought it, just connected it straight into that. Im sure it came straight from the battery???
Is the air compressor ok under the seats? i thought it might get a little bit hot under there.
How are they wired up? wonder if its to difficult?
no it doesnt seem to... it isnt like it runs all the time and it has a fair amount of air circulating around it!!!
i would recommend it!!
Scotty
If your solar panel has a regulator, then yes it can be connected straight across the battery.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leighw85
The difficult part is getting it to charge both batteries.
Does your vehicle have a dual battery isolator?
Yeah it does have an isolator mate. How exactly does that work? ive been meaning to find out about it since ive had the car.
It has a Piranha DBE 180S Duel Battery Management system.
That's sweet, that isolator has a solar input built in (maximum 50 watt panel)
So depending on the size of your solar panel all you may need to do is run some 4mm twin double sheathed wire from the isolator and fit the anderson plug.
Now I am not 100% sure but I think this will charge both batteries, may pay to check with Piranha on this.
Here is their website, it tells you a bit about the isolator and how to test it (in the fitting instructions).
http://piranhaoffroad.com.au/index.p...180s-plus.html
Edit, Sorry just read thread again and see you have an 80 watt panel, so that doesn't help you.
You may need to talk to a solar specialist about being able to charge both batteries.
If you only wanted to charge your second battery then just wire the anderson plug to that battery with a 15 amp fuse as close as possible to the battery.
I might be wrong then :/Quote:
Originally Posted by Leighw85
well im thinking i would only really want to charge the aux battery wouldnt i? i thought the Pianha battery management system would stop the starting battery from going flat? Im not 100% sure how it works to be honest, so if you have any insight, thats would be fantastic.
Yeah 80w solar panel, bummer that hey :( i wonder what the reason for max 50w is?
I have an Anderson plug connected directly to my aux battery (via 13mm2 twin core cable with a circuit breaker at the battery end) that is hooked up to the camper to charge the camper batteries when driving. I plug my regulated 120w solar panel directly into either the truck or trailer when camped up, have a fridge in the truck and power for lights and water pump in the camper. Works for me.
Yes you should only need to charge up your auxiliary battery with the solar panel. I was just going by your first post.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leighw85
The basic operation of a dual battery system with isolator is, when the engine is running both batteries are electrically joined together, this enables the alternator to charge both batteries.
When the engine is stopped the isolator, isolates the batteries from one another. This enables you to run your accessories from your auxiliary battery (such as fridge, power for lights to your camp or what ever else you would like, (just connected them to the auxiliary battery)), without running the risk of flattening your starting battery.
With you solar panel you can just connected it to the auxiliary battery.
If the solar panel is not going to be permanently mounted on the vehicle, then you could make up a short lead, one end with the anderson plug and the other end with some good quality alligator clamps.
This way you could connected it to any battery you wish.
The regulator inside the isolator will only be able to handle 50 watts (about 4 amps) if you connected the 80 watt panel (about 6.5 -7 amps) it could burn it out.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leighw85
Hi i was thinking that you should conect it to the main start battery that way it will charge the main first whitch i think is the most important and then link the main to aux through the isolatior and charge the aux just like it does when the cars running
but when im stopped with the fridge running and light, the isolator cuts of the main battery to the aux battery.
So the main starter battery cant go flat. Why would i need to charge that?
I mounted my portable air compresser under the hood with a quick connector, Easy job, works great
What's a quick connector mate?