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I have a campervan with a leisure battery and split charger already. I was just pondering on the possibility of adding a solar panel on the roof. Would I simply connect the output from the controller into the leisure battery terminals in addition to that coming from the split charger? I do also have a 12v socket wired in to the leisure battery side of the van electrics, so is using that a possibility too?
I’d be looking at something like This
Wiring diagram shows the controller output connected directly to your batteries.
I went here
https://www.sunstore.co.uk/product-category/solar-panels-for-motorhomes/
I got a little controller charger thingy to connect to the battery and the panel. Job jobbed. I think you'd need the charger.
Would I simply connect the output from the controller into the leisure battery terminals in addition to that coming from the split charger?
That's what I've done, works fine. In fact, I have the split charge, hookup charge and solar charge all connected to the leisure battery terminals
(There's only ever one of them charging it at any one time)
Yup that's basically it. I've done half a dozen or more installs now. Buy a kit from ebay, check roof space to figure out what size of panel or panels fit best, plastic mounts, sikaflex 252 to bond them to the roof, self drilling roofing screws are good to fit panels to mounts, drill one 15mm ish hole to drop the cables in (high level cupboards are an ideal entry point and home for the charge controller), then cables to battery from there. Takes about half a day.
Cheers. Seems almost too easy. I've a pop-top roof so will have that cabling to think about but I'd likely bring it in at the rear, into an existing cupboard.
Mine is not yet roof mounted (on the trip that precipitated its purchase we used a stand), I am going to remove the TV aerial and use that hole for the cables. It won't be as efficient as an angled stand but it will run all year so hopefully it will trickle charge the battery all winter.
Yeah, I did wonder about the pros and cons of roof mounting. It can already be an issue parking on the right slope, with the right view and with the tail end of the van into the wind. Adding the solar panel onto the roof would just be something else to add into the equation. The advantage is that it's not taking up space in the van at any point and, as you say, it's "always on".
You can get roof mounts that tilt, but that probably requires you to be facing the right way. So yeah mine will be flat.
A nice solution when using the van would be to install a socket into which you can plug the panel and have it on a stand facing wherever. Or you could get two - one on the roof for trickle charging and another optional plug-in panel when you need more.
Being able to tilt and change direction is over thinking it. You are not going to be there all day moving it. In summer the angle of a pop top roof will get enough sun whatever direction you park unless the weather is awful just because it's always on.
It's worth spending more and getting a quality panel, one with a long warranty, and good mppt controller with an app so you can see what it's doing.
The solar controller is the important bit. You can get controllers that will split between leisure and starter battery and also get an MPPT controller as they will recover more of the solar energy. They usually cost more though.
In summer the angle of a pop top roof will get enough sun whatever direction you park unless the weather is awful just because it’s always on.
TBF I use the camper all year round and, being far north, that can mean limited daylight hours and a very low sun angle. I take your point about summer use though, and being on the roof means it'll be harvesting even when I'm away from the van.
What split charge system do you currently have? If it is a simple voltage sensing relay then I would seriously consider swapping it out for a Battery to Battery charge controller with built in MPPT (as alanf hints to above). Much better control of charge rates and battery management. Also uses much smaller cables so easier to install. Yes they are more expensive but versus a VSR and a seperate controller and thicker cables, the difference isn't that great. Plus your batteries will thank you long term.
I have this one on my van with a £100 victron 115W panel.
There are others out there at different price points though.
Have you thought about solar suitcase options? Renogy 200w
If you do mount a semi-flexible panel on the roof, the recommendation seems to be to gwt the roof panel covered with a paint protection film or vinyl so that you can replace the panel without damaging the paint.
I have two flexy panels stuck to the roof of my caravan, it's parked under trees and is usually covered in leaves or shaded.
think they're 150W panels.
It's charging pretty much all day, even if it's moderately cloudy.
I did a 5/6 day trip last spring on my own just using the solar.
Fridge, lights, a bit of water heating for washing dishes, charging phone and BT speakers, no heating (got down to about 12 degrees in the middle of the night!)
Got everything charged and the fridge cooled right down before i left home, and had no issues. Everything still working OK on the last morning.
48 hours with the kids will kill it though.
I'm also (effectively) in the north of Scotland, and regularly go further north than that.