Hello! Im brand new to all this tech stuff and Im about to embark on a life on the road full time, until I choose to settle somewhere in Australia permanently. So please excuse my ignorance when I ask this question: using an Anderson Plug on the side of my motorhome can I top up the charge on my batteries using portable solar panels? I have a 250W solar panel on the roof but Im worried it wont be enough. Thanks everyone for your wisdom and joyful living! Cheers and safe travels everyone.
Corndoggy said
02:40 PM Jan 28, 2026
Need more information on what and how is in your existing wiring. It can be done various ways.
Gabbi9 said
04:08 PM Jan 28, 2026
Cheers! Ill try and find out.
TimTim said
09:37 PM Jan 28, 2026
Gabbi9 wrote:
Hello! Im brand new to all this tech stuff and Im about to embark on a life on the road full time, until I choose to settle somewhere in Australia permanently. So please excuse my ignorance when I ask this question: using an Anderson Plug on the side of my motorhome can I top up the charge on my batteries using portable solar panels? I have a 250W solar panel on the roof but Im worried it wont be enough. Thanks everyone for your wisdom and joyful living! Cheers and safe travels everyone.
Hi Gabbi,
Firstly welcome to the forum. Secondly, no excusing needed as this is what the forum is about, to ask questions and sharing knowledge.
If I am reading what you are saying correctly, have an Anderson connector already installed on the side of the motor home. The answer to your question is yes you will be able to do it but we need to ensure you use the correct method. What we need to establish is whether the Anderson plug is a direct connection to the battery or whether there is a solar controller or what we call a battery management system that incorporates a solar controller installed in between the batteries and the Anderson connector.
Are you able to follow the cables from the Anderson connector to see where they lead to?
Can you post some photos of the battery connections?
Can you post some photos of any solar controllers or battery management systems etc?
Another easy way to test is if you have a multi meter because if it is a direct connection to the battery you will get the battery voltage reading at the Anderson connector and in that case you will need a solar controller between the connector and portable solar panel.
Do you already have a portable panel and if so, does it have a solar controller?
Good luck
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Wednesday 28th of January 2026 09:48:17 PM
DMaxer said
11:05 AM Jan 30, 2026
Hi Gabbi9 and welcome. In relation to your solar power question my advice would be to give it a run with what you have before you load up with more solar.
I run my caravan on a single 120 amp battery with one 250 solar panel and have found that it meets my needs when I camp of grid.
I have a couple of 12 volt points inside the van and one outside. I use a couple of 150 watt coke can inverters and that meets my needs. With this set up i can run a small fan, charge y phone and run a modem and a laptop as well as the lights. I remember one place I camped at for several days in cloudy and wet weather and by about the third day the battery was showing about 11.5. I hooked the Anderson plug from the van to the car outlet and let the car idle for about ten minutes and the battery soon went back up to about 13.
At one time I was going to load up with solar but have found that what I have is sufficient. I guess if you were running fridges et al that would be a totally different scenario. I have a three way fridge which I just use on gas when off grid and likewise with the hot water system. Otherwise, everything is fine.
PeterInSa said
06:42 PM Jan 31, 2026
Re (I run my caravan on a single 120 amp battery with one 250 solar panel and have found that it meets my needs when I camp of grid.)
Me Similar, but with 2 aging 120 amp Batteries in parallel (to be replaced by a 135 Amp Lithium + in the future) linked up via Anderson Plugs when necessary, to Rear of Cruiser Aux Battery to Drive Sat TV, Water Pump, Led Lights, Laptop Inverter, Battery Charging and and..
Like DMaxer, run a 3 way Frig and Gas Hot water when off grid.
DMaxer said
12:05 PM Feb 2, 2026
.That sounds like a pretty good idea Pete.
-- Edited by DMaxer on Monday 2nd of February 2026 12:10:25 PM
-- Edited by DMaxer on Monday 2nd of February 2026 12:11:03 PM
Peter_n_Margaret said
02:09 PM Feb 2, 2026
Welcome Gabbi9.
While we can usually work out what people mean, if describing battery capacities, it would help to use appropriate terminology to save making mistakes.
