Hank the Tanks Dodgy battery and solar system

i used a reciprocating saw with a blade i’d sharpened on the grinder quite scary how easily it went through the mastic ! under the brackets
 
rugbyken said:
i used a reciprocating saw with a blade i’d sharpened on the grinder quite scary how easily it went through the mastic ! under the brackets
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they go through the steel on a panel van quickly as well Ken lol
 
rugbyken said:
i used a reciprocating saw with a blade i’d sharpened on the grinder quite scary how easily it went through the mastic ! under the brackets
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I did exactly the same with an old multi tool blade, ground the teeth off and got a really sharp edge on it with a belt sander, great for removing/ cutting silicone. Ive had to remove panels in the past and they've been a right sod to get off so the last time I fitted the panels to be the van roof I put a small bead of silicone about 2 mm deep onto the face of the brackets first and let that set overnight before fixing them down on a full bed of silicone the next day, the theory is if I need to remove them in the future then I'll be able to get a blade in under the brackets easier next time.🤞
 
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I don't know if I dare resurrect this thread but I guess this is just a "warning" that I am getting around to thinking about putting in a second 120ah battery. I have decided thats all I am going to do this year and to see how it goes. I think from memory (without reading back) All I need to do is use a red and a black connector from the exiting batteries positive to the new ones positive and the same with the neg? Im just a bit worried about the order of disconnecting stuff to do it.

Also and @yeoblade Julian might be able to advise on this as he fitted that second battery plastic holder wont come out. The bolts are goosed. I was thinking of just sawing them off at the top. It will be tight in there anyway and there is a cover that fits tightly over the top. Thoughts on that? I've not ordered the battery or leads yet but in the next few weeks it will be on the cards.

new battery screen shot with arrows.jpg
screenshot_774.jpg
 
runnach said:
Scroll down page to battery section detail with diagram.

johnandmandy.uk

Detailed 12v Inverter & Battery Wiring Guide - Campervan, Motorhome, RV & Boat - JOHN & MANDY

Should you use 12v or an Inverter? Almost every electrical device you can take in your campervan can be powered directly from your 12v battery rather than needing an a/c inverter, or an alternative can be found, like a toast rack for your hob instead of an electric toaster. For example using an...
johnandmandy.uk johnandmandy.uk
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You mean these? Struggling to get my head around the differences.

battery joining1.jpg

battery joining2.jpg
 
mistericeman said:
Ideal is the second image to distribute load/charging equally ...
In practice with just 2 batteries it probably won't make any difference .
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I think I get it now. The feed from the solar and the vans charger needs to go into one battery and the electrical equipment thats attached to the battery system needs to go into the other? The only thing thats coming off my battery directly though is a couple of 12v sockets just used for charging phones, running laptops etc.
 
barryd said:
I think I get it now. The feed from the solar and the vans charger needs to go into one battery and the electrical equipment thats attached to the battery system needs to go into the other? The only thing thats coming off my battery directly though is a couple of 12v sockets just used for charging phones, running laptops etc.
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Not quite ....

On the top image all electrical connections (positive/negative) for incoming/outgoing power are connected to the left hand battery of 2 batteries connected together in parallel .

Bottom image shows all electrical connections (positive/negative) for incoming/outgoing power shared between 2 batteries connected together in parallel thus sharing power draw/charging between the 2 ....

As I say in the case of 2 batteries I doubt it would make a huge difference either way .
 
barryd said:
I think I get it now. The feed from the solar and the vans charger needs to go into one battery and the electrical equipment thats attached to the battery system needs to go into the other? The only thing thats coming off my battery directly though is a couple of 12v sockets just used for charging phones, running laptops etc.
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No Barry you need to just add the second battery with negative to negative and positive to positive but the important thing is to ensure that the negative of say battery A goes to your shunt (if you have one) and your positive from battery B feeds your system. Just keeping the connections as they are with single battery and just adding another with wires between the two batteries will cause battery A (your original battery) to discharge and then battery B will try to charge battery A!! Hope that makes sense!!? 🙏
 
barryd said:
I think I get it now. The feed from the solar and the vans charger needs to go into one battery and the electrical equipment thats attached to the battery system needs to go into the other? The only thing thats coming off my battery directly though is a couple of 12v sockets just used for charging phones, running laptops etc.
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In on one out on t'other was how I always did it.
 
Right Im now more confused than ever. I think it would be better to do a video next time I have the van out and film the set up properly. Either that or get it done professionally which is harder than it sounds up here.
 
barryd said:
Right Im now more confused than ever. I think it would be better to do a video next time I have the van out and film the set up properly. Either that or get it done professionally which is harder than it sounds up here.
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What's confusing you so much Barry? You need two batteries to replace your single one. Remove your single battery and fit/add your new battery, now connect pos to pos and neg to neg. On reconnecting the + & - connections from your original batery then connect say the positive to battery A but the negative will go to the negative of battery B so that both batteries are drawing volts/ current. If you follow the second diagram above it will be purfict 😉 😀 😃
 
Wightman said:
What's confusing you so much Barry? You need two batteries to replace your single one. Remove your single battery and fit/add your new battery, now connect pos to pos and neg to neg. On reconnecting the + & - connections from your original batery then connect say the positive to battery A but the negative will go to the negative of battery B so that both batteries are drawing volts/ current. If you follow the second diagram above it will be purfict 😉 😀 😃
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Barry only knows "turn it off, then turn it back on".
 
Wightman said:
What's confusing you so much Barry? You need two batteries to replace your single one. Remove your single battery and fit/add your new battery, now connect pos to pos and neg to neg. On reconnecting the + & - connections from your original batery then connect say the positive to battery A but the negative will go to the negative of battery B so that both batteries are drawing volts/ current. If you follow the second diagram above it will be purfict 😉 😀 😃
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I see. So whatever extras are connected to the current battery put the negative connections to one battery and the extra positive connections to the other ones positive post? Almost as if they were one big battery. So if for example I fit another 12v socket direct to the battery I must put one end on the negative of Battery A and the positive on the positive of battery B?
 
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