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Equipping the Overland Vehicle Vehicle accessories - Making your home away from home comfortable, safe and reliable.
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  #1  
Old 19 Oct 2009
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Solar charged second battery
Hi,

We are going though Africa in a Land Rover shortly, and are trying to set up a cheap, effective separate battery system to run various bits and pieces. Current thinking is per the attached wiring diagram (apols for it’s amateur, unconventional nature – complete beginners, clueless about electrics).

THE THEORY:

· A solar trickle charger permanently connected to the leisure battery keeps it continuously topped up (we will be in the sun continuously).
· A cigarette lighter socket is connect to the battery with crocodile clips, with a 30 amp inline fuse on the positive wire.
· A multiple socket lighter adapter for the cigarette lighter socket allow us to hook up various bits and pieces – in particular an inverter for running a laptop, and an electric coolerbox to provide a cold at the end of each day’s driving.
· Made from CHEAP components, and kept VERY basic.

QUESTIONS:
· Will this work / are there any glaring flaws / minor adjustments that would make it work?
· Is the size of the Solar Trickle Charger sufficient to keep this running pretty much ad infinitum?
· What type/thickness should the wire from the battery to the Cigarette Lighter Socket be?

Would appreciate any insight you could provide.

Many thanks
Brett
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  #2  
Old 19 Oct 2009
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I had a similar plan - I was running an Engel fridge so bought one of those 18 x 6 inch approx solar trickle charge panels to keep the battery topped up when stationary for a day or two in Morocco. It didn't seem to make any significant difference - still had a flat battery.

That was my experience !

Andrew.
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  #3  
Old 19 Oct 2009
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With a 1 W charger it will take more then 900 hours to recharge the battery (from empty).

It’s not wise to run 30 A through a cig light socket. 30 A is 50% more then the stove in my kitchen….
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  #4  
Old 19 Oct 2009
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The 'glaring flaw' is that you'll be taking out of the battery a hell of a lot more than you'll be putting back in. It depends on the figures of what you are using.
The trickle chargers are more practical for keeping a battery charged up over a time, when you leave the vehicle or such like, rather than for keeping one charged up that you are using constantly.
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  #5  
Old 19 Oct 2009
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think more of 100watts of solar panel to do what you need

the little panels are just that, trickle charge, think of filling a bucket with a thimble

i use a 100w panel that keeps my battery topped up even when running a 74 litre fridge,

i know that doesn't fit your cheap criteria but it will work
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Old 19 Oct 2009
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I have a 90W panel and a 60l Fridge. In theory I need 6 hours of sunlight per day to put into the battery what the fridge takes out in 24 hours.

I'd be very interested to see how you guys travel with your big solar panels. I have not made that plan yet....
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Old 19 Oct 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freeflyd View Post
I'd be very interested to see how you guys travel with your big solar panels. I have not made that plan yet....
permanently fitted to the roof of the vehicle for mine
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  #8  
Old 19 Oct 2009
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Ok thanks guys. I've had some really good advice; looks like:
  • it's back to the drawing board
  • there is no cheap way to do this
Will probably look into a proper voltage sensitive dual battery set up as a result - expect more questions as this stuff is pretty confusing one so mechanicially disinclined. Part of the point tho I guess.

Thanks again
Brett
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