Well i've sorted out the van wiring circuits and fuse boards. Thanks to Dave for his help. Now solar (Portable Panels) is all that remains to be sorted. Power (240 volt) goes from the shore to the battery via a smart charger then, to the 12 volt appliances such as lights, TV, radio and CD player

With solar panels (No shore power connected) can I connect them directly to the battery and not damage the "Smart Charger"

Regards
Noel

I would install an outside cigarette lighter socket wired direct to a fuse then to the battery, this can be used for not only incoming solar power but outgoing power for lighting or any other thing outside the van make sure the solar panels have an inbuilt regulator and then just simply place the solar panels male cigarette lighter plug into the socket if they are transportable if you are looking to make the solar panels a permanent fixture then the idea is the same but just wire them direct to the battery after the regulator it will not damage the onboard charger as both systems operate on a "feedback" system, I.E. they will not forward any charge until the voltage of the battery drops below a certain point, the smart charger will not operate until it is on 240volt dont worry about the "stupid" questions, no such thing, only too glad to help

Many thanks Dave. I thought as much however, it is always a good idea to check.

Regards
Noel

no problem, anytime

What's the consultancy fee Dave? They say it's always nice to share, and that is one of the great things about this forum. People ask questions and others answer. Sharing the knowledge AND the love. I like it. Good job done eh Wombat? I still wish I'd done welding instead of sewing at school. I'm not very good at electrical stuff. I need more practice.

dave06 wrote:

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I would install an outside cigarette lighter socket wired direct to a fuse then to the battery, this can be used for not only incoming solar power but outgoing power for lighting or any other thing outside the van

make sure the solar panels have an inbuilt regulator and then just simply place the solar panels male cigarette lighter plug into the socket if they are transportable

if you are looking to make the solar panels a permanent fixture then the idea is the same but just wire them direct to the battery after the regulator

it will not damage the onboard charger as both systems operate on a "feedback" system, I.E. they will not forward any charge until the voltage of the battery drops below a certain point, the smart charger will not operate until it is on 240volt

dont worry about the "stupid" questions, no such thing, only too glad to help

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Hadn't thought of using a cigarette lighter socket. I'm getting an anderson plug fitted to the battery box to plug the portable solar panel into.

 

chris I could teach you the basics of welding in an afternoon, for practice if you have a tube of silicon sealant with the "pump" type handpeice and you are able to sustain an even "bead" of silicon (or any type of filler dispensed by this method) for a length of say 3'" then you are able to sustain an arc, that is the basic skill, arc sustanantion the next is simply the amp range and rod choice, a matter of trial and error but with your ability chris that would not be a problem I taught myself at the age of ten, a very good skill to learn with the cigarette lighter be sure and limit your voltage input to less than say 100 watts or choose a "heavy" socket and wiring to suit

Gary and Kerry wrote:

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dave06 wrote:

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I would install an outside cigarette lighter socket wired direct to a fuse then to the battery, this can be used for not only incoming solar power but outgoing power for lighting or any other thing outside the van

make sure the solar panels have an inbuilt regulator and then just simply place the solar panels male cigarette lighter plug into the socket if they are transportable

if you are looking to make the solar panels a permanent fixture then the idea is the same but just wire them direct to the battery after the regulator

it will not damage the onboard charger as both systems operate on a "feedback" system, I.E. they will not forward any charge until the voltage of the battery drops below a certain point, the smart charger will not operate until it is on 240volt

dont worry about the "stupid" questions, no such thing, only too glad to help

---

Hadn't thought of using a cigarette lighter socket. I'm getting an anderson plug fitted to the battery box to plug the portable solar panel into.

 

 

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G'day Garry,

If you do use a cigarette lighter socket please make sure you use at least 6mm wire as anything less will have too great a voltage drop.

I have one on the inside of the van for running any 12 volt appliances and another on the outside so I can plug in the portable panel to add a bit of oomph to the roof mounted 85 watt panel, I also use an 80 watt portable solar panel to recharge my 12 volt,1500 amp power pack (Jump starter) via a cigarette lighter socket and it works just fine, I can even run my compressor fridge whilst charging the power pack.

John

 

Thanks again Dave. T'is all good. Depart Perth 6th Dec for a trial run to Carnarvon to sort out any Gremlins. We have to be back in Perth by the 16th Jan 10 for the grandson's 18th birthday. Any problems or faults will be fixed up at this time. Then, depart on the 5 year trip.

As an aside, we are paying ($7.00) less a week for the Caravan and tug on hire purchase than we are (Was) paying on rent and outgoings here in Perth. Must be a moral to the story somewhere.

Hopefully catch up with some of you on the road 09/10

Regards
GOF & Precious

Thanks Dave. If that's all that's to it, well, apart from the power and rod choice, I'm qualified. I had lots of practice with sikaflex and a gun when I resealed all the windows and joints on Roma. I did do a bit of soldering when I was at school. I was really only joking, but one never knows when one has to be the welder and not the holder or gopher or off-sider or apprentice. I'm pretty handy around the place when I think about it. What an asset I am! If only I could sort out this computer stuff I'd be an expert - that is, an "ex" is a has been, and a "spert" is a drip under pressure.

Joking or not granny, as a reader of my dribble you would know that I am a great beleiver in equality, if the desire to learn to weld is there then it can and should be done, to be honest it is not a complex thing to do until you get into specialist welding like aluminium or stainless and cast, vertical poses it's own problems but lowering the amperage and speeding up the rod motion will overcome this (all practice, practice and more practice) the basic rod size for home use is 2.5mm and the basic setting for "normal" welding is roughly between 85 - 100 amps, with these settings you would carry out 90% of any job you would come across on your van

I'm sorry Dave, I shouldn't have encouraged you. I do thank you, but I wasn't looking for the ins and outs of welding just now. There's just no stopping you, is there? That's the charm of Dave. Thanks mate. It made me smile anyway. Cheers

ah you see, you ask I answer, funnily enough I am asked exactly this kind of thing quite often, I use questions like this to answer a wide range of peoples, it ends up being a "generalised" or "generic" answer to the multitude, instead of answering a whole bunch of p.m's on this or some other subject you would be surprised at how many blokes are "out there" thinking "hell if it's that simple I'm gonna get me a welder and try it out" in this way i have introduced a whole new world to some folk, and I think thats a good thing, I should really learn to just "SHUT UP" I guess