S
SamSara
Sent twice and missed off thank you for your time, I need to get out
S
SamSara
Thank you for taking the time for this on such a lovely day
WelshGas
Retired after 42 yrs and enjoying Life.
Super Poster
Lifetime VIP Member
It's pouring with rain here.
So to your problem.
The Control Panel shows 12.7v without panel connected BUT 12.9v with panel connected.
It would appear the Leisure Batteries are fully charged and your Solar Panel is only producing 13v at present, so not a lot of headroom to push amps into an already charged Leisure Battery.
Using a 12v socket plug or crocodile clips adds extra resistance to the charging circuit.
Is it very sunny as I would expect a higher voltage from your solar panel.
My 7 yr old fixed 100w panel pushes out 19.8 volts on a sunny day and that's with the roof down and panel not perpendicular to the sun. If it is the volts rise to 20.8v.
When the batteries are fully charged , under those conditions the MPPT output is 13.4v and 0.5 amps.
M
marchugo
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As WG said, the bat seems to be already topped up to the brim.
You could disconnect the solar, then put a 100 Watt light in the inverter, to suck some energy out of the battery. You should see the voltage going down a little bit. Then wait a couple of minutes to calm the batt down, and only then reconnect the solar to the batt. If the voltage in the screen of the central unit is rising again, you’re ok.
The Amperage (A) in the screen of the central unit shows zero, and that is correct: if you connect the solar directly to the plus and minus poles of the battery, the central unit does not see that you are loading ( at least in my T5, don’t know exactly how the unit behaves in your T6).
Regards from Amsterdam,
Marc.
You could disconnect the solar, then put a 100 Watt light in the inverter, to suck some energy out of the battery. You should see the voltage going down a little bit. Then wait a couple of minutes to calm the batt down, and only then reconnect the solar to the batt. If the voltage in the screen of the central unit is rising again, you’re ok.
The Amperage (A) in the screen of the central unit shows zero, and that is correct: if you connect the solar directly to the plus and minus poles of the battery, the central unit does not see that you are loading ( at least in my T5, don’t know exactly how the unit behaves in your T6).
Regards from Amsterdam,
Marc.
Wesel
Same in my T6.
S
SamSara
Thank you I will try again tomorrow. It clouded over and started raining here, just as I got out on the water for a paddle
WelshGas
Retired after 42 yrs and enjoying Life.
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When it’s sunny, run the fridge or Parking Heater to put a significant load on the Leisure Batteries and after 30 mins connect the Solar system.
Take a note of the Control Panel voltage =
Before switching on Fridge/heater.
After 30 minutes with fridge/heater running.
After 30 minutes with Solar connected, still running fridge/heater
Switch off fridge/heater and check voltage after 30 minutes with Solar still connected.
markheathcote
Lifetime VIP Member
Cover just pulls off, it's easy... Just roll the passenger seat forward... It will take you seconds to get to the terminals.
markheathcote
Lifetime VIP Member
I see I was late in that post... From your photos I can't see how you have connected up to the controller... From memory, the solar panel is the left socket, the battery is the middle socket... You can see the wiring in my video.. I'm sure that's how you have it but just checking.... My van display does show ampage when charging (at least via socket) but my display is different as I have a t6.1... I think you need to drain the battery a bit like others said, turn the fridge on max for a few hours. Then try it.. If you are near or coming near Westerham then I'm happy to have a look, you can contact me via markheathcote.com via the contact form.
markheathcote
Lifetime VIP Member
Also, sits a phone charge using the USB socket on the side of the controller box? If it charges the phone then you know it is working, at least out of the 5v usb
markheathcote
Lifetime VIP Member
Hmm, my 6.1 display does show ampage coming in, though that's by the 12-volt cigarette socket which I would have thought would be the same as connecting directly to the battery... Not tested the display via crocodile clips but don't see why it would differ. Maybe the 6.1 has some upgraded system.
orbital
I now use a RidgeMonkey fold-up 80w solar panel that charges the leisure batteries via a victory charge controller. It was happily pumping out 55w in full sun last Friday (250wh over about 6 hours). https://ridgemonkey.co.uk/product/vault-c-smart-pd-80w-solar-panel
Charging via the cigarette lighter sounds like an expensive and potentially dangerous accident waiting to happen.
I’ve also tried a roof mounted panel but that failed after about 18 months and damaged the roof too (to my mind it wasn’t fitted properly- even though I paid to get it done ‘professionally’). I have a replacement panel kit from Solar Camper Solutions but I’ve decided not to fit it. If you want it, pm me with a sensible offer and it’s yours!
Charging via the cigarette lighter sounds like an expensive and potentially dangerous accident waiting to happen.
I’ve also tried a roof mounted panel but that failed after about 18 months and damaged the roof too (to my mind it wasn’t fitted properly- even though I paid to get it done ‘professionally’). I have a replacement panel kit from Solar Camper Solutions but I’ve decided not to fit it. If you want it, pm me with a sensible offer and it’s yours!
