Add solar allow for 2nd battery and inverter

[Conolan]

Hi,

I've just bought a Sunlight T66 2013 in Germany. It will stay on continent.
I want to initially add a 100-120w solar panel. The van has elektroblock ebl 99 transformer/rectifier.
I want to add MPPT controller. After reading advice on aandncaravanservices Votronic 250 Duo seems a good option. However it will only charge 1 leisure and 1 starter battery.
So that means I have an issue with adding a second battery later. I expect stage 2 will include second panel and inverter.
Appreciate any comments or other goods sources of information.

 

[Hoovie]

Typically when you have more than 1 leisure battery, they are connected together as a Bank of batteries and are presented to the system as a single Battery. So the various chargers still think there is one battery, which is now bigger.

 

[VXman]

As hoovie says. I have three leisure batteries. They are connected in parallel. The solar goes to the positive at one end of the chain of 3 batteries and the negative at the other end. The solar treats it as one battery.

Also, be aware that when adding a second leisure battery it needs to be the same spec. As the first (ah rating) and preferably the same age. If the new one is a lot healthier than the original the old one will just suck power from the new one. If the original is fairly old it might be better getting two identical new ones.

 

[tonka]

As above your leisure batteries will be Joined together as one in parallel. Same voltage just higher amps. So the votronic will just see it as one battery.

I have 2 X solar, 2 X 95amp leisure batteries, votronic 250, 1100w inverter and EBL 220 all works fine.