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Never had a problem so far. Mind you, I only run LEDs, a stereo and USB chargers (very occasionally an inverter)... Plus I'm in sunny Spain so my batteries are fully charged most of the time.jakezelesco wrote:thanks for that daraiol, so your alternator has no problem charging all 3 sufficiently?
If it's got two batteries then it's got a split charger already. I mean it's got a separator relay. When you turn the ignition to the ON position you'll hear it click.jakezelesco wrote:i seeeee i will be enjoying that sun in a few months to:) , i was not planning on running solar panels but possibly a split charger or something else simple any advice?
daraioj wrote:If it's got two batteries then it's got a split charger already. I mean it's got a separator relay. When you turn the ignition to the ON position you'll hear it click.jakezelesco wrote:i seeeee i will be enjoying that sun in a few months to:) , i was not planning on running solar panels but possibly a split charger or something else simple any advice?
The problem with it is that it doesn't have a delay. It will connect both batteries before you turn the engine on so if your second battery is very low it will draw quite a lot of power from the starter battery.
If you add a 3rd battery and you make sure you don't overdischarge them then you should be fine.
But...
Before I installed my panel and with relatively low power consumption I was having to start the engine every 3 days approx to recharge.
You shouldn't let you batteries go below 12v either if you want them to last...
In my opinion, if you're going to spend money on another battery you might as well spend a bit more and go solar..
I haven't had to start the van to recharge the batteries not once since I installed the panel a year and a half ago nor worry about overdischarging and damaging the batteries.
Mmmm not really.. I don't know enough about it to be honest.. there's monocrystalline and polycrystalline.. normal or flexible... Then there's PWM and MPPT controllers...jakezelesco wrote:daraioj wrote:If it's got two batteries then it's got a split charger already. I mean it's got a separator relay. When you turn the ignition to the ON position you'll hear it click.jakezelesco wrote:i seeeee i will be enjoying that sun in a few months to:) , i was not planning on running solar panels but possibly a split charger or something else simple any advice?
The problem with it is that it doesn't have a delay. It will connect both batteries before you turn the engine on so if your second battery is very low it will draw quite a lot of power from the starter battery.
If you add a 3rd battery and you make sure you don't overdischarge them then you should be fine.
But...
Before I installed my panel and with relatively low power consumption I was having to start the engine every 3 days approx to recharge.
You shouldn't let you batteries go below 12v either if you want them to last...
In my opinion, if you're going to spend money on another battery you might as well spend a bit more and go solar..
I haven't had to start the van to recharge the batteries not once since I installed the panel a year and a half ago nor worry about overdischarging and damaging the batteries.
ssweeet cheers for all that i may look into this solar business as i already have a battery and everything sitting here. do you recommend any solar products?
Nice!!!jakezelesco wrote:mate cheers for your help, i had the bright idea to build a campervan with a 5week deadline. so i got 2weeks leftso i got excited and stayed up last night and puchased a 100w Monocrystalline kit online after reviewing heaps and it will only need to charge the third battery. should be here next week and then il be off your way to collect some of the sunshine!
daraioj wrote:Nice!!!jakezelesco wrote:mate cheers for your help, i had the bright idea to build a campervan with a 5week deadline. so i got 2weeks leftso i got excited and stayed up last night and puchased a 100w Monocrystalline kit online after reviewing heaps and it will only need to charge the third battery. should be here next week and then il be off your way to collect some of the sunshine!
It's the way to go! If you wait until it's "finished" you'll never leave!
Plus you'll get a real feel of what you need and want. Many things look great on paper and then turn out to be useless.
Where about are you going to be?
It really depends on how much power you need but yeah, solar helps a lot. You could start with two batteries and see how it goes.sidie wrote:Thanks for your help guys, it sounds like a 3rd battery and solar is the way to go.
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