Wesel
The current measurement is made via a shunt which is placed between the negative pole of the leisure battery and the chassis.
As all the negative connections of the uses (fridge, cigarette lighter sockets, etc...) are made directly to the chassis, the shunt measures all the currents, including that of a solar panel connected to one of these sockets.
But if the panel is connected directly to the negative pole of the battery, the shunt does not see the current passing.
PS: I hope my technical terms are correct, as English is not my native language.
campandfly
.....
VIP Member
I have found this one to perform really well. Super easy to set up, fits upright on the back shelf of the Cali. Its much lighter than those folding suitcase type panels. It produces what the advertising says and the quality is spot on. https://amzn.to/3OomKqa
markheathcote
Lifetime VIP Member
Using the cig lighter socket is no different to wiring direct to the battery except the cig lighter has a10amp fuse inline, hence you need to make sure the controller doesn't exceed 10 amp out. Caveat, not to be done by someone that isn't sure of what they are doing, but it's not dangerous you'll just blow a fuse if you exceed 10amps. You must always use a charge controller though.
Kemper-van
You mentionned you have a damaged panel waiting to be picked-up. Maybe you can try using the charge controller of this damaged panel to rule out an issue with the charge controller?
S
SamSara
Thank for all advice. I had a go yesterday, but it was too cloudy and rained. I think it is working. Showed 12.5v after fridge on full then 12.6 when solar went on via cig lighter then after 20 minutes (rain started) 12.7v
Stalefish540g
Hi, Where did you get this from? And how much?
Ch1pbutty
Super Poster
VIP Member
Solar Panels for VW California and Mercedes Marco Polo Camper Vans
DIY easy to install Solar panel kits for VW California / Transporter and Mercedes Marco Polo camper vans. Zero drilling or gluing.
kave
I would say that is mostly made to charge Jackerys own batteries? Its a bit expensive and overkill to just connect a usb-a device and a ”non pd” usb-c device?
The Merle
4x4 joker
Super Poster
Lifetime VIP Member
You can use the solar without connecting to van, as the charge controller has built in usbs. Just plug a phone or iPad in and you will then prove the panel is working
campandfly
.....
VIP Member
The USB is just a bonus feature that we dont really need.
We mainly use it to double our leisure battery charging power and for charging our solar suitcase battery works well for us.
orbital
I have a brand new one for sale if you’re interested. It’s made by Solar Camper Solutions. I live in Bristol too - so quite close to you. To get my contact details email me at selling.ufvqw@simplelogin.co
bob_summers
Happy so far with my 100w Dokio set up. I haven’t got around to making a lighter plug lead for it yet, just clipped it onto the underseat battery for now. It’s hot here so the fridge is working pretty hard, and it’s nice not worrying about turning lights off etc, although I’m still charging devices off a Jackery.
Of the claimed 100w I’m seeing around 60 at noon and 20 now the sun is on the other side of the van, but I’m not going to sweat it - the charge indicator in the van hasn’t dropped from full all day. I’ve got some wee hooks to hang the panel from the awning rails if needed.
Winter use might be a different story with less light and running the heater, but that time of year we’re generally not away for more than a long weekend.
Not sure it’s worth making the lighter plug connectors - I’ll maybe just connect to the battery with ring terminals and velcro the controller to the seat base.
Of the claimed 100w I’m seeing around 60 at noon and 20 now the sun is on the other side of the van, but I’m not going to sweat it - the charge indicator in the van hasn’t dropped from full all day. I’ve got some wee hooks to hang the panel from the awning rails if needed.
Winter use might be a different story with less light and running the heater, but that time of year we’re generally not away for more than a long weekend.
Not sure it’s worth making the lighter plug connectors - I’ll maybe just connect to the battery with ring terminals and velcro the controller to the seat base.
markheathcote
Lifetime VIP Member
Very nice, you don't have to make the 12v lead... There is a link to one from the US via amazon that took v3 days tobarrive and was cheap. You can find the link on the video I posted, here again, or at thehuntercrew.com... We don't get any commission on that lead, but I can recommend it...Happy so far with my 100w Dokio set up. I haven’t got around to making a lighter plug lead for it yet, just clipped it onto the underseat battery for now. It’s hot here so the fridge is working pretty hard, and it’s nice not worrying about turning lights off etc, although I’m still charging devices off a Jackery.
Of the claimed 100w I’m seeing around 60 at noon and 20 now the sun is on the other side of the van, but I’m not going to sweat it - the charge indicator in the van hasn’t dropped from full all day. I’ve got some wee hooks to hang the panel from the awning rails if needed.
Winter use might be a different story with less light and running the heater, but that time of year we’re generally not away for more than a long weekend.
Not sure it’s worth making the lighter plug connectors - I’ll maybe just connect to the battery with ring terminals and velcro the controller to the seat base.
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