RV batteries are often described as "100Ah"(Amp Hours) which should also include at what nominal voltage (eg @ 12V). This has become more important in recent times as the choice of voltages for RV systems is including 24V and 48V more and more. Without the voltage, we can only guess the battery capacity.
Batteries are not described as "100Amp". Amps is a current flow, not a capacity.
It is interesting that the RV industry is about the only place that battery capacity is described as "Amp Hours". It is a poor choice because it is not enough description to describe that capacity.
Virtually everywhere else, battery capacity is described as "Watt Hours" (or KiloWatt Hours) which is totally independent of voltage and can be accurately understood.
"Watt Hours" is a measure of energy. "Watts" is a measure of power.
If newbies like Gabbi9 learn the best terminology from the start, everyone will understand.
Thanks,
Cheers,
Peter
Hi Gabbi,
Firstly welcome to the forum. Secondly, no excusing needed as this is what the forum is about, to ask questions and sharing knowledge.
If I am reading what you are saying correctly, have an Anderson connector already installed on the side of the motor home. The answer to your question is yes you will be able to do it but we need to ensure you use the correct method. What we need to establish is whether the Anderson plug is a direct connection to the battery or whether there is a solar controller or what we call a battery management system that incorporates a solar controller installed in between the batteries and the Anderson connector.
Are you able to follow the cables from the Anderson connector to see where they lead to?
Can you post some photos of the battery connections?
Can you post some photos of any solar controllers or battery management systems etc?
Another easy way to test is if you have a multi meter because if it is a direct connection to the battery you will get the battery voltage reading at the Anderson connector and in that case you will need a solar controller between the connector and portable solar panel.
Do you already have a portable panel and if so, does it have a solar controller?
Good luck
Tim
-- Edited by TimTim on Wednesday 28th of January 2026 09:48:17 PM
Hi Gabbi9 and welcome. In relation to your solar power question my advice would be to give it a run with what you have before you load up with more solar.
I run my caravan on a single 120 amp battery with one 250 solar panel and have found that it meets my needs when I camp of grid.
I have a couple of 12 volt points inside the van and one outside. I use a couple of 150 watt coke can inverters and that meets my needs. With this set up i can run a small fan, charge y phone and run a modem and a laptop as well as the lights. I remember one place I camped at for several days in cloudy and wet weather and by about the third day the battery was showing about 11.5. I hooked the Anderson plug from the van to the car outlet and let the car idle for about ten minutes and the battery soon went back up to about 13.
At one time I was going to load up with solar but have found that what I have is sufficient. I guess if you were running fridges et al that would be a totally different scenario. I have a three way fridge which I just use on gas when off grid and likewise with the hot water system. Otherwise, everything is fine.
Me Similar, but with 2 aging 120 amp Batteries in parallel (to be replaced by a 135 Amp Lithium + in the future) linked up via Anderson Plugs when necessary, to Rear of Cruiser Aux Battery to Drive Sat TV, Water Pump, Led Lights, Laptop Inverter, Battery Charging and and..
Like DMaxer, run a 3 way Frig and Gas Hot water when off grid.
.That sounds like a pretty good idea Pete.
-- Edited by DMaxer on Monday 2nd of February 2026 12:10:25 PM
-- Edited by DMaxer on Monday 2nd of February 2026 12:11:03 PM
While we can usually work out what people mean, if describing battery capacities, it would help to use appropriate terminology to save making mistakes.
RV batteries are often described as "100Ah"(Amp Hours) which should also include at what nominal voltage (eg @ 12V). This has become more important in recent times as the choice of voltages for RV systems is including 24V and 48V more and more. Without the voltage, we can only guess the battery capacity.
Batteries are not described as "100Amp". Amps is a current flow, not a capacity.
It is interesting that the RV industry is about the only place that battery capacity is described as "Amp Hours". It is a poor choice because it is not enough description to describe that capacity.
Virtually everywhere else, battery capacity is described as "Watt Hours" (or KiloWatt Hours) which is totally independent of voltage and can be accurately understood.
"Watt Hours" is a measure of energy. "Watts" is a measure of power.
If newbies like Gabbi9 learn the best terminology from the start, everyone will understand.
Thanks,
Cheers,
Peter