I'm starting to plan out the power system for my rig and am having a bit of hard time wrapping my head around everything. I am planning on starting with a dual battery system and then adding a solar panel later when I am more ready to add a fridge to the mix.
At this point I am leaning towards the National Luna dual battery kit. My main question is how I am going to tie the solar panel into the dual battery set up later. Will this work well with adding in a solar system or should I be looking in a different direction? Any suggestions or pointers would be greatly appreciated!
Hi
wrmmt,
In my opinion the Traxide isolators (Manufactured in Australia) are the best on the market, I have no connection to this company :). I have had one fitted in my last four vehicles (last 15 years). In most situations the SC-80 would do the job well, I currently have a USI-160 dual battery isolator fitted to my Jeep Wrangler. This is a good option as I intend to fit a winch in the future.
As there is limited room under the bonnet of the CRD diesel the USI-160 Dual Battery Isolator it fitted under the bonnet and aux battery is fitted in the rear of the vehicle. Twin core 16mm2 (5AWG) wire runs through a manual resetting 60A circuit breaker under the bonnet down to the rear of the vehicle and connects to the aux battery. A manual resetting 50A circuit breaker is connected to this aux battery to a 50A anderson plug at the rear of the vehicle. The camper with its 130AH AGM battery connects to the anderson plug on the rear of the vehicle for under tow charging from the alternator.
What I like about the USI-160 Isolator is it has 4 User-Selectable operating modes, these are :
- Ignition On Mode
Cut-In at 13.1v, Cut-Out at 12.6v ( similar to other isolators )
- Shared Mode
Cut-In at 13.1v, Shared mode 12.7v, Cut-Out at 12.0v
- Jump Start Mode
Manually selectable between 10.0v and 12.7v
- Winch Mode
Manually selected above 13.1 ( motor must be running ), but once selected, will operate down to 10.0v
The SC-80 (DT-90) also has most of these functions.
Solar and Battery Charger operation.
With the USI-160 in the SHARED Mode, you can connect solar panels ( via a solar regulator ) or a battery charger to either battery in a USI-160 dual battery set up and all batteries will be charged. If you have an Anderson plug mounted at the back of your vehicle, you can connect your solar or battery charger through the Anderson plug and again, all batteries in a USI-160 dual battery set up will be charged. But if you have a specific need to only charge your Auxiliary Battery, then by selecting IGNITION Mode and connecting the solar panels or battery charger to the Auxiliary Battery, you will be able to charge it, while the Cranking battery remains isolated.
SOLAR CHARGING
With our Vehicle and teardrop camper setup we charge by solar at camp through the camper and/or the vehicle through the 50A anderson plugs, this is done through a solar regulator at each solar panel. There is no issue connecting a solar panel (roof mounted) through a solar regulator directly to the vehicle aux battery even with the battery isolator feeding power from the alternator.
