Independent Solar Power

I've fully removed the Sterling Power unit and now just use a 5 amp solar dash panel to keep the main battery topped up as I'm not using the van much so can sit for a couple of weeks etc. This seems to work ok now I've unlinked the liesure battery from the main. 

The liesure battery is now topped up by my 160 amp solar panel on the roof. Using a basic MPPT charge controller. On a sunny day it'll pump 13 + volts to the liesure battery as needed. 

Already in last 24 hrs the main battery has gone up to 13.5 v from 13.1.using just the 5amp solar panel. Bearing in mind I've smart alternator regen breaks and switch off the stop start and battery is only 2 months old!  I just don't think the SP unit is coping as it should for some reason. 

Wired as per SP's diagram. 

There's also a lot going on in modern car electronics, as instructions for the dash top solar panel state best connection is to use the DIN socket ( mines just under dash easy to access) yet over a 24 hrs period the battery lost nearly .50 volts causing the monitor to send me warnings! 

I moved the charge cable to direct connection to main battery. And top up is as expected! Warnings have stopped and over the next day battery should be topped up as per needed!

Minor hassle I will need to disconnect the dash solar under the bonnet before using van 2 min job! There's plenty of cable so I've drapped it over steering wheel so not to forget! 🥴

01/05/22

Back from a week away ( not in van) to come back to a depleted liesure battery again!!!

Solar control ok 

Liesure battery 7.8 volts!!!

Tested all supplies

Tested all negatives

Whilst checking the cut off switch couldn't make my mind up all seems ok but controller saying no charge in battery! At fuse end shows 7.8v .

It's a long shot but I've removed the cut off switch wired battery input live direct to busbar, solar controller live re tightened to busbar. 

By the time I'd tightened nuts and tidied away liesure battery etc it reads 7.9 v !

So it's raining and a 160 amp solar panel will take forever to re charge from 7+ volts I've set a timer for an hour to see what if any charge the liesure battery has! Even it's it's just .1 or .2 more then the problem is the cut off switch! 🤞🤞

Them there doors!

Google have finally excepted that there's nothing " wrong" with Tambour doors 😂🥳🙄

Here is the offending picture! 

The kitchen unit in my VW T6 😂

I'd said previously these doors are the white plastic roller doors used in many a camper conversion they are light weight and easy to fit or be fitted. These are 6 yrs old as this is a rebuild. Phew 😂 

There's a small one below the oven for pots n pans but basically it's about weight saving! 

All that's left is finding my screw caps to cover the 2 screws on the vented panel above oven! 

The unit is an IKEA basic unit cut down as required  ( wheel arch / wiring / fresh water inlet- outlet/ gas piping) . 

Those doors !

This is the 3rd time I've tried to post this! If I don't mention the white plastic sliding doors that begin with T a brand name I wonder if that this will stay posted? 

I'll wait and see before I continue post! 🙄