Add extra leisure battery and solar.

[wizard74]

Hi folks. I have a Laika motorhome built on a 2008 transit.
At the moment it has 2 leisure batteries under the driver's seat and has the starter battery under the passenger seat.
There's room for an extra battery beside the starter battery so I'm hoping to add a third leisure battery.
I'm also installing solar so I basically need some help on the wiring.
I would normally just add the battery in parallel to the other two batteries and the solar direct to battery from the solar controller. However I believe I can't do that on the transit due to smart alternator or wiring ?
Can anyone offer any advice please ?
Many thanks in advance

Sent from my M2007J3SY using Tapatalk

[Blizz]

2008 vehicles don't have smart alternators so don't worry.

You can add in parallel but I won't except if you're also replacing your current leisure batteries due to different capacities/health.

Why don't you upgrade to LiFePO4 instead of adding a third battery? How many Ah you need?

Cheers,

David

[straydog]

Like what Blitzz says,

[wizard74]

I'm already replacing the 2 leisure batteries that are there so the third would be same also.
So just so I don't get confused.

Connect third battery in parallel is fine ?

Connect from solar controller direct to battery is fine ?

Connect battery direct to power inverter is also fine ?

Thanks a mil guys.
And sorry for the silly questions. I just need it dumbed down lol

Sent from my M2007J3SY using Tapatalk

[Blizz]

Yes you can connect the 3rd battery in parallel if the three are same capacity. But I still suggest going lithium and using only one or two (Depending on size, placement) batteries.

MPTT controller must be connected to aux batteries, yes, same with the inverter (You don't want to discharge your starting battery don't you?).
Some solar controllers have an exit for the main battery so they can keep it topped up once the aux battery is full.

Cheers,

David

[wizard74]

Thanks a mil guys. Much appreciated

Sent from my M2007J3SY using Tapatalk