Steve and Karen
Ranger
Our TV is a 2017 Outback with (undoubtedly) a "Smart" alternator which should provide slightly less than full a trailer battery charge. I can't confirm this as we occasionally do seem to be able to get the trailer battery back up to 12.8V after a very long drive.
With the objective of attaining with certainty a full trailer battery charge between sites, I am considering connecting the 100W solar panel which is mounted on top to charge while we on the road. Essentially hard-wiring it. Typically, I have only connected the panel and used it while stationary and while disconnected from both shore power and the TV. The success of this solar strategy to this point has been very much hit and miss, given the time of day I'm connecting it, weather and site selection.
Unlike the CI solar install which is hardwired through the CTEK (I presume), and which can sort out multiple charging sources and chooses (and/or optimally boosts the voltage of) the best, my battery would be receiving charging from two sources with different set points for cut-in, cut-out, bulk, absorption, float etc... with no referee to prioritize or optimize the multiple inputs.
Does anyone have any experience in how these may play well together, or not at all? Would the system automatically default to the charger with higher voltage set points while the other charging source "goes to sleep"?
This is the best source of information that I could come up with: RV / Marine Battery Charging - Solar & Shore Power Combined! but it doesn't speak specifically as to how a solar charge controller with a 13.2V cut-in and a 14.2V cut-out will perform with the Outback's alternator, the specs and behaviour of which I am severely ignorant. All I know is that I'm probably not going to blow anything up or double-cook a battery by having multiple charging sources. Marine set-ups occasionally have all three sources (shore, alternator and solar) connected and operating at the same time with no ill consequences.
Any insight, particularly with the performance and idiosyncrasies of the Outback alternator, and how it may perform with a quality solar charger, would be welcome. Thanks.
With the objective of attaining with certainty a full trailer battery charge between sites, I am considering connecting the 100W solar panel which is mounted on top to charge while we on the road. Essentially hard-wiring it. Typically, I have only connected the panel and used it while stationary and while disconnected from both shore power and the TV. The success of this solar strategy to this point has been very much hit and miss, given the time of day I'm connecting it, weather and site selection.
Unlike the CI solar install which is hardwired through the CTEK (I presume), and which can sort out multiple charging sources and chooses (and/or optimally boosts the voltage of) the best, my battery would be receiving charging from two sources with different set points for cut-in, cut-out, bulk, absorption, float etc... with no referee to prioritize or optimize the multiple inputs.
Does anyone have any experience in how these may play well together, or not at all? Would the system automatically default to the charger with higher voltage set points while the other charging source "goes to sleep"?
This is the best source of information that I could come up with: RV / Marine Battery Charging - Solar & Shore Power Combined! but it doesn't speak specifically as to how a solar charge controller with a 13.2V cut-in and a 14.2V cut-out will perform with the Outback's alternator, the specs and behaviour of which I am severely ignorant. All I know is that I'm probably not going to blow anything up or double-cook a battery by having multiple charging sources. Marine set-ups occasionally have all three sources (shore, alternator and solar) connected and operating at the same time with no ill consequences.
Any insight, particularly with the performance and idiosyncrasies of the Outback alternator, and how it may perform with a quality solar charger, would be welcome. Thanks.
