Could someone help me wrap my head around some of this wiring for my motorbike trailer / camper so at least I know what I am talking about when I get it done professionally.
Sorry in advance if these are dumb questions !
I would like 2 inputs to charge the 12 volt battery (not simultaneously) one while we are out bush via a fold out solar panel, and another 240 inlet to give it a charge before leaving to go out bush.
Solar Input Fold out solar panel (250Watt), connect via extension to port on side of the trailer to 30 amp redarc regulator to battery.
240 Input Inlet side of trailer, to circuit breaker, to standard GPO, then battery charger to battery.
Question 1, looking to spend around $200-$300 on a charger, what would you suggest (redarc, projector, c-tek?)
Question 2, can I leave this connected all the time, given it wont ever be both connected, but I want to ask to have it hard wired to the battery, if there is charge coming from the solar panel would this do any damage to the charger? And vice versa if the battery charger is charging the battery can I leave the solar regulator hard wired to the battery, would the car charger do any damage to it?
Question 3, if yes could I just place a isolator switch in between the regulator and the battery and one between the car charger and the battery?
From the battery, I was going to go from the battery to an 8 port Narva switch with circuit breaker built in, then branch out to the things sucha as (fridge, dvd player, tv, usb ports, lights)
Question 1, does that seem straight forward or would you suggest something else?
Thankyou
John Kay said
09:18 PM Aug 2, 2017
Hi Trooper23,
I have the following setup.
D250s Ctek controller which is connected to a AGM battery which runs the car fridge.
Ctek has 200 watts solar panels connected to it.
Ctec is also connected to the car battery which charges the AGM battery whilst car engine is running.
The above set up is connected 24 /7 and never had any issues.
For protection I use extra heavy gauge wiring circuit breakers as car battery.
Every other output from the AGM has a fuse as well.
Your proposed set up sounds good.
Cheers John
Dougwe said
10:09 PM Aug 2, 2017
Welcome to the gang Trooper23, enjoy here and out in the playground.
Have a read in the Solar Power sub forum above as there is heaps of info there.
Ziggy99 said
05:56 AM Aug 3, 2017
Re a 240v battery charger it's very useful to have one with a recondition cycle and run it periodically. Many 'house' batteries are used regularly undercharged and a reco cycle can counter some of the damage.
-- Edited by Ziggy99 on Thursday 3rd of August 2017 05:58:26 AM
macka17 said
09:41 PM Aug 3, 2017
Ziggy.
ONLY.. If your Solar system isn't up to par. (more panels)
Just make sure that your panels have YOUR system floating by 11 am to noon. Daily Giving extra charge time for cloudy etc days.
Plus. anybody with sense carries a genny in boot too.
PS.
I always have my systems set.
So they never drop below 12.5v. By daylight next morn.
Add panels till it does.
-- Edited by macka17 on Thursday 3rd of August 2017 09:42:50 PM
Warren-Pat_01 said
09:12 PM Aug 4, 2017
G'day Trooper,
I have a C-Tek DC-DC charger on my aux battery in the car. Redarc have the advantage of slightly higher current capacity (25A vs 20A), can tolerate higher under bonnet temperatures (so I mounted it just behind the grill of the car) & are made in Australia.
However when I bought my C-Tek, it was a two-three hundred dollars cheaper than the redarc. Both have solar inputs as well.
Warren
PS - don't feel shy about asking for help on this forum, I'm certain that you'll find the assistance you require either directly here or in the "Search" pages.
OutbackMK said
08:59 PM Aug 5, 2017
I have a DCDC 1225 Redarc, it uses MPPT charging which is better than chargers supplied with most solar panels. If you check their website you will find examples of wiring diagrams. Essentially power input to the DCDC charger is controlled by a relay that when ignition is on it sources power feed from the alternator and when not it looks for a solar panel input. I have an Anderson plug at the front grill that allows me to connect to my solar blanket. Easy to do, if 240 charger use is required its clips go straight onto battery terminals. (rare occurrence) Hope this helps (look up benefits of MPPT charging) Brian
-- Edited by OutbackMK on Saturday 5th of August 2017 09:00:20 PM
-- Edited by OutbackMK on Saturday 5th of August 2017 09:00:52 PM
Trooper23 said
02:19 PM Aug 6, 2017
Warren-Pat_01 wrote:
G'day Trooper, I have a C-Tek DC-DC charger on my aux battery in the car. Redarc have the advantage of slightly higher current capacity (25A vs 20A), can tolerate higher under bonnet temperatures (so I mounted it just behind the grill of the car) & are made in Australia. However when I bought my C-Tek, it was a two-three hundred dollars cheaper than the redarc. Both have solar inputs as well.
