The small 5 amp dashboard solar panel cannot keep up with the modern demands of Euro 6 engines with all the ancillary electronics working in background when vehicle is not in use.
Now that I'm retired the van sits for periods and I need a way to use the solar panel on the roof (100amp) which currently is monitored via Victron MPPT unit charging the liesure battery and does its job keeping it topped up! But I also need to keep the vehicle battery topped up!
The battery cables that run from vehicle battery to liesure battery and in turn the 12 v system in van, fridge, Propex, lights etc. Are still in place albeit tucked away!
So I reconnected the fuses to the live cable from main battery checked voltage via meter 12.19 ! Not good! Then temporarily connected the live vehicle battery lead to the busbar.
And opened the Victron app!
Went haywire 🤣
Settled down but realised that it was trying to equalise the 2 batteries. So disconnected the leisure battery live. And it settled down!
Monitored it for 15 mins, not a lot of sun but the solar panel was putting out 15 volts enough to show it was charging the main battery.
20 mins later vehicle battery had gone from 12.19v to 12. 35!
So it worked!
I'll leave the leisure battery disconnected till the vehicle battery is topped up!
It would appear that the MPPT charger will charge 2 batteries wired in parallel. But no info re smart alternators etc. So best leave it as smart alternator can charge at over 15v at start up! Don't want to knacker the Victron unit as they cost a lot of money! 😂
So I'll just wire in a battery isolater switch I already have and reconnect leisure battery! With a note on dash board 😂
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