Hank the Tanks Dodgy battery and solar system

barryd said:
Nah. That means getting someone else involved which is always a PIA plus its not immediately obvious what size additional panels would fit on that roof. The issue last year I dont think was with the panel, when there was sun it charged the single battery to full in a couple of hours. Ill use it this year with one panel and two batteries and find out if its enough or not that way.
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Rule of thumb is 100w solar to 100ah battery, so 2 batts will require 200w of solar, easy to link to the panel you have.
 
barryd said:
Im sure all this stuff is very useful but its partly what put me off going the lithium route. Having spent a lifetime working in tech I have grown to hate it. :D The more I read up on it the more monitors, apps, dials, bells and whistles that seem to be involved. I was bad enough last summer just plugging the £3.50 volt metre in all the time to check the bleeding voltage. That control panel on our van gets on my tits as well. The water tank gets to three quarters empty and you think WW3 had broken out as alarms start going off. Bloody Fridge does it as well and with that one it turns out its some sensor on the light getting condensation on it (IN A FRIDGE!!! NO SH*T!!) :ROFLMAO: I just ripped the wires out to solve that one.

I love the idea of Lithium, don't get me wrong but it seems very complicated to me.
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Don't think there is any need for it to be complicated Barry.
Had same decision to make as yourself, double up or install lithium .
I've gone for lithium but , to be honest, it was (almost) a coin toss .
Bluetooth etc ? No reason for it in my opinion
 
barryd said:
Its all you need if you have a simple system though I reckon. On my old van my MPPT controller had a screen that told me everything I needed to know. What was going in, what was going out and what my voltage was. I just looked at it occasionally but I got so used to how the old van worked and performed over the years I just knew from the weather how well it was doing and when we needed to be careful or not. Same with the Gaslow. I can probably tell you within a litre how much we have left without even looking at a gauge. I've not quite got there with this van yet but ill figure it out. I know what you mean about "joy" though. I used to get quite excited if I saw my old MPPT throwing in maybe 70 watts! :ROFLMAO:
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Why don't you buy another one of those Controllers Barry, Bought a different one now but I'd have another.

MPP Solar Inc » PCM2012/3012 Series

www.mppsolar.com www.mppsolar.com

link to buy one

PCM3012 (25A MPPT) – Maximum Solar Online

maximumsolar.online maximumsolar.online
 
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alcam said:
Don't think there is any need for it to be complicated Barry.
Had same decision to make as yourself, double up or install lithium .
I've gone for lithium but , to be honest, it was (almost) a coin toss .
Bluetooth etc ? No reason for it in my opinion
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As I have mentioned I am disabled so having BT and not having to go to the van just to check is a bonus, but it seems this particular item would be wasted on LA batteries
 
Pudsey Bear said:
Cheapest Wifi is £50 so a bit OTT, not sure I have the range for BT I have a BT speaker in the van so I can test on that, just leave my phone in the house and see if it connects, I assume if the monitor is connected to the battery it'll be powered by it?
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If I park the van on the road outside the house I can connect to my ppt and shunt from the rooms at the front of the house, upstairs and down. I can also turn the diesel heater on/off and up/down from those places. Modern bluetooth has much better range and connectivity.

Just make sure you name devices so when you park somewhere you know which is yours from the loads of others that appear from other vans lol
 
Pudsey Bear said:
Why don't you buy another one of those Controllers Barry, Bought a different one now but I'd have another.

MPP Solar Inc » PCM2012/3012 Series

www.mppsolar.com www.mppsolar.com

link to buy one

PCM3012 (25A MPPT) – Maximum Solar Online

maximumsolar.online maximumsolar.online
Click to expand...

I would but the bonus with the controller already fitted is it has a second charge output to the cab battery and its done a great job of keeping it topped up. Those dont have that. I know you can get battery masters etc but they are not something I can fit myself.
 
Pudsey Bear said:
You like to work too much, I have one of these, it stays plugged in.


Having said that "someone" has moved it :rolleyes: :rolleyes:
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I have a bank of these with high output on dash and near tv unit, keeps the kids mobiles up.
van front.png
 
barryd said:
I would but the bonus with the controller already fitted is it has a second charge output to the cab battery and its done a great job of keeping it topped up. Those dont have that. I know you can get battery masters etc but they are not something I can fit myself.
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Do you mean a BtoB?
 
barryd said:
No, isn't that the charger that runs from the engine to the leisure battery for when the alternator is not up to the job? My solar controller has a second output. One goes to the leisure battery and one goes to the engine battery.
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Not really looked into it to be honest, but I believe I am getting a similar device soon, you can just run a single FUSED wire from LB Pos to the VB Pos, if you forget it will just blow the fuse if you try to start it, I've had it on a few of our earlier vans
 
Had an email from a very helpful guy at Alpha batteries just now regarding venting the battery. He said if its not in the hab area then its not necessary but if it is then they recommend fitting them. My battery box is below the van but accessed by a cover under the rear lounge seat which of course will not be air tight. There are holes in the bottom of the battery box floor so I guess I should get them. He is going to chuck some in FOC with my next order which is very kind of him.
 
Pudsey Bear said:
Not really looked into it to be honest, but I believe I am getting a similar device soon, you can just run a single FUSED wire from LB Pos to the VB Pos, if you forget it will just blow the fuse if you try to start it, I've had it on a few of our earlier vans
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That will discharge the starter battery if using the les batts and run low, a switch is required, heavy duty cable is best as you can kick start the donky from all batts linked up..
 
So in anticipation of fitting another heavy 120ah battery Ive been to the weighbridge today. I've not been since I bought the new to us van early last summer and before I fitted the rack and scooter (I knew it would be well within the limits from the initial weigh last year). As the battery will join the other one in the rear I thought it best to see where we stood.

Third of a tank of fuel, no water, most of our stuff in, Honda Vision 110 on the back, myself and Michelle on board.

Front 1660kg (Max 2100kg)
Rear 2060kg (max 2400kg
Gross 3740kg (max 4250kg)

Im happy with that. Full fuel and water should be fine and would be mainly forward anyway. Another battery about 30kg (50kg with the axle distance probably). Maybe another 50kg of stuff to go in. Loads to play with. Should be good to go with the additional battery then I think so will get that ordered and the leads I think I need.

Ill be getting one of these. Identical to the one Julian @yeoblade fitted last summer


And then I just have to work out what cables to get. Red and black obviously. I think I need 45cm, 25mm cable 170amps, 8mm terminal holes but thats a guess based on the most popular choices on this link. :D What do you reckon?

www.ebay.co.uk

Battery Lead Power Strap Earth Bond Leisure Cable Leads - 16mm2 - 50mm2 Terminal | eBay

Copper conductor with P.V.C insulation, (resistant to oils, petrol, diesel, lubes and a range of diluted acids). All Leads are Crimped for a solid crimp and connection, then protected in the correct colour heat shrink to match the cable colour.
www.ebay.co.uk
 
I would pass on that crappy cable, get one from Vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk, you may pay a little more but you get better stuff.
 
Your load is pretty minimal Barry, no inverter or owt so the 16mm will be more than adequate. Little point in going any bigger than the actual supply/load cables and they look like 10mm at the most.
Nod politely at Kev and then ignore him mate, I mean he's planning of fitting a fire door to his van and mock woodgrain to his bonnet....nuff said.🤣🤣
 
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