Thread: Traxide question for Tim

Hi Tim

I have just bought a camper trailer that has a deep cycle battery which connects to the car via Anderson plug so it can charge while driving and I will connect it throughout to my D3 via the Traxide system with the rear Anderson plug.

But the trailer also has a solar array that will generate up to 435w and 36 Amp connected to the onboard battery via one of these.



My question is if I leave the trailer connected to the car while camped will the solar system also charge the car batteries? And if so do you think that solar output doing the day will be enough to run two pretty efficient fridges and still charge batteries?

Originally Posted by drivesafe

Hi and thanks austastar.

Hi Andrew and as austastar pointed out, as long as the common voltage of all the batteries, while connected together, does not drop below 12.0v then your solar will charge all the batteries in your set up, including your cranking battery.

As to your solar output capacity, you will very rarely, if ever, get 36 amps but you will see 25 amps if you take the panels.

The rough guestimate for your set up would be 20 average per hour over an 8 hour period.

This is still heaps of power for both running your two fridges and replacing the battery energy you will have used to power your fridges over night.

If you do get to a situation over night and/or after a few days of heavy overcast and the isolator cuts out, once the sun is up and charging your auxiliary and house batteries, start your motor and let it run for a couple of minutes, till you see the LED glow constantly, then turn your motor off and the solar will continue to charge all your batteries.

Note, solar charging is in my opinion, the best form of charging for lead acid batteries, so your set up should serve you well.

Excellent, thanks so much Tim and Austastar.