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westycoast
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Joined: March 03, 2014
Posts: 9
Location: SF Bay Area
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 Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 12:25 am Post subject: Shore / Solar / Auxiliary Wiring Sanity Check |
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Hey all!
We're in the process of having some custom cabinetry built for our Vanagon, and I'm planning out the electrical aspect. I plan on installing hookups for shore power, an auxiliary battery, and a solar panel (100-200W). I'm curious to know if my really rudimentary diagram is on the right track, or if I'm putting a little too much complexity into it. FYI, I already have the Xantrex inverter, but everything else is still a wildcard!
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Timwhy
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Jeff's Old Volks Home
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Joined: December 19, 2011
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 4:24 am Post subject: |
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| Timwhy wrote: |
Looks a little complicated? Not sure how the solar to inverter would work out either/ Here's a diagram
of my set up, I'm sure other can show theirs too. Maybe take something from everyone's setup?
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I don't think you can make it any simpler and still keep both battery banks separate, with their own shore power at least.
Jeff
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thatvwbusguy
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Joined: April 18, 2007
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:34 am Post subject: |
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Tim's setup is well thought out and about as simple as you can get while still covering all of the bases.
The only real changes I would make would be to use a Blue Seas ACR 7610 instead of a standard relay to combine the battery banks and to go with two 6V golf cart batteries in the passenger side of the rear seat to supply the auxiliary power.
If you choose to run a modern 12V only fridge like the FruckFridge, the Iota DLS-45/IQ4 would be a great addition that would allow you to run the fridge directly from the 12V power supply when camping with hookups and would also function perfectly as a smart battery charger to keep all of your batteries in top condition during the winter months or if parked in a garage.
I have generally found that unless you need to use an inverter to run sensitive medical devices or some equally important electronics, I would try to find a way to supply everything with direct DC to provide as much useful power as possible from the battery banks with minimal losses to heat as is often found with 12VDC to 120VAC inverters.
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
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Location: Brookeville, MD
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:51 am Post subject: |
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X2 on the Iota... I have the 30amp version and it is awesome as both a shore power charger for my aux and starting battery AND 12V power supply for my compressor fridge. That it does both at the same time is important for me.
My setup is the same as Timwhy... (My understanding of the wiring for the battery isolator (I'm using a Yandina) is that you want the solar and Iota power supply to go directly to the aux battery, not the isolator. The isolator just bridges the aux and starting battery but does not directly handle any other loads....)
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Dave O
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crazyvwvanman
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Joined: January 28, 2008
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Location: Orbiting San Diego
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 9:29 am Post subject: |
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In the automotive charging arena Isolator and Separator refer to very different things that do a similar job. Separator is preferred for Vanagons, also called a Combiner in the marine arena.
The OP diagram is a debacle in various ways.
Mark |
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goffoz
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 10:31 am Post subject: |
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I'm confused  by the labeling on your diagram
At the relay.
I asume that the "Blue trigger wire" refers to the 86 terminal, not the red line to the positive aux battery terminal...right?
And the "starter GRD wire" refers to 85 on the relay not the redline coming from thr start battery.
can you confirm this, for us wiring Noobs
Another issue I don't understand is..How is the solar portion isolated while the engine is started,running...it appears the system is combined..Does the solar controller handle this? |
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westycoast
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Joined: March 03, 2014
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Location: SF Bay Area
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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I really appreciate the feedback.
A couple questions:
1. Are there any implications with running the shore charger and solar charger simultaenously in Timwhy's setup?
2. Is the charger/12v supply separated from battery power using a SPDT relay?
Thanks!
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dobryan
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Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16505
Location: Brookeville, MD
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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| westycoast wrote: |
I really appreciate the feedback.
A couple questions:
1. Are there any implications with running the shore charger and solar charger simultaenously in Timwhy's setup?
2. Is the charger/12v supply separated from battery power using a SPDT relay?
Thanks! |
1) On my system I called the solar controller rep and asked if it could be connected to a battery that was simultaneously being charged by an alternator or battery charger and the reply was that it was designed to handle that situation and there was no issue. YMMV, check with the manufacturer of your system.
2) On my system the Yandina handles the connection between the aux and starting battery, so no other relay needed.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2002 Subaru EJ25 and Peloquin TBD
"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson
MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646
Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371
The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794 |
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Timwhy
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Joined: January 01, 2009
Posts: 4002
Location: Maine
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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| goffoz wrote: |
I asume that the "Blue trigger wire" refers to the 86 terminal, not the red line to the positive aux battery terminal...right?
And the "starter GRD wire" refers to 85 on the relay not the redline coming from thr start battery.
can you confirm this, for us wiring Noobs
Another issue I don't understand is..How is the solar portion isolated while the engine is started,running...it appears the system is combined..Does the solar controller handle this? |
I didn't want to show a cable/wire that wasn't actually going somewhere, so I just labeled the pins on the relay.
The Charge Controller will control any amperage to the battery from the panel and it monitors the battery bank.
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goffoz
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Timwhy wrote: |
| goffoz wrote: |
Another issue I don't understand is..How is the solar portion isolated while the engine is started,running...it appears the system is combined..Does the solar controller handle this? |
The Charge Controller will control any amperage to the battery from the panel and it monitors the battery bank. |
So your solar charge controller is constantly in the loop, no issues?
do you have a model...I think I'm wanting this, right now I have a portable solar panel/controller I connect when parked.
I like the idea of a permanent RTP and a "forget about it" controller
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Timwhy
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