Solar Panel Connection To 'Van.

Sparkster · Senior Member

Solar Panel Connection To 'Van.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Yes, provided the solar controller is before the plug.
The down side is there will be some voltage drop after the controller and before the battery, so the results will not be as good as having the solar controller very close to the battery.

Cheers,
Peter

PeterD · Guru

Don't think of doing that on a Jayco van with standard wiring. There is a diode pack in the charge line that will drop the charge voltage by 0.6 V. This will stuff up the charging.

If you are going to do that on a van that does not have a power supply like the jayco's Setec then get rid of the regulator that comes with they regulator. Put a quality model near the van battery and feed the solar panel power direct to the regulator.

With any van you are far better off installing a new input connector. Wire that with a heavier cable than the van manufacturers use from the trailer plug to the battery. Mount a good regulator close to the battery and wire the new input connector directly to that. The regulators supplied with portable panels are generally of poor quality. Source your own good regulator. You are better off purchasing a couple of panels and a pair of hinges, simply make up your own portable panel.

Sparkster · Senior Member

Thanks for that Peter n Margaret.

A fella here where we live has bought the panel and wants me to connect it for him.

What I would prefer to do would be to run a short length of twin 10 mm from the battery to a convenient location outside the van and terminate it with an Anderson type plug for connection to the panel.

However not having looked at the existing setup yet I may have to take the easy way out-if you know what I mean.

Keith. smile

-- Edited by Sparkster on Friday 13th of April 2018 08:39:08 PM

Sparkster · Senior Member

Thanks for the heads up PeterD, would you believe it's a Jayco about 10 yeras old I'm guessing.

So I'll go for my second option with the necessary modifications.

Keith. smile

RustyD · Guru

The 12v from my vehicle goes to an OmegaLec controller in my Jurgens. Most vans have an equivalent controller. Current coming down that line is used to detect all sorts of things including how my fridge runs. Do not put anything other else down the car plug. Solar power must be connected direct to your van battery via a solar controller (most panels come with one). One of the manuals that came with my van emphasise this.

I have run some very heavy wire direct from my van battery to my A-Frame and terminated it in an Anderson Plug. This wire is cable-tied to the cable that connects to the vehicle. I connect my solar panel (which has a controller built in) directly to this Anderson plug.

PeterD · Guru

Rusty, do you have a link to download info about your OmegaLec controller, particularly the handbook.

RustyD · Guru

PeterD wrote:
Rusty, do you have a link to download info about your OmegaLec controller, particularly the handbook.

I keep meaning to scan. I will do that tomorrow and post a copy. Its only a few pages.

PeterD · Guru

Tks Rusty.

RustyD · Guru

PeterD

My Omegalec manual, a page I found on the internet and what I have electrical-wise in my van & ute (Jurgens Sungazer & 2015 Ranger XLT 4dr).

VAN - Omegalec 1 of 4.jpeg VAN - Omegalec 2 of 4.jpeg VAN - Omegalec 3 of 4.jpeg VAN - Omegalec 4 of 4.jpeg VAN - Omegalec OEM Info.jpg VAN - Electrical Specs 1 of 2.jpg

VAN - Electrical Specs 2 of 2.jpg

PeterD · Guru

Tks for that, I have downloaded a copy.