New to Campervan life.

[Luna the Magic Van]

Thank you for having me. Can anyone explain solar power and battery things to me? I have an app which gives me lots of data that I don’t understand!

 

[f6c]

Welcome aboard

 

[DBK]

Welcome! But more information needed. Screenshot from your app and photos of any control panels will help a sensible answer to appear. Details of the van might help. Is it a DIY conversion? I suspect it is but confirmation would help.

And did I say welcome?

 

[Two on Tour]

Welcome on board, we are just along the A14 from you in Spaldwick.

Give us a bit more info about your app and would help if you could post a screenshot of which bit you need explaining.

 

[Spriddler]

I have an app which gives me lots of data that I don’t understand!

You'll fit in well here.

and................ Welcome!

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[Luna the Magic Van]

Welcome on board, we are just along the A14 from you in Spaldwick.

Give us a bit more info about your app and would help if you could post a screenshot of which bit you need explaining.

 

[PP Bear]

Welcome to Fun

 

[Jev88]

Hi from Peterborough.

Looks like the solar is working fine and getting to float mode that happens when batteries are fully charged.

 

[DBK]

View attachment 607119

That suggests the batteries are fully charged and all is well.

I suggest the key figure is the voltage in the battery section. Forget the numbers in the solar section. These are only shown to amuse the geeks.

The battery voltage can tell you a lot

If it states:

14+ volts. They batteries were run down and are now being charged.

13+ volts. The batteries are charged and are now being "trickle charged" or what they call "float" these days.

12+ volts. This is a bit more difficult. If it's night and therefore no solar charge and assuming you are not plugged into a 240 volt supply then a reading above 12 volts suggests all is in order. But if it starts to get near say 12.2 volts this suggests the batteries are beginning to run down a bit. This is not time to panic yet. For example, 12.2 volts is fine. 12.0 volts is less so.

Under 12 volts. Time to panic. If you get down to say around 11.5 volts you are risking damaging the batteries. Start turning things off. Learn to read in the dark.

 

[Jo662]

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[davidbaldam]

Hi and welcome to FUN.

 

[AndyPK]

Welcome from The Cotswolds!

(Happy with the explanations……..??)

 

[WynandJean]

Hello and welcome from West Midlands.

Wyn

 

[Luna the Magic Van]

Thank you for having me. Can anyone explain solar power and battery things to me? I have an app which gives me lots of data that I don’t understand!

Welcome from The Cotswolds!

(Happy with the explanations……..??)

Yes, it is a lot more than we knew before! Mind you than can be said for most things campervan. Putting up the awning for the first time was a hoot!

 

[Spriddler]

Putting up the awning for the first time was a hoot!

There are many who don't do it a second time.

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[ambulancekidd]

 

[David and Sally]

 

[gus-lopez]

 

[Jamesh]

There are many who don't do it a second time.

Many get divorced straight afterwards...!

 

[dawsey]

There are many who don't do it a second time.

I assume we are talking about an awning tent or a safari tent, not the awning which most times with a camper is just a wind out job?

We found that the trick with the tent is practise. Myself and the mrs spent an afternoon putting up and taking down ours half a dozen times in the summer to develop a routine. We got it down to 15mins. I persuaded Bea, who was a bit dubious at first to participate by explaining that getting good at it would save us (her) a future soaking and or stop us breaking something doing it in the dark….

Been living in the van near 3 months now and never put it up once - she still grumbles about that afternoon

I’m sure we will use it come summer

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[StephandJohn]

Welcome.
You'll have many questions and you'll always find answers on here. They're a rough but kindly bunch!