[P @ F]

Well as you all know i have been messing with solar , multi function batteries and alternators to achieve never having to remove my battery again , well it looks like i have done it .
It has been a full month now in the van and as yet i have not had to top up on the charge once home , i cant see it changing to be honest as the trial period was during some pretty shocking days , with solar alone it was looking a bit iffy at times , but since the addition of the alternator to run alongside it has changed into a dead cert .
Thanks to Spruce for his knowledge , and to Nathan Kaye for the input of his seperate findings which forced me to think outside of the box now and then .
These are a couple of screen shots from the solar setup app that has been most useful in showing the weakneses if they were present , also , Spruce the app has updated again recently to include consumption from the load side .

This is the norm charge state i get home with every day now 

   

[nathankaye]

It's been beneficial following your reports on this as well P@F.

Haha my only problem is doing what Spruce speculated, that sometimes I would forget to switch off the charge from the van battery.  Thankfully I realise in a relatively short period of time and after checking my van battery voltage periodically I know its OK.
I'm thinking of possibly getting a converter for for summer months, just to run a travel kettle for a fresh descent  coffee lol. These last couple of days I have reaped some good solar power and been switching my set up to charge the spare battery or my little 12v 7ah battery in my trolley.

I get a feeling of satisfaction knowing that my batteries are tip top at no extra cost, because I'm a tight Yorkshire man and I use a lot of electricity per night sorting my hot water whilst the Mrs is constantly using the power hungry dryer. A fine balance of doing my part for the economy and environment hahaha.

Glad you've cracked it and shared your findings. You might want to do a video and share on youtube as my video on solar power/split relay has picked up on some interest recently........

[Spruce]

Well as you all know i have been messing with solar , multi function batteries and alternators to achieve never having to remove my battery again , well it looks like i have done it .
It has been a full month now in the van and as yet i have not had to top up on the charge once home , i cant see it changing to be honest as the trial period was during some pretty shocking days , with solar alone it was looking a bit iffy at times , but since the addition of the alternator to run alongside it has changed into a dead cert .
Thanks to Spruce for his knowledge , and to Nathan Kaye for the input of his seperate findings which forced me to think outside of the box now and then .
These are a couple of screen shots from the solar setup app that has been most useful in showing the weakneses if they were present , also , Spruce the app has updated again recently to include consumption from the load side .

This is the norm charge state i get home with every day now 

   

So does that mean that you are now taking your pumps power source from the load side of the MPPT controller?

Any way, I'm glad that its worked out for you. 

[P @ F]

Well as you all know i have been messing with solar , multi function batteries and alternators to achieve never having to remove my battery again , well it looks like i have done it .
It has been a full month now in the van and as yet i have not had to top up on the charge once home , i cant see it changing to be honest as the trial period was during some pretty shocking days , with solar alone it was looking a bit iffy at times , but since the addition of the alternator to run alongside it has changed into a dead cert .
Thanks to Spruce for his knowledge , and to Nathan Kaye for the input of his seperate findings which forced me to think outside of the box now and then .
These are a couple of screen shots from the solar setup app that has been most useful in showing the weakneses if they were present , also , Spruce the app has updated again recently to include consumption from the load side .

This is the norm charge state i get home with every day now 

   

So does that mean that you are now taking your pumps power source from the load side of the MPPT controller?

Any way, I'm glad that its worked out for you.

No , not yet , as was mentioned before i am unsure of where it pulls the power from , if from panels with shortfall from bat then i could cancel out the MPPT side of things , which would put the controller from MPPT to a PWM .
I will have to ask at the supplier , i forget every time i go in 

The next project is well underway though , Nath is gonna love this one 

[Den68]

Have enjoyed all your threads regarding the solar power nice one.

Just like to add when I upgrade my van not sure when but thought the below link would be a good choice for a B2B charger and Mppt controller combined, just another option to consider.

https://www.splitcharge.co.uk/product/rscdc30-ring-battery-to-battery-charger-30-amp-with-mppt-controller/

[Spruce]

Have enjoyed all your threads regarding the solar power nice one.

Just like to add when I upgrade my van not sure when but thought the below link would be a good choice for a B2B charger and Mppt controller combined, just another option to consider.

https://www.splitcharge.co.uk/product/rscdc30-ring-battery-to-battery-charger-30-amp-with-mppt-controller/

If you look on Youtube, you will see many MPPT controllers on sale that Adam Welch has tested that aren't true MPPT controllers in that they only half do the job. In fact I have seen one which he proves isn't what it says it is with another Youtube video from another reviewer saying it was the best thing since sliced bread.

In my cynical old age I would tend to buy a Sterling B2B charger and a separate Victron MPPT controller. Yes its twice the price  but at least you know that you are getting a genuine product in both cases.

[Den68]

Jesus just been checking Adam out of YouTube wouldn't even try to count the amount of videos he as lol, couldn't find the Ring controller that that I posted in the link above though.
Only found found a couple of mentions about them on the internet they were campervan forum.

[Spruce]

Jesus just been checking Adam out of YouTube wouldn't even try to count the amount of videos he as lol, couldn't find the Ring controller that that I posted in the link above though.
Only found found a couple of mentions about them on the internet they were campervan forum.

He hasn't done the Ring controller as it started life as a B2B charger.

I did notice a while back that ring were doing a B2B charger but this didn't include an MPPT controller. This is new and must be targeting new motorhome owners with regenerative braking vehicles wanting solar as well.

The trouble is that if you don't have a good MPPT controller then you are wasting your time with solar in this country when you need it most, in the winter. And again, so many of the recommendations and good reviews could well come from people who aren't technically adept in either field to give those reviews.

I stand to be corrected but B2B chargers and MPPT controllers are 2 totally different spheres of expertise.  I'm not convinced that putting both technologies into one box is making the best of either.

.

[Den68]

Yes you could well be right Spruce I have no experience in this field this being relatively new technology might be worth sitting back and waiting for more informative info to come through.

N.b. Noticed ctek have now brought out a b2b and mppt charger also must be a market for two large companies to take this route.

Changing the subject next year the wife and I are thinking about getting a small motorhome so I would like to learn a bit relays and solar charging.

[Elfyn]

Well done P@F. My solar system has struggled a bit over this winter and I've had to charge the battery a few times. Has is been darker than usual?

[P @ F]

Nah , i was struggling too , as i have said before , if the sun is out i can get more in than i have go out , i have at times had as little as 1 amp in all day over the winter , even with the quality bits that i am using , so to be totally set solar wise in the winter i would need to pull about 15 amp a day , i get 1amp from 120w in poor weather , so to pull 15 amp i would need 4x500w beasties on my roof .
Not really viable with a Fiat Fiorino is it 

[P @ F]

Hence why the alternator and the multi function battery have been the missing link that now bridges the gap 

[Spruce]

Yes you could well be right Spruce I have no experience in this field this being relatively new technology might be worth sitting back and waiting for more informative info to come through.

N.b. Noticed ctek have now brought out a b2b and mppt charger also must be a market for two large companies to take this route.

Changing the subject next year the wife and I are thinking about getting a small motorhome so I would like to learn a bit relays and solar charging.

Saw that as well. Ctek have a good name in battery chargers, but I'm yet to be convinced about the MPPT side of things. Best to wait as you say.

Vitron do an MPPT controller and combination inverter for motorhomes, yachts and canal boats but they aren't cheap.

I can see an ordinary voltage regulator as a solar panel controller but not the complex MPPT function in the same box.