Interior Electrical - Inverter / Solar Panel / Leisure Batt

An alchemy of sparks, copper wire and earth

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Locked
dugdog
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 May 2008, 10:29
80-90 Mem No: 5493
Location: Cotswolds, UK

Interior Electrical - Inverter / Solar Panel / Leisure Batt

Post by dugdog »

The T25 I'm thinking of buying has a 1000W inverter attached to the leisure battery... which looks like this....

[img:267:200]http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk11 ... kie/03.jpg[/img]

[img:267:200]http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk11 ... kie/01.jpg[/img]

:oops:What is it... and what's it for?

It makes a high pitched whistling noise when I turn it on...

Do I need it? it has an odd shaped earth on the socket - so i can't plug anything into it anyway...

[img:267:200]http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk11 ... kie/02.jpg[/img]

--

There is also a solar panel on the roof, which is wired to this thing...

[img:267:200]http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk11 ... kie/04.jpg[/img]

(it is, in turn wired to the inverter.. so i guess, inadvertently wired to battery)... which says Solosum 8.0X on the side... and has a red led

[img:267:200]http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk11 ... kie/05.jpg[/img]

which reads 11.8v...

there is also a very dim green LED next to the sun icon... (which you can't see in the photo, as it's recessed?

any ideas what it is? I'm guessing the idea is that the solar panel charges the leisure battery? looks like it is doing something... but not enough to charge? do old solar panels just get less efficient?

I've cleaned the solar panel, as it was filthy... and i think the green LED got ever so slightly brighter... but that may have been wishful thinking... didn't change the red light to signal a higher voltage...

any thoughts?

--

Also - I'm pretty sure the leisure battery may be flat - as the interior sockets don't work...unless I plug the camping electric into the side of the van... there is 1 interior light that comes on when it's not plugged in - but maybe that's wired to the main battery?

when I plug the camping extension into the side of the van - the interior power seems to work fine (sockets etc)...

Can I charge the leisure battery just by leaving the van 'plugged in'?

thanks, as ever for any advice... enlightenment...


dx
A mind is like a parachute... only works when it's open.
Top
User avatar
Westy.Club.Joker
Registered user
Posts: 484
Joined: 18 Sep 2006, 19:37
80-90 Mem No: 2863
Location: Sunny Lancs. 1988 1.6TD Westfalia Club Joker pop-top

Post by Westy.Club.Joker »

The invertor converts the 12V power from the leisure battery into 240V power to run mains-powered devices. A 1000W unit is pretty powerful so could run an appliance of a pretty high output, BUT this will flatten the LB double-quick. If the unit is howling, then the LB is probably flat. If the battery gets flattened to a very low point it will ruin it and will not charge properly. Also, the invertor MUST be wired to the battery with the correct rated cables, as it`s possible to draw very high current from the battery (but not for very long)

Plugging in the hook-up lead will only charge the LB if you have an on-board charger in the system, 240V into the `van won`t charge the battery on its own.

I would disconnect the invertor from the LB and get the battery sorted first, just use the invertor if required for 240V appliances. Electric hook-up socket on your `van with a hook-up lead for campsites with 240V electric is the way to go.

Dunno about the solar panel stuff.
Keep it real.


Search first - ask second ;>}
Top
dugdog
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 May 2008, 10:29
80-90 Mem No: 5493
Location: Cotswolds, UK

Post by dugdog »

thanks Westy.Club.Joker

the battery has a light on the top

[img:267:200]http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk11 ... e/batt.jpg[/img]

green is a thumbs up, white is a thumbs down, and off is an exclamation mark...! at the moment it's off... funny thing is... when I lifted it out to disconnect the inverter, there was a slopping about noise, and the green light came on...

I'm guessing it's kaput, but just thought I'd mention...

I'm thinking I'd sell the inverter - can't see a use for it when I can probably get all I need from the LB... and use the money to buy a new battery...

dd
A mind is like a parachute... only works when it's open.
Top
User avatar
AngeloEvs
Registered user
Posts: 1345
Joined: 22 Nov 2007, 19:22
80-90 Mem No: 4709
Location: Upwell, Norfolk

Post by AngeloEvs »

Solar Panels have to be connected to the battery via a regulator to prevent overcharging and reverse leakage current when there is insufficient light tp produce a charge (otherwise the battery will leak charge into the solar panel). They are fairly simple devices and usually have three terminals:-

Input from solar panel

Common Earth (some have two earth conX)

Output to Battery

Usually incorporate LED's to indicate charge and bat. condition.
1987 DG Karisma LPG with remodelled interior
Top
dugdog
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 May 2008, 10:29
80-90 Mem No: 5493
Location: Cotswolds, UK

Post by dugdog »

maybe that black box is a regulator?

what i don't get is... if driving the van charges the LB - what would you need a solar panel for?
A mind is like a parachute... only works when it's open.
Top
User avatar
ermie571
Registered user
Posts: 4970
Joined: 11 Oct 2005, 11:11
80-90 Mem No: 2129
Location: Minster-on-Sea, Kent: Member 2129 07784052288

Post by ermie571 »

guessing here....but keeping the leisure/main battery topped up when parked? (either or both depending on the wiring)

we have a small solar that keeps the battery charged up when parked....

plugs into the cigarette lighter.

but - its only a guess!!!!

