question about surepower/solar

[randygirl]

In our 2002 Hawk we have the surepower 1314 to charge the house battery from the truck while we are driving.

We are adding solar.

With the solar charging the battery AND the truck charging the battery, how does that work? Will one override the other?Do the surepower and the solar work together?

I got the Morningstar MPPT charge controller if that makes a difference..

Thanks. This is a bit confusing.

 

[Desert Rancher]

The truck will charge the battery while it is running.

The solar controller will also charge & maintain the battery. It will shut itself off when the battery reaches the proper voltage, so it won't be charging while the truck is running as it will sense that the battery voltage is ok.

I have my truck connected in this manner and it works quite well.
I did add a switch in line with the solar controller output which allows me to manually switch the solar charging between the camper battery and the truck's batteries.

My advice disclaimer-Depends on how it's all wired.

 

[leadsled9]

I did add a switch in line with the solar controller output which allows me to manually switch the solar charging between the camper battery and the truck's batteries.


Desert Rancher...could you please provide some details of your switch between the camper and truck batteries? Where did you get the switch? How did you wire it in?

 

[Barko1]

Desert Rancher...could you please provide some details of your switch between the camper and truck batteries? Where did you get the switch? How did you wire it in?


I just received my controller, an Mppt 250 from BZ products, and it has a auxiliary trickle charger for the truck batteries built in. http://www.bzproducts.net/id2.html Now I have to do the install of the panel on the roof and the wiring.

 

[n0izh]

In our 2002 Hawk we have the surepower 1314 to charge the house battery from the truck while we are driving.

We are adding solar.

With the solar charging the battery AND the truck charging the battery, how does that work? Will one override the other?Do the surepower and the solar work together?

I got the Morningstar MPPT charge controller if that makes a difference..

Thanks. This is a bit confusing.

Hello,

Your surepower 1314 is just a voltage sensor. It will connect or disconnect the truck battery from camper house bank based on the difference between the batteries. You didn't mention if your camper setup is straight forward or you're doing something more fancy ie switchable house banks, or a separate load connection. The surepower allows for many configurations. Assuming you just have the truck battery connected to the surepower and the camper house bank (or the DC panel of the camper) connected to the other side of the surpower you can hook the morningstar direct to the camper house bank( or again the dc panel of the camper). Your morning star will have 3 sets of connectors, solar input, battery, and load. Take the battery set direct to either the main input of the dc panel, or direct to the camper battery bank. Let each device do it's own thing. Worst case would be the solar keeps the camper battery charged enough that the surepower keeps things connected and you also charge the truck. If you don't want this to occur, after you shut down the truck leave the headlights on a few minutes. This will cause the truck battery voltage to go down and the surepower will disconnect. I have the same thing happen with my truck because my camper house bank is so much larger than the truck batteries. I run a different connect device, but it works the same way. Mine will disconnect with the headlights on after about 3 minutes.
Feel free to PM if you have other questions
John

 

[randygirl]

John

I PM'd you.

Thanks for the responses. I think I sorta get this now....

 

[Desert Rancher]

Desert Rancher...could you please provide some details of your switch between the camper and truck batteries? Where did you get the switch? How did you wire it in?


I have a 50 watt Siemans panel that is connected to a Morningstar SS-6 controller (cheap 6 Amp). The output of the solar controller is wired into a single pole, double throw (SPDT) toggle switch from radio shack (or equivalent place).

The switch outputs are wired to:
1. The truck battery
2. The camper battery

This allows the switch to charge:
1. The truck battery -or-
2. The camper battery

I mounted the controller on the back wall of the cabinet under the stove. The switch is mounted on the outer cabinet panel and is oriented so that the forward position connects the truck battery and the rear position connects to the camper battery.
All connections at the positive side of the battery are fused (mandatory!).

Let me know if more info is needed.

Jeff

 

[leadsled9]

The output of the solar controller is wired into a single pole, double throw (SPDT) toggle switch from radio shack (or equivalent place).


Thanks for the info. Could you provide a link to the switch that you are using?

 

[Desert Rancher]

Thanks for the info. Could you provide a link to the switch that you are using?


Anything similar to this:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062495

You can find one at lowes, depot, ace, etc.