| Author |
Message |
crazyvwvanman
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 9935
Location: Orbiting San Diego
|
 Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 5:40 am Post subject: |
 |
|
Everything is going to depend on your individual circumstances. How often will you be driving the van and how far each time, how often will you stay put for days without driving anywhere, how certain will your sun angles be, etc. And of course how much electricity will your fridge draw?
It is pretty simple to connect the alternator to automatically charge the aux batteries when the engine is running. Especially with your batteries under the back seat, closer to the engine and alternator. You only need 1 new wire from the alternator to the batteries, with a separator device in the wire between the alt and bats. You would be best with a unidirectional separator setup. This is simple stuff.
Mark
| spiritid wrote: |
Thanks for your response, Mark. The charge controller diagram has the batteries wired separately. Helpful people told me the batteries should be wired together. So it sounds like I really do need a connection to the alternator to charge my batteries. That is going to mean a lot more research. Can you direct me to a good site or discussion for diagrams and information?
Susan |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
LachlanMcLean
Samba Member
Joined: January 29, 2013
Posts: 111
Location: Adirondacks
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 3:21 pm Post subject: |
|
|
All things are simple for the man not doing them. If it is so easy then throw the guy a bone and help him out instead of being so cryptic and dismissive. I think you have a great deal of knowledge and experience with solar and electrical wiring, so spread your knowledge. That's what samba is all about! 
_________________
'91 Westfalia 2.1L auto |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
spiritid
Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2010
Posts: 33
Location: Chico, CA
|
| Posted: Wed Aug 12, 2015 3:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| crazyvwvanman wrote: |
It is pretty simple to connect the alternator to automatically charge the aux batteries when the engine is running. Especially with your batteries under the back seat, closer to the engine and alternator. You only need 1 new wire from the alternator to the batteries, with a separator device in the wire between the alt and bats. You would be best with a unidirectional separator setup. This is simple stuff.
Mark
|
I have completed my solar battery charging system and it is working as it should. The batteries are actually wired independently so I installed a manual switch to change the draw from one battery to the other. I'm ready to wire the auxilliary batteries and Sure Power 1314a isolator to the alternator now but not clear on how to go about it.
I understand that I'll be isolating the starting battery from the auxiliary batteries. But does the isolator connecting wire go to the alternator or to the starter?
I realize that this system is probably not ideal but as long as I can make it work I will be happy. I knew nothing about electricity when I started so it has been an awesome learning project!
Susan
_________________
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
'81 Air Cooled Vanagon (AdventureWagen)
'69 Standard Beetle |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sanchius 
Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 1452
Location: IN
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16503
Location: Brookeville, MD
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