Em
x
2.1 DJ 1990 Caravelle (died and gone to heaven)
2.0 AGG (1997 ish) 1984 transporter LPG
Top
User avatar
AngeloEvs
Registered user
Posts: 1345
Joined: 22 Nov 2007, 19:22
80-90 Mem No: 4709
Location: Upwell, Norfolk

Post by AngeloEvs »

A lot of larger vans have them (usually 80W or more) for keeping the leisure battery charged when not on hook -up, wild camping, etc. What size is it? Not a lot of room on a T25 to place a large one so probably yours is just for trickle charging (10-18W) but guessing as I don't know the size and power output of yours.
1987 DG Karisma LPG with remodelled interior
Top
dugdog
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 May 2008, 10:29
80-90 Mem No: 5493
Location: Cotswolds, UK

Post by dugdog »

the panel is quiet large - fitted to the rear of the raised roof - I'd say it's about 800mmx400mm... which i would have thought would be pretty powerful?
A mind is like a parachute... only works when it's open.
Top
User avatar
Mocki
Membership Admin
Posts: 17251
Joined: 29 Sep 2005, 09:27
80-90 Mem No: 428
Location: Mansfield Notts
Contact:
Contact Mocki

Post by Mocki »

keep the solar panel, its worth having to keep things topped up, mostly for when you are not using the van, the inverter needs checking properly, they are dangerous things if not connected correctly, and never leave them unattended when switched on.
Yours looks like it was installed better than most from the pics.
Some idiots connect them through a cigar lighter socket, which they stupidly believe are safe power outlets, which they are not.

inverters are one of the few things that you should "buy expensive" as there are many cheap ones that are not safe, and proove to be very expensive in the bigger picture
Steve
tel / txt O7947-137911
👀
________________

1989 2.1LpgWBX HiTop Leisuredrive Camper
1988 2.1 Auto Caravelle TS TinTop Camper 
 
Top
dugdog
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 May 2008, 10:29
80-90 Mem No: 5493
Location: Cotswolds, UK

Post by dugdog »

yes - think i'll persevere with the solar - but sell the inverter - can't see i have a need for it...especially with the odd shaped earth pin.

apparently the previous owner ran power tools from it or something.

thanks for input

having said that - the power reading from the panel seems a bit lame for the size... but then i don't know much about them.

cheers for advice
A mind is like a parachute... only works when it's open.
Top
User avatar
kevtherev
Registered user
Posts: 18832
Joined: 23 Oct 2005, 20:13
80-90 Mem No: 2264
Location: Country estate Wolverhampton Actually

Post by kevtherev »

I use an inverter for the odd time I need to use 230v stuff (tv's, game consoles, laptops etc)

I would certainly investigate why you can't use a plug, and keep hold of it as it may come in use one fine day
AGG 2.0L 8V. (Golf GTi MkIII)
Top
User avatar
AngeloEvs
Registered user
Posts: 1345
Joined: 22 Nov 2007, 19:22
80-90 Mem No: 4709
Location: Upwell, Norfolk

Post by AngeloEvs »

From the dimensions, sounds like it's around 50-80W, well worth keeping (and expensive) but check the voltage out of the panel on a bright sunny day, you should be getting around 19 to 21V (at least) with it disconnected from the battery. They do lose efficiency as they age and some of the cells can become defective. A simple test is to put a car headlight bulb across the output leads from the solar panel (with the solar panel leads disconnected from the battery and regulator) and the panel facing into the sun. If it lights brightly your panel is fine. I had an 80W on my Hymer and the typical output current was around 5 Amps on a sunny day. Great for wild camping.

Invertor High Pitched Noise

The high pitched noise is often used to warn that the battery voltage is low. Incorrect cable size, or long length from battery to invertor causes a voltage drop in the cable and the invertor starts to sound the alarm. It shouldn't occur if you have nothing plugged into it but may be worth checking condition of cables, conections, etc before dumping it.
1987 DG Karisma LPG with remodelled interior
Top
campervanman
Registered user
Posts: 22
Joined: 08 Jan 2006, 21:24
80-90 Mem No: 0
Location: Nr. Dover, Kent

Re: Interior Electrical - Inverter / Solar Panel / Leisure

Post by campervanman »

If you were to use the inverter at its rated power of 1000 W (1 kW) drawing from a 12 volt supply, ignoring any inefficiencies of the system, you would be drawing 83 amps off your battery so wiring should be of the correct size and fused accordingly.
Top
dugdog
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 May 2008, 10:29
80-90 Mem No: 5493
Location: Cotswolds, UK

Post by dugdog »

cheers for advice everyone...

I've disconnected the inverter, and just plugged the solar into the (flat?) LB. I can hear a fail bubbling noise from the battery...

is that a good thing?
A mind is like a parachute... only works when it's open.
Top
dugdog
Registered user
Posts: 9
Joined: 23 May 2008, 10:29
80-90 Mem No: 5493
Location: Cotswolds, UK

Post by dugdog »

dugdog wrote:I can hear a fail bubbling noise from the battery... ?

for 'fail' read 'faint'.... i can hear a FAINT bubbling noise... like it's on simmer... :shock:

I know zero about this stuff, so any help appreciated....

also - can I recharge my LB from the solar panel - even if it's been completely flat?

OR can I recharge from home with some sort of connection kit?

thanks again

Dug
A mind is like a parachute... only works when it's open.
Top
Locked

Return to “Electrical & Instrumentation”