Hymer solar installation

KUSKUS said:
It has a DT 200 display would it work with this one ?
Click to expand...

There are no connections on the DT 200 (and possible software implications), for any solar (starter or hab battery) readings, which means no wiring between the EBL and Display Panel DT 200
 
Ok thanks, will have to purchase new mppt controller and display I think.
 
KUSKUS said:
Ok thanks, will have to purchase new mppt controller and display I think.
Click to expand...

Lot's of good info on MHF, but why not sort out your immediate priority problem before getting into 'information overload mode'?(y)
 
SIFTA SAM said:
My EBL 100 is connected to the starter battery via the provided LR1218 installation wiring kit.
Not sure how you know they have wired it wrong ?
KUSKUS has already confirmed that he has a DT200 panel which does not display solar charge?
Click to expand...
If you look at the wiring diagram for a EBL100 you will see that the solar connections on Block 6, pin 2 the starter battery connection is not connected to anything.

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SIFTA SAM said:
KUSKUS has already confirmed that he has a DT200 panel which does not display solar charge?
Click to expand...
KUSKUS said:
Ok thanks, will have to purchase new mppt controller and display I think.
Click to expand...
The panel is not displaying the solar charge is because the data lead is not connect, the 2 connectorer without anything connected to them in the photo are the data connections on the LR1218.
 
Have found a 20 amp fuse near to engine battery completely frazzled looks like it been loose , think I may have to replace fuse holder as it obviously got very hot at some time.
 
Lenny HB said:
The panel is not displaying the solar charge is because the data lead is not connect, the 2 connectorer without anything connected to them in the photo are the data connections on the LR1218.
Click to expand...
The panel is not wired to the
ELB99 for solar display and was never intended to display solar data, even if the solar connections are made on the LR1218.
Please read my prior comments
 
The OP said he thought he needed a new panel hence my comments, having now checked it is the DT201 that can show solar charge not the DT200.
 
Lenny HB said:
Yep, the LR1218 will shorten their life I would fit one of the Votronic MPP range you can get a data cable to link to the EBL if your display panel is an LCD one with charging info.
Click to expand...
I don't doubt that you are right Lenny but I have 2 Numax sealed lead acid batteries fitted by the previous owner in 2014 (I have a receipt) and they are still going strong in combination with the LR1218. I never let them go below 50%. I don't know if being sealed makes a difference to the charging regime?

I'm quite tempted by the Votronic 250 duo as it will run the fridge on solar but I haven't had an excuse to buy it yet! Also of course because it is an MPPT controller.

KUSKUS -reading the posts again I'm suspecting that replacing the fuse from the starter battery may not solve the problem as you say that solar is still charging the starter battery. I think if that's the case then the fuse isn't the (only) problem...
Best of luck
Paddy

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paddymcc said:
I'm quite tempted by the Votronic 250 duo as it will run the fridge on solar but I haven't had an excuse to buy it yet! Also of course because it is an MPPT controller.
Click to expand...
Really worth replacing the LR1218 with the Votronic you will be amazed at the difference in solar performance & much kinder to your batteries.

Excellent regulator I have the 350, when you link it to the fridge you need to fit a switch or relay in line with the fridge connection so you can turn it off when on mains. The dumb firmware in the fridge has 12v solar as priority power source and will switch to 12v when on EHU. I fitted a mains relay on mine.
 
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SIFTA SAM said:
Another Hymer (2006) owner with a EBL101 which was not charging the Starter Battery on Solar (LR 1218), finally bypassed the problem by fitting a Battery Master he tells me?
Click to expand...
That is bypassing the problem rather than fixing it not a good idea. The EBL 101 does connect to the starter battery I used to have a van with one.
 
Yes have replaced the melted fuse holder and as far as i can tell , which was difficult as i had driven the motorhome yesterday, down to mates garage to have rear brakes checked and handbrake adjusted so alternator had obviously charged engine battery.
This morning with very little solar its showing 12.7 volts on display panel and Leisure showing 12.9 on display
Thinking of replacing the solar controller with Victron 75/15 , can I use the load side to charge engine
battery ?

