Investing in solar, I want to make sure I have my information worked out.

Basement Yeti

Basement Yeti

Explorer
So after killing one 3 year old Optima red top by not running my van enough and at first using it for house power I am wising up and making an investment in solar.

The facts are I have a blue top Marine deep cycle/starter Optima battery as my house battery wired to a dying red top started battery under my hood through a solenoid isolator.

The red top Optima will not hold it's charge for more than 24 hours and is losing more voltage every day, but I assume the Marine starter is doing ok as it has only been killed once, and hey, it's a deep cycle, it can take a bit more abuse than a starter. But hey, I don't want to damage that battery as I just paid 165 bucks for it.

So I know I will be hard mounting a solar panel to the roof of my van, enough to trickle charge the van battery for a couple days while my van is sitting (I usually stay somewhere for 2 or 4 days, then drive an hour or two and find a new camp) and to charge the house battery while in camp.

I am in Southern California, and my roam range is Arizona, New Mexico, West Texas, and Utah. So I do get decent sunlight pretty much all the time.

For my new van battery I've decided to put a blue top under the hood.

For my solar setup I've decided to go with this dual battery charging solar charge controller recommended by DWH.
http://www.solar-electric.com/modubachco25.html

And for the solar panel I've decided to go with this kit on AM solar (since AM pops up so much on here).
http://www.amsolar.com/home/amr/page_108/om100n_kit.html

I don't think I've missed anything, the price looks reasonable for what it is.

Opinions and suggestions?
 
Basement Yeti

Basement Yeti

Explorer
Yep, I read that thread. I don't have the space on the roof of my van, nor do I need an inverter, I also need a charge controller than can charge two batteries, and want a PWM controller.

I did miss the bit about those cheaper panels, however. Cool.

I'm going to go with the Solar Synergy panel recommended i think. Even if I got two it'd only be $320.00, plus wiring and mounts I'd be looking at a bit over 400, plus I get 20 extra watts. I also found the Morningstar SSD-25 for 60 bucks cheaper. Nice.
 
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Basement Yeti

Basement Yeti

Explorer
Ok, did a bit more research and I went with an Optima Yellow top D34/78 for under my hood. Good thing I did more research because the one I had chosen didn't have the GM side posts. Talked to a fella at 1st Optima too who reassured me.

$225.00 hurts but at least it can take a bit more abuse than a pure starter. I hope it won't get too run down in the few weeks it'll take me to get solar worked out.

Next month I'm going to get my panel, controller, cabling, and mounts and find somewhere to install them.

That red top I talked about in the other threads is just fried. It barely started today.
 
dwh

dwh

Tail-End Charlie
The blue top is a starting battery, the yellow top is a deep cycle. I think you've got them backwards.

You should use the yellow for your aux battery. Rig a split-charge relay to charge them both when the engine is running, and use the Duo to charge them both off the solar.

Run your aux loads to the aux battery so even if you run it down, you'll still be able to start the truck.
 
Basement Yeti

Basement Yeti

Explorer
The yellow top is a deep cycle starter, just like the blue top. The only difference are the extra posts on the blue top. The yellow top has the GM side posts like I need, just like the red tops.

I called Optima.:ylsmoke: Thanks though.

How does my setup look?
 
Basement Yeti

Basement Yeti

Explorer
My new Optima battery is doing well. It was completely charged yesterday and today after 24 hours I went to check on it and it was still reading roughly 13.5V on my gauge.

I am going to purchase my solar panel, cables, mounts, and charge controller in a few days.
 
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