Anyone figured out how much a portable solar could run back through the
cigarette lighter?
James indicated it is a 20amp circuit: ergo: 240 watts?
Thinking of the 50W or 100 Watt folding to put up on the dashboard for
boondocking, in front of the curtains. (94 U280).
(Yes, I know: windshield losses and all that, but I want to start somewhere
, and rig is in shop for a bit, with no power. And we have some sort of
phantom battery draw that over a month will hurt the 8ds.)
Might try the 15w mini, but am in the mood for more......
I have noticed that the 10 to 20W panels have cigarette plugs, but nothing
larger.
Eventually will add big panels on roof, but need something quick right now.
Ideas???
Many Thanks,
Reid Ellis
R n R
On mine one lighter goes to the house batteries and the other to the start batteries.
Mine as well. I run two small panels on the dash in front of the curtain when parked in between trips and have had no issues. Will get numbers and pictures when I get home
Your wattage is restricted by the size of wire attached to the plug.
Would advise a charge controller if you go anything bigger than 30 or 40 watts.
Jim
sun was down when I got home but I am using two panels one for each lighter. They are both coleman 25 watt crystalline panels each one has a 7 amp charge controller that came with it. These panels stay ahead of the stuff I cant shut off that is drawing on the batteries. They fit on the dash well but I did have to buy cigarette lighter adapters they only had alligator clips on them and lots of wire.
I put a Coleman 70w on roof for engine Batteries and the controller at bed side panel and they are doing the job easily to keep engine AGMs up to snuff.
Johnh
I just found an 18watt Coleman kit on Walmarts web site (not available in the stores) that should fit the bill.
On my 2001 U320 the Left hand lighter plug is the engine batteries and the Right side is the coach batteries. For the RH one you need to have the 'Salesman' switch ON.
I only intend to charge the engine batteries from solar as I am usually plugged in to shore power.
Speedbird 1.
On my 2000 U295 the lower lighter plug is for the engine batteries and the upper one is for the coach batteries. For the upper one to be powered, you need to have the 'Salesman' switch ON.
Hope this adds to the knowledge base,
Trent
We have a 1997 U270 and the dash has only one cigarette lighter socket. We had the same issue with a unknown draw on the 2 starting batteries that caused the coach to not have enough power to start (clicked only). We now always shut the 12v power off in the stepwell but still want a controlled trickle as there will be months parked in cloudy Anacortes WA.
My question is can we feed a small, controlled solar panel thru this single dash lighter socket to keep the starting batts up (they are sealed lead acid batteries...not AGM or Gell). Note the coach is always plugged in so I could also put a Battery Tender 3 amp controlled charger on these or the other 2 8D house bank.
Thanks
Carl
If your cigarette lighter plug is dead when you turn off the master switch then, no, connecting your solar at the dash won't work. If the plug is connected to the engine batteries, then it should remain hot when you turn off the coach 12v and you should be good to go.
If, as you said, you stay connected to shore power most of the time, I would suggest that you consider the external smart charger route. I installed mine on the engine batteries and plug it into the engine block heater plug that is nearby. As long as you're connected to power and the lighted switch at the end of the bed is on you know it's working. Yes, it means that I have to lift the bed to switch back to the block heater but I've only ever needed to use that a couple of times. It's not expensive. It's easy. It works.
easy solution. 3 wire connection and any time house batteries are being charged, start batteries are also being charged.
Disconnect is automatic.Amazon.com : Blue Sea Systems SI-ACR Automatc Charging Relay - 12/24V DC /... (http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sea-Systems-Automatc-Charging/dp/B000OTIPDQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471902848&sr=8-1&keywords=battery+combiner)