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11-29-2014, 04:54 PM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Somerset, Ky
Posts: 256
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How to use my new solar system to charge my engine battery also?
I just got finished installing 675 Watts on the roof of my RV.
Now I no longer have to have a cord running across my front porch in order for my battery's to stay charged.
Now that I am relying on just my solar to maintain my battery's it has dawned on me that only the house battery's are being charged not the engine battery.
In the past I had a separate trickle charger that ran to my engine battery so while on shore power my 3 stage smart converter took care of the house battery's, and the trickle charger took care of the engine battery.
I know I can turn on my 1000 watt Xantrex inverter and it would in turn power the trickle charger.
But is there another way?
I have the morning star MPPT 60 for my charge controller and the Bogart 2030-RV monitor.
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11-29-2014, 05:11 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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A Bird or similar device that interconnects the house and chassis batteries for just such a charging need is the way many people go.
A few solar controllers gave outputs for a second battery set. For example, configure 90% of the solar harvest directed to the house batteries and 10% to the chassis batteries.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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11-29-2014, 05:16 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 35,349
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Google battery combiners, yandina, cirix. Blue sea all good with little current draw
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11-29-2014, 10:46 PM
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Somerset, Ky
Posts: 256
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Thank u twinboat,, I did some looking they start around $50.00 I see.
I was just wondering what other people do, like do they leave there inverter on for over 30 to 60 days so it can power the trickle charger that will maintain the engine starting battery.
While RV is parked in drive way between RV trips.
letting the solar panels do the job of keeping both battery's up.
Or is there any reason that I would be better off plunging up to shore power and let my inverter do the work and just shut down the solar system?
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11-29-2014, 10:49 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sonoma County, CA
Posts: 6,398
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I have my solar controller set for 90/10 as mentioned above. I also have a factory installed Trik-L-Start.
__________________
Wayne & Roberta
08 Winnebago Destination 39W Gas UFO Workhorse Chassis......It's really weird being the same age as old people. I thought getting old would take much longer.
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11-30-2014, 08:17 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Kansas City, MO./Pollock, LA.
Posts: 1,556
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Ktoutoor, what about mounting a small 20-100 watt panel just to trickle charge your chassis battery? If it is small enough you don,t need a controller.
__________________
06 Hurricane 34FT WH W20 Chassis 8.1L 132K, Steersafe, Koni Shocks, DIY Trac Bar, Tri-Metric 2025RV Battery Monitor, 4-6V Batteries, Scan Gauge 2, Crossfires, 735W Solar Morningstar MPPT-60, WG T4 In-Motion Sat, XM Radio, 07 Chevy Malibu Maxx Toad, Falcon 2, Brake Buddy, Escapee
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11-30-2014, 08:28 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FL
Posts: 11,401
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Definitely do not try the inverter route. Bad weather could lead to dead house batteries.
The trik-l-start device is what I used on a couple of rv's. The Yandina makes a good product as well. A simple jumper will suffice too.
__________________
Certified Senior Electronic Technician, Telecommunications Engineer, Telecommunications repair Service Center Owner, Original owner HR 2008
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11-30-2014, 08:50 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: FTer Class of 2015 Origin: Evergreen, Colorado
Posts: 1,565
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Two Systems Installed Side-By-Side
While on the roof installing the coach PV, I installed an extra 100watt panel for the chassis batteries. Ran the wires down to a small charge controller alongside, and in the same chase as, the PV wiring for the coach battery charge controller. The nine panels appear as one array on the roof, but PV#4 (in the center of the array) is dedicated to charging the chassis batteries.
\ken
__________________
Ken, Deb, & Gadget (WIT Club, FMCA, SKP, and grateful volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and SOWERs), traveling in a well-behaved 2005 Winnebago Vectra 40FD w/1100w solar, some gee-golly-whizbang, and a TRAILERED 2015 Cherokee TrailHawk toad.
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11-30-2014, 04:39 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Somerset, Ky
Posts: 256
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Thats a good ideal.
Very clean looking install
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01-18-2015, 09:50 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 437
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This is just the thread I was looking for. I have to eliminate the cord to the RV, because i fear I will drive off with it attached. Almost did it today.
__________________
Jerry P
89 Winnebago Chieftain M23RC
A work in progress
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01-26-2015, 10:20 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 345
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bumps
While on the roof installing the coach PV, I installed an extra 100watt panel for the chassis batteries. Ran the wires down to a small charge controller alongside, and in the same chase as, the PV wiring for the coach battery charge controller. The nine panels appear as one array on the roof, but PV#4 (in the center of the array) is dedicated to charging the chassis batteries.
\ken
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Thats an expensive way to do it and wastes much of the PV power. The Trik-L-Start is only about $45 and will charge from any source with or without the sun shining. Then all that extra PV power can be utilized by the house battery system and loads.
And, for others reading this, Blue Sky Energy IPN charge controllers have an auxiliary battery charger built in so no need for extra PV solar or a Trik-L-Start.
Larry
__________________
I have a vast knowledge about PV solar, batteries and inverters. I'll try to provide the best answer if I know it and hopefully correct some "Campfire" talk. Full-time 1999-2004. Part time now. '92 Hawkins, 360AH Lithium Battery, 1480 Watts PV solar.
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01-26-2015, 10:23 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 345
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IamJerryP
This is just the thread I was looking for. I have to eliminate the cord to the RV, because i fear I will drive off with it attached. Almost did it today.
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Write the words "Power Cord" on a clothespin and put it on your steering wheel or somewhere you can't miss before driving away. I leave my key in the ignition and clip my notice pins there so I can't start the engine without the reminder(s).
__________________
I have a vast knowledge about PV solar, batteries and inverters. I'll try to provide the best answer if I know it and hopefully correct some "Campfire" talk. Full-time 1999-2004. Part time now. '92 Hawkins, 360AH Lithium Battery, 1480 Watts PV solar.
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01-26-2015, 11:00 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 437
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BatteryPro
Write the words "Power Cord" on a clothespin and put it on your steering wheel or somewhere you can't miss before driving away. I leave my key in the ignition and clip my notice pins there so I can't start the engine without the reminder(s).
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Good idea, On saturday, I did drive off with the extension cord attached to the RV. Friends were visiting from out of town, and we all piled into the RV, to go to the Louisville RV show. In my excitement to see them, and actually do a trip in the RV, I forgot to unplug it, and now i know the extension cord almost reaches to the end of the driveway, as it was laying there, when returned.
__________________
Jerry P
89 Winnebago Chieftain M23RC
A work in progress
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