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Thread: Caravan 12v system setup

  1. #1
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    Caravan 12v system setup

    Hi all,
    I am looking at modifying our caravan 12v setup. It is a Coromal Pioneer Dirt Road 2009. As standard it came with a Wialki power supply / charger. Now initially I was told this would be fine when we decided to add an AGM. It was for a few years. What I did not realise was this is a single stage charger, so when 240v is hooked up continually charges the battery to a point it destoy's it. One $400 AGM doen the drain, however I suppose I did get about 5 years out of it first.
    Now I am looking at alternate set ups so as not to destroy a new battery.
    The simplest option as is is to maybe just put a timer on the charger and only charge as required.
    The second option is to replace or add a decent multi stage charger. I am looking at the Projecta IC2500. Question is will this work for the whole setup? Should I remove the Wialki altogether? Or run both? eg Run the wialki from 240v staright to 12v fuse box and then run the Projecta from 240v to battery to fuse box or just turf the Wialki and run the Projecta from 240v to battery to fuse box?
    Or is a better set up a CTEK 300ms charger to a 250s dual that will also allow for solar?
    Cheers
    Craig
    2011 Discovery 4 TDV6
    2009 DRZ400E Suzuki
    1956 & 1961 P4 Rover (project)
    1976 SS Torana (project - all cash donations or parts accepted)
    2003 WK Holden Statesman
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  2. #2
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    Hi Craig, and unless that device has a selectable choice of either being a battery charger or a power supply, then it is a power supply and should NOT be used as a battery charger.


    Next, if it is nothing more than a power supply, it needs to be replaced with a genuine multi stage battery charger.


    As for the size of the charger, this will depend on your type of usage.


    Are you planning on doing a lot of free camping and expecting to use a generator/ battery charger setup to charge batteries while free camping, then you need the largest battery charger that will meet your needs, to keep your generator run time to a minimum.


    This is the ONLY time you need to look at a large type battery charger.


    If you have no intentions of using a generator to recharge batteries, then you can go for a much smaller charger and your batteries will be far better looked after.


    Battery chargers can be used as power supplies while charging and maintaining your batteries.


    At present it sounds like you have only one house battery, and it would be future proofing your system to look at the possibility of you needing/adding an additional battery or two.


    So with some basics, look at your total likely power needs from the battery for a 24 hour period. This power requirement will vary from one person’s use to another, so no set figure is going to be accurate.


    Then divide this total by 12, and this will give you the minimum capacity size for a battery charger to be able to replace this energy during an overnight stay at a caravan park.


    Then you need to workout how much current draw you battery will place on this charger to recharge the battery from a low state, in the same time period.


    The two figures will give you a rough worst case requirement for the size of battery charger you will need.


    As to using a DC/DC device as a solar regulator, I straggly recommend against this type of use because most DC/DC devices are very inefficient at solar regulation and actually use heaps of your limited solar power, just to keep their own electronics powered.


    You are far better off getting a good quality dedicated solar regulator and connecting it straight to the batteries.


    You can also disregard the Wialki power supply and just connect your battery charger to the same connections on your house battery, and you can connect your input from your alternator to the same connections.

    Note, this is just the basics, but it should give you something to work with while planning your upgrade.

  3. #3
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    Thanks Tim,
    Its just a small 4.5 m Coromal Pioneer poppy. 1 x 130AH battery, yes we have a Honda 2kva genset and currently an 80watt solar panel (that will be upgraded to a 200w at some time).
    My intention was to pull out the Wilaki altogether but just wanted some info from a source I trust like you.
    Leaning towards the Projecta as is a decent price and have been hearing good things.
    Dont think we will need additional batteries for our purpose as we had a 100AH and that more than sufficed.
    I dont ever run the 3 way fridge on 12v only ever run on lpg and 240v. Will be mainly lights, stereo, 12v tv (low use), laptop, phone chargers and water pump etc.
    I would think a 25A IC2500 would suffice, with other sources.
    Thanks for the info will do some calculations, much appreciated. My mind and decision are at peace.
    Cheers
    Craig
    2011 Discovery 4 TDV6
    2009 DRZ400E Suzuki
    1956 & 1961 P4 Rover (project)
    1976 SS Torana (project - all cash donations or parts accepted)
    2003 WK Holden Statesman
    Departed
    2000 Defender Extreme: Shrek (but only to son)
    84 RR (Gone) 97 Tdi Disco (Gone)
    98 Ducati 900SS Gone & Missed

    Facta Non Verba

  4. #4
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    Craig.
    Before you spend any coins,there are management systems that control the whole box and dice.ie,240V in,solar in,12v from vehicle in.Then 240v out via inverter plus your 12V needs.May be bigger than you need.
    Home - Victron Energy
    Andrew
    DISCOVERY IS TO BE DISOWNED
    Midlife Crisis.Im going to get stuck into mine early and ENJOY it.
    Snow White MY14 TDV6 D4
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