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KUSKUS said:
Thinking of replacing the solar controller with Victron 75/15 , can I use the load side to charge engine
battery ?
Click to expand...
No, but the Votronic ones have a 1 amp output for charging the starter battery.
 
So I could replace the LR1218 with the Victron 75/15 smart solar controller and have a decent setup for my leisure batteries and be able to get a trickle feed to engine battery ?
Currently have a 200 watt solar panel.
 
KUSKUS said:
So I could replace the LR1218 with the Victron 75/15 smart solar controller and have a decent setup for my leisure batteries and be able to get a trickle feed to engine battery ?
Currently have a 200 watt solar panel.
Click to expand...
No, I said Votronic, not Victron.
 
as I said earlier I had the same problem with mine a few weeks back, changed the controller to this one, NO problems since, has not been on 240 for about 2 months and both batteries are still fully charged

sunworks.co.uk

Dual Battery Solar Charge Controller by SunWorks. DB1C. 11 amps

SunWorks dual battery solar charge controller for motorhomes, and boats. Charge engine and leisure batteries from one solar panel. Up to 170 watts, 11 amps.
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Sorry my mistake , the 75/15 is Voltronic

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As Lenny HB has been saying.
First solar panel I installed - electroblok and lr controller did not charge vehicle battery internally. Needed to connect lr vehicle battery output direct to battery via a fuse of course. I did this by picking up the vehicle battery output from the electroblok and splicing into that. Worked perfectly for the 5 years I had that setup.
Just put solar no the new van with a 350 duo controller.
 
getting mixed up with Victron and Voltronic,
So Voltronic MPP 250 will handle 200 watt solar and charge my leisure and engine batteries ?
 
what size cable should I use to the batteries and what capacity fuse should I fit ?
thanks very much for your help,

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Lenny HB said:
The solar is not charging the starter battery because it has been wired incorrectly, the EBL 100 does not have a connection to the starter battery from Block 6 the solar input. You need to connect the starter battery output on the LR1218 direct to the starter battery.
Click to expand...
That is correct, but there is an alternative way to connect to the starter battery through the EBL. As used by the Votronic kit for example. On Block 2 (5-way) are the 12V power connections from the starter battery, intended for the fridge 12V element. Also used by the mains charger to charge the starter battery when the engine is not running.

Remove the 5-way plug and insert a 5-way plug and socket with short straight-through wires. It will of course work exactly the same as before. However pin 1 is the starter battery positive, so you could easily tap into that wire for a solar connection.
 
KUSKUS said:
getting mixed up with Victron and Voltronic,
So Voltronic MPP 250 will handle 200 watt solar and charge my leisure and engine batteries ?
Click to expand...
Victron, Votronic and Voltronic are three entirely different manufacturers, and they all make solar controllers.

Votronic make dual battery controllers such as the Duo. I has two outputs, for leisure and starter batteries.
 
autorouter said:
That is correct, but there is an alternative way to connect to the starter battery through the EBL. As used by the Votronic kit for example. On Block 2 (5-way) are the 12V power connections from the starter battery, intended for the fridge 12V element. Also used by the mains charger to charge the starter battery when the engine is not running.

Remove the 5-way plug and insert a 5-way plug and socket with short straight-through wires. It will of course work exactly the same as before. However pin 1 is the starter battery positive, so you could easily tap into that wire for a solar connection.
Click to expand...
As I have posted earlier, the Solar IS already connected to the Starter battery via the ELB using the LR1218 Solar Controller wiring loom provided as part of the kit. And as above,
 
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KUSKUS said:
Ok will check all three out .
Click to expand...
If I was you, I would first find out the problem with the present ELB99/
LR1218 system not charging your Starter battery. There may be better Solar Controllers available but until you find the present fault, they may not work either, unless of course your LR1218 is defective?

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