I have installed a second deep-cycle battery to my Hilux camper utilizing the National Luna solenoid system and it has been working well with no problems.I have recently purchased a 100 w solar panel and voltage regulator which I will be installing onto my camper.
I can install the solar panel using one of two possible options (to my limited knowledge) to connect to the existing National Luna solenoid system on my vehicle.
1. Connect the solar panel via the voltage regulator directly to the secondary battery.Will this have any issues with the power supplied from the alternator when the solenoid is engaged automatically by the NL controller ?
2. Install a 5 pin relay connected using the ' normally closed contacts ' which will charge the secondary battery when when the vehicle is stationary(engine off).The control circuit of the relay is energized using the control circuit of the NL solenoid so that when the solenoid is energized,the normally closed relay is switched to the 'Off' position and thus disconnecting the solar panel from the secondary battery.I seem to think this option is the way to go.
Can any of the members advise my on this issue before I decide which of the above methods I should use or if there are any other possibly better methods I can use ?
Connecting solar panel to NL solenoid controller
- Johan Kriel
- LR 4WD Full Lockers
- Posts: 623
- Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:41 pm
- Town: Okahandja
- Vehicle: 2.5 SC 4x4
- Real Name: Johan kriel
- Location: Okahandja
Re: Connecting solar panel to NL solenoid controller
Solar charger direct to the aux battery.
Assuming you only connect the solar when stationery, not that it matter, If the solar are permanently connected.
Assuming you only connect the solar when stationery, not that it matter, If the solar are permanently connected.
Johan Kriel
Legend 50
Legend 50
- FIRSTGEER
- LR4WD, Lockers, Crawler Gears
- Posts: 1536
- Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2010 6:00 am
- Town: King WilliamsTown
- Vehicle: 2,5 D4D Singlr Cab 4X4 Full OME suspension. snorkel.GMA aftermarket bullbar.
- Real Name: Tony Geer
- Club VHF Licence: HC 109
Re: Connecting solar panel to NL solenoid controller
Thanks Johan.I was just worried that the input voltage from the solar may somehow have some type of problem with the alternator input voltage if they where fed together to the 2nd battery.Hve you installed something similar ?
- Mud Dog
- Moderator
- Posts: 29858
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:18 am
- Town: East London
- Vehicle: '90 SFA Hilux DC 4X4, Full OME, 110mm lift. Brospeed branch, 50mm ss freeflow exhaust. 30 x 9.5 Discoverer S/T's on Viper mags. L/R tank. (AWOL) '98 LTD 2.4 SFA, dual battery system. Dobinson suspension, LR tanks, 31" BF mud's.
- Real Name: Andy
- Club VHF Licence: HC103
Re: Connecting solar panel to NL solenoid controller
I also don't think that there will be a problem in connecting both to the aux battery directly.
I have done basically the same thing except that instead of a NL controller I have a manual switching and I haven't experienced any alternator / diode / voltage regulator or solar panel controller problems even though I have sometimes had both circuits closed. The only thing that I have noticed is that the solar controller sees the aux battery as being fully charged and it reduces / cuts supply - that means that you loose the solar input (or most of it) during that time, which is what will happen with your option 2 setup anyway.
I have done basically the same thing except that instead of a NL controller I have a manual switching and I haven't experienced any alternator / diode / voltage regulator or solar panel controller problems even though I have sometimes had both circuits closed. The only thing that I have noticed is that the solar controller sees the aux battery as being fully charged and it reduces / cuts supply - that means that you loose the solar input (or most of it) during that time, which is what will happen with your option 2 setup anyway.
When your road comes to an end ...... you need a HILUX!.
Life is like a jar of Jalapeño peppers ... what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
Don't take life too seriously ..... no-one gets out alive.
It's not about waiting for storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
And be yourself ..... everyone else is taken!
Life is like a jar of Jalapeño peppers ... what you do today, might burn your ass tomorrow.
Don't take life too seriously ..... no-one gets out alive.
It's not about waiting for storms to pass. It's about learning to dance in the rain.
And be yourself ..... everyone else is taken!
- FIRSTGEER
- LR4WD, Lockers, Crawler Gears
- Posts: 1536
- Joined: Thu Sep 30, 2010 6:00 am
- Town: King WilliamsTown
- Vehicle: 2,5 D4D Singlr Cab 4X4 Full OME suspension. snorkel.GMA aftermarket bullbar.
- Real Name: Tony Geer
- Club VHF Licence: HC 109
Re: Connecting solar panel to NL solenoid controller
Thanks Andy.I also thought along those lines.When the load from the solar panel is disconnected,the voltage regulator should basically switch off.I think I will go with my option 2.I wanted to throw the idea around to see what the other members thoughts would be.Thanks to you guys for your input.
- Stef
- Monster Truck
- Posts: 3125
- Joined: Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:54 pm
- Town: Pretoria
- Vehicle: '98 LTD
- Real Name: Stefan
- Club VHF Licence: X107
Re: Connecting solar panel to NL solenoid controller
Option 2 is better, just to be on the safe side