Kelvo wrote:

Only very high end expensive solar controllers are waterproof. But you don’t need a waterproof one under the bonnet.

To keep both batteries charged you would need to connect the solar to the main battery, once that batteries voltage is above your dual battery isolator ‘link’ voltage it will then start to charge your second battery. In which case the solar controller will probably fit in the space between the main battery and the engine ECU. But depending on your dual battery isolators cut in and out voltages this may not allow the solar to reliably charge your second battery.

Solar controller size is determined by the solar panel maximum power and voltage ratings. This should be on a label on the solar panel. NOTE if you are using a house solar panel the output voltage will in the 50-100VDC mark, your cheap 12V solar controllers cannot handle a voltage that high. So you need to make sure the solar controller maximum input voltage is greater than your solar panel output voltage and the controllers current is rated greater than your solar panel maximum output current. Example of a solar panel label.

Hi

Reading up more about this, is it better to have 2 x solar panels and 2 x controllers please for each battery ,

But have this T max split charge system fitted that has the link battery facility

However I’ve been reading some instructions so don’t know if I can do that

Or as mentioned is it a case u can only charge one battery at a time

Sorry bit confused , which doesn’t take much for me , just trying to understand it better

Or to get round it, would it be the case of removing the split charge t max system , plus if req can u still charge the batteries with a ctek having solar fitted


Extract from manual

http://www.photonicuniverse.com/upload/fil...manual.pdf

If the two batteries are connected to different systems with the same negative common ground (e.g. “engine” and “leisure” battery), but their positive terminals are also connected to a split charger or switch or another component which might link the batteries together, then the solar charge controller may not work properly. When the positive terminals of two batteries become linked, the controller will see both batteries as a mix, and it will not be able to treat batteries independently (e.g. even if you set the controller to 80%/20% it will still charge them as 50%/50%, and if one of the batteries is full it might continue charging anyway etc). You should avoid such situations when the positive terminals of two batteries become linked through another system component such as a split charger or a switch. If this is required in your system, use the solar charging kit to charge one battery at a time only, keeping the other pair of battery terminals of the solar charge controller unconnected.
• If your engine and leisure battery are connected to the positive common ground, you cannot use both Battery 1 and Battery 2 output of the solar charge controller at the same time either. You can only charge one battery at a time and keep the other pair of battery terminals of the controller unconnected. Remember: the solar panel cables should not be grounded in any case.
• If you only have one bank of two or more 12V leisure batteries to charge, and these batteries are connected in parallel (“+” to “+”, and “-“ to “-“), then you should treat them as a single battery and use only one pair of battery terminals of the solar charge controller to charge them. The other pair of battery terminals of the controller should remain unconnected.


Many thks and once again hope it’s ok to post it here and u don’t mind plse Ian and Andy , don’t want to be rude or disrespectful posting in ur thread in any way