Warren PS - don't feel shy about asking for help on this forum, I'm certain that you'll find the assistance you require either directly here or in the "Search" pages.
thankyou Warren-pat
I dont think we would go out for longer then 1, 2 or 3 day at a time, hence prior to leaving i would just give it a quick charge with an extension lead from the house onto a 240vlt charger (extension lead connector, circuit breaker, GPO, battery charger, mounted in the trailer)
once we are out, i hope the battery without any charge would last around the 24-48 hr mark pending what is being used. so i have the fold out solar panel, just to give it a top up (solar panel, regulator, battery)
i dont want to connect it to the car battery, or have it wired to the car.
Terryt said
04:08 PM Aug 28, 2017
If you are going to have the Redarc anyway I think it's a bit shortsighted not to utilise its DC DC capabilities (assuming it has those capabilities)
Evening all,
Could someone help me wrap my head around some of this wiring for my motorbike trailer / camper so at least I know what I am talking about when I get it done professionally.
Sorry in advance if these are dumb questions !
I would like 2 inputs to charge the 12 volt battery (not simultaneously) one while we are out bush via a fold out solar panel, and another 240 inlet to give it a charge before leaving to go out bush.
Solar Input Fold out solar panel (250Watt), connect via extension to port on side of the trailer to 30 amp redarc regulator to battery.
240 Input Inlet side of trailer, to circuit breaker, to standard GPO, then battery charger to battery.
Question 1, looking to spend around $200-$300 on a charger, what would you suggest (redarc, projector, c-tek?)
Question 2, can I leave this connected all the time, given it wont ever be both connected, but I want to ask to have it hard wired to the battery, if there is charge coming from the solar panel would this do any damage to the charger? And vice versa if the battery charger is charging the battery can I leave the solar regulator hard wired to the battery, would the car charger do any damage to it?
Question 3, if yes could I just place a isolator switch in between the regulator and the battery and one between the car charger and the battery?
From the battery, I was going to go from the battery to an 8 port Narva switch with circuit breaker built in, then branch out to the things sucha as (fridge, dvd player, tv, usb ports, lights)
Question 1, does that seem straight forward or would you suggest something else?
Thankyou
I have the following setup.
D250s Ctek controller which is connected to a AGM battery which runs the car fridge.
Ctek has 200 watts solar panels connected to it.
Ctec is also connected to the car battery which charges the AGM battery whilst car engine is running.
The above set up is connected 24 /7 and never had any issues.
For protection I use extra heavy gauge wiring circuit breakers as car battery.
Every other output from the AGM has a fuse as well.
Your proposed set up sounds good.
Cheers John
Have a read in the Solar Power sub forum above as there is heaps of info there.
Re a 240v battery charger it's very useful to have one with a recondition cycle and run it periodically. Many 'house' batteries are used regularly undercharged and a reco cycle can counter some of the damage.
-- Edited by Ziggy99 on Thursday 3rd of August 2017 05:58:26 AM
Ziggy.
ONLY.. If your Solar system isn't up to par. (more panels)
Just make sure that your panels have YOUR system floating by 11 am to noon. Daily
Giving extra charge time for cloudy etc days.
Plus. anybody with sense carries a genny in boot too.
PS.
I always have my systems set.
So they never drop below 12.5v. By daylight next morn.
Add panels till it does.
-- Edited by macka17 on Thursday 3rd of August 2017 09:42:50 PM
I have a C-Tek DC-DC charger on my aux battery in the car. Redarc have the advantage of slightly higher current capacity (25A vs 20A), can tolerate higher under bonnet temperatures (so I mounted it just behind the grill of the car) & are made in Australia.
However when I bought my C-Tek, it was a two-three hundred dollars cheaper than the redarc. Both have solar inputs as well.
Warren
PS - don't feel shy about asking for help on this forum, I'm certain that you'll find the assistance you require either directly here or in the "Search" pages.
I have a DCDC 1225 Redarc, it uses MPPT charging which is better than chargers supplied with most solar panels. If you check their website you will find examples of wiring diagrams.
Essentially power input to the DCDC charger is controlled by a relay that when ignition is on it sources power feed from the alternator and when not it looks for a solar panel input. I have an Anderson plug at the front grill that allows me to connect to my solar blanket.
Easy to do, if 240 charger use is required its clips go straight onto battery terminals. (rare occurrence)
Hope this helps (look up benefits of MPPT charging)
Brian
-- Edited by OutbackMK on Saturday 5th of August 2017 09:00:20 PM
-- Edited by OutbackMK on Saturday 5th of August 2017 09:00:52 PM
thankyou Warren-pat
I dont think we would go out for longer then 1, 2 or 3 day at a time, hence prior to leaving i would just give it a quick charge with an extension lead from the house onto a 240vlt charger (extension lead connector, circuit breaker, GPO, battery charger, mounted in the trailer)
once we are out, i hope the battery without any charge would last around the 24-48 hr mark pending what is being used. so i have the fold out solar panel, just to give it a top up (solar panel, regulator, battery)
i dont want to connect it to the car battery, or have it wired to the car.