"The Nest" and it's solar

[riskmgr]

Originally Posted by Oneilkeys

If you replace your batteries, do yourself (and your new batteries) a favor and check that your converter/charger is working correctly. Both mine in The Vegas and Axis did not step down to 13.1v, so over time, if you leave the rig plugged in, it boils off the batteries.

I check my batteries once a month in the cold months, all, and twice in summer months & check voltage, distilled water levels, and I run engine monthly to charge chassis battery.

[Oneilkeys]

Originally Posted by scrubjaysnest

Since the on board convertor is junk we use automotive smart charger on occasion. Mostly let the solar handle it.

You can replace it relatively easily with a Progressive Dynamics PD4655 which works like it is supposed to and doesn’t ruin your batteries. If you plug in for any extended time, it is money well spent.

[ThorRut]

riskmgr - So I understand how to check inverter/batteries, tell me if the below procedure will work?
- with voltmeter check what is the voltage across batteries while charging from inverter with unit plugged-up.
- Take off inverter and manually charger to 100% with battery charger.
- Plug up unit with inverter charging battery.
- With voltmeter, on fully charged batteries inverter should eventually step down to 13.1v.
Thanks

[Oneilkeys]

Originally Posted by ThorRut

riskmgr - So I understand how to check inverter/batteries, tell me if the below procedure will work?
- with voltmeter check what is the voltage across batteries while charging from inverter with unit plugged-up.
- Take off inverter and manually charger to 100% with battery charger.
- Plug up unit with inverter charging battery.
- With voltmeter, on fully charged batteries inverter should eventually step down to 13.1v.
Thanks

That will work, but there is no real reason to do that. First check the charge on the house batteries. If the charge is below about 11.8v, when you plug in the RV, if the converter/charger is working correctly, it should be charging the batteries at about 14.1v (boost charge). After the batteries are charged over around 12.4v or so, the charger should step down to 13.5v and continue to charge until the batteries are 100% charged. When they are, the charger should step down again to 13.1v to maintain the charge. It should not take the inverter more than 24 hours to fully charge the batteries (unless they are way down). So if after 24 hours the inverter is still charging the batteries at 13.5v you will know that it is not working correctly. The converter chargers in my Vegas and Axis never went into Boost mode, no matter how discharged the batteries were. Only one went into maintenance mode.

[Bob Denman]

"Let the Sunshine In"...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3QvYIx0mfQ

[Mo_Mike]

Originally Posted by Oneilkeys

If you replace your batteries, do yourself (and your new batteries) a favor and check that your converter/charger is working correctly. Both mine in The Vegas and Axis did not step down to 13.1v, so over time, if you leave the rig plugged in, it boils off the batteries.

Our stock charger/converter in our 2016 VEGAS starts out @13.6-13.7 then lowers to 13.1-13.2, but never see it go above 13.7 unless the alternator is doing the work (14.4 then)

[Oneilkeys]

Originally Posted by Mo_Mike

Our stock charger/converter in our 2016 VEGAS starts out @13.6-13.7 then lowers to 13.1-13.2, but never see it go above 13.7 unless the alternator is doing the work (14.4 then)

At least you are lucky that it shouldn’t ruin your batteries. But if you boondock and use your generator to recharge your batteries, it can take twice as long to charge them if the converter/charger does not go into boost mode.

[scrubjaysnest]

Actually it will ruin the batteries from under charging them. That's exactly what the WFCO on our last camper did and it resulted in early battery failure. Problem was gone once I installed solar.

[Oneilkeys]

Unless your converter/charger was shutting off prematurely, as long as it continued to charge at 13.1v I don’t see how it could undercharge your batteries.

[scrubjaysnest]

Many of today's deep cycle batteries requite 14.8 volts absorb and 13.6 volts float.
It really pays to review the manufactures charging instructions.

[Thehobe1]

Do you have any concern that the panels might "walk away" from your campsite while you are away? They are a mighty attractive target. The units on MH roofs are a little more difficult to "lift". Solar panels are being taken from parking lot installations sporadically.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by Thehobe1

Do you have any concern that the panels might "walk away" from your campsite while you are away? They are a mighty attractive target. The units on MH roofs are a little more difficult to "lift". Solar panels are being taken from parking lot installations sporadically.

I was also wondering about this possibility...

[Oneilkeys]

Originally Posted by scrubjaysnest

Many of today's deep cycle batteries requite 14.8 volts absorb and 13.6 volts float.
It really pays to review the manufactures charging instructions.

Gel batteries do require special chargers and even special alternators and you need to think about that before you buy Gels. However most AGMs and regular deep cycle batteries can be charged by regular chargers.

[scrubjaysnest]

Originally Posted by Thehobe1

Do you have any concern that the panels might "walk away" from your campsite while you are away? They are a mighty attractive target. The units on MH roofs are a little more difficult to "lift". Solar panels are being taken from parking lot installations sporadically.

Hasn't been a problem for us but then we don't set them up in parking lots; or camp in parking lots for that matter.

[Bob Denman]

Regardless of where you might be parked: are there any precautions that could be taken, to reduce the chances of theft?
(I'm more of a mind, to just mount them on the roof...)

[scrubjaysnest]

If the panels are on the ground, drill holes through the frame and loop a cable through the holes then lock it to a tree or something.

[Bob Denman]

Ahhhhhh...
I didn't know that there was enough "meat" in the frame for that.
Thanks!