Extra solar to batteries with additional mppt

[cookie]

Been to adria today for a warrenty issue, and they say that I can't connect an extra panel via the 300w controller as even though the controller can handle the power the nordelettronica unit can't.

Van is fitted with 140w solar .

I Want to have an input so I can use a portable panel when battery power is low, is it ok to have a separate mppt connected direct to battery's.

 

[Guigsy]

You're in a similar situation to many people when they start adding more solar, the main electronics charger inputs won't take more than about 15A. So yes, the solution is you connect the charger to the battery.

 

[MisterB]

I have 2*100w panels via a votronic mppt - I didn't go through the Nordelectronica unit ...
I also have a folding 120w panel that is connected directly to the leisure battery using an Anderson connector fitted into the skirt adjacent to the underseat battery with a short cable then connected from the Anderson connector to the battery, in our Adria. So it can be done!

I would like to add more solar but not a lot of options on the roof due to other 'stuff' so another folding panel might be added when we get home!! It might be that I feed that through the Nordelectronica rather than buy a bigger votronic mppt (440w) ...

 

[oldiesontour]

No problem, quite a lot of the folding panels come with a controller and various leads including 1 with croc clips to go on a battery( usually not an mppt but on low wattage panels not a lo of power is lost)

 

[IRHP]

You could bypass the Nordelectronica unit and connect directly to the leisure battery. Just pull the JP7 PLUG. You will not be able to see the amps going in on the Adria panel but you would be able to put in more than the 20 Amp fuse rating of the Nordelectronica unit. If you have a dual output controller you could still take the engine battery feed via the JP7 port as its a very limited current feed from a solar controller to an engine battery.

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[Richard n Ann]

I fitted another votronic mppt controller for the portable 100w solar panel.

What I've found is, only the main panel (150w) does the charging still, BUT when the compressor fridge starts up they both contribute and the battery still charges, or at least doesn't discharge, so happy days

 

[cookie]

You could bypass the Nordelectronica unit and connect directly to the leisure battery. Just pull the JP7 PLUG. You will not be able to see the amps going in on the Adria panel but you would be able to put in more than the 20 Amp fuse rating of the Nordelectronica unit. If you have a dual output controller you could still take the engine battery feed via the JP7 port as its a very limited current feed from a solar controller to an engine battery.

Would be ok though as the batteries are lithium with bms so I can monitor with the app

 

[Raul]

Been to adria today for a warrenty issue, and they say that I can't connect an extra panel via the 300w controller as even though the controller can handle the power the nordelettronica unit can't.

Van is fitted with 140w solar .

I Want to have an input so I can use a portable panel when battery power is low, is it ok to have a separate mppt connected direct to battery's.

Yes, a separate controller connected directly to the battery works very well. Bypass the inbuilt gismos.

 

[jumar]

Totally agree with above...I have Victron MPPT for roof panel and a separate MPPT for my freestanding panel....both going directly to my single lithium....for us this works well...only yesterday I charged two eBikes and topped up my leisure battery within 3 hours...during a part cloudy day...

 

[cookie]

You could bypass the Nordelectronica unit and connect directly to the leisure battery. Just pull the JP7 PLUG. You will not be able to see the amps going in on the Adria panel but you would be able to put in more than the 20 Amp fuse rating of the Nordelectronica unit. If you have a dual output controller you could still take the engine battery feed via the JP7 port as its a very limited current feed from a solar controller to an engine battery.

From nordelettronica , same as what you say.

Anyway, we always recommend connecting the solar panel directly to the batteries, this because if for a reason you disconnect the service battery and forget to remove the solar panel connector from our device, the solar panel could provide the fuse box with an over voltage damaging the electronics. If instead the solar panel is connected to the battery poles, it is not possible to forget to disconnect the solar panel.

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