Solar without an inverter or controller?

[duckwonder]

Hi.  I am trying to identify my set-up on a used 2004 Pleasure-Way Excel TS Widebody, Ford Chassis.  It is frustrating.  

Here is what I do know:

There is a solar panel on the roof.  Can't tell you anything about it due to back issues.  There was no information about solar in the manuals and documents I received.

There is a house battery in a keyed compartment on the passenger side of the van.  Only one battery will fit.  PW made sure of that.

The one previous owner of the van is now deceased.  I would love to speak with him because he may have installed a nifty little workaround, maybe not.

It appears as though he added a second battery in the only other keyed compartment on the passenger side of the van.  That compartment is about 4 feet away.  He drilled a hole in the sidewall of the compartment and I can see a red and black wire leaving that battery through that hole, but that's as far as eyesight will take it.  There are no exposed battery looking wires in the van (except maybe on something called a transfer relay switch?)  

There are no digital displays in the van.  I have looked high and low for a solar controller and/or inverter.  There appears to be none.

Another person that I asked about this said he thinks I have a converter that lives behind the breaker box, not an inverter, and he saw no controller either.

The solar panel does charge the battery or I would not be able to get lights etc while unhooked to shore power and the genny off.

I have no access to the main house battery because of a jammed lock.  I had access for one moment and that was it.  At that time it read 13.5v

I do have access to the 2nd battery.  At the time I read the voltage, both batteries were at 13.5v leading me to believe the two batteries are connected.

Is there such a set-up as 2 lead batteries connected which lead to a converter and a solar panel?  No inverter.  No solar controller.

 

[jonthebru]

Hi.  I am trying to identify my set-up on a used 2004 Pleasure-Way Excel TS Widebody, Ford Chassis.  It is frustrating.  

Here is what I do know:

There is a solar panel on the roof.  Can't tell you anything about it due to back issues.  There was no information about solar in the manuals and documents I received.

There is a house battery in a keyed compartment on the passenger side of the van.  Only one battery will fit.  PW made sure of that.

The one previous owner of the van is now deceased.  I would love to speak with him because he may have installed a nifty little workaround, maybe not.

It appears as though he added a second battery in the only other keyed compartment on the passenger side of the van.  That compartment is about 4 feet away.  He drilled a hole in the sidewall of the compartment and I can see a red and black wire leaving that battery through that hole, but that's as far as eyesight will take it.  There are no exposed battery looking wires in the van (except maybe on something called a transfer relay switch?)  

There are no digital displays in the van.  I have looked high and low for a solar controller and/or inverter.  There appears to be none.

Another person that I asked about this said he thinks I have a converter that lives behind the breaker box, not an inverter, and he saw no controller either.

The solar panel does charge the battery or I would not be able to get lights etc while unhooked to shore power and the genny off.

I have no access to the main house battery because of a jammed lock.  I had access for one moment and that was it.  At that time it read 13.5v

I do have access to the 2nd battery.  At the time I read the voltage, both batteries were at 13.5v leading me to believe the two batteries are connected.

Is there such a set-up as 2 lead batteries connected which lead to a converter and a solar panel?  No inverter.  No solar controller.

There are rudimentary solar setups that don't use a visible controller, there are some that just use idiot lights too. Tracing the wires may be the easiest way to find the controller. And yes, there may not be one. Record all the wiring at the original battery and at the back of the electrical panel. My guess is the extra battery and the wiring from the panel will meet somewhere. That's a good project many on this forum would love to be doing.

 

[duckwonder]

There are rudimentary solar setups that don't use a visible controller, there are some that just use idiot lights too. Tracing the wires may be the easiest way to find the controller. And yes, there may not be one. Record all the wiring at the original battery and at the back of the electrical panel. My guess is the extra battery and the wiring from the panel will meet somewhere. That's a good project many on this forum would love to be doing.

Seems like I need a welder to help me with the jammed lock on the original battery so I can access that.  Seems like I need to trace those wires but I'm pretty sure they run behind the kitchen wall.  Not sure how to trace them in that case.  If anyone would like to do this project, pretty please let me know.  Otherwise I'm just winging it out there and the only way I can even get a reading is off the 2nd battery with a voltmeter.  But first a welder.  I don't know what I was thinking.  I may very well need to sell this van to someone who enjoys RV parks and does very occasional, very limited boondocking.

 

[jonthebru]

Seems like I need a welder to help me with the jammed lock on the original battery so I can access that.  Seems like I need to trace those wires but I'm pretty sure they run behind the kitchen wall.  Not sure how to trace them in that case.  If anyone would like to do this project, pretty please let me know.  Otherwise I'm just winging it out there and the only way I can even get a reading is off the 2nd battery with a voltmeter.  But first a welder.  I don't know what I was thinking.  I may very well need to sell this van to someone who enjoys RV parks and does very occasional, very limited boondocking.

If it was added after construction all you need to do is find its path. Use the color and type of cable to do the detective work. You'll figure it out. Get that battery box open, that will probably tell the story.

 

[duckwonder]

Well I spoke to the previous owner after all, neat when that happens between realms.  He said I'm ok on those house batteries for a little while and that the suggestions here are great ones for when the opportunity arises for me to improve the set-up.  He's got me until then.  He was so happy I got the van!  Saw me get the new starting battery.  And good tires.  He's glad I like his notes.  Aw, I'm not selling this van.  Just need to do my best.  Turns out it's enough.  

 

[Wabbit]

The one previous owner of the van is now deceased...

Well I spoke to the previous owner after all, neat when that happens between realms...

Wut wut WUT?!?
I felt my head spin from reading this lol, so that was kinda cool! What's the story on this? I would love to hear it, but if its personal, no worries.

 

[duckwonder]

Wut wut WUT?!?
I felt my head spin from reading this lol, so that was kinda cool! What's the story on this? I would love to hear it, but if its personal, no worries.

Sure Wabbit.  Look at H2O.  Liquid, solid, or gas, right?  I believe that a human's energy is like that in that it can change forms and still be essentially what it is.  I'm a bit of a Daddy's girl, so when my father passed away, it took me a long time to find some peace, but he's just in gas form now, so to speak.  I can't see him, but I can talk to him.  And if I listen, I can hear him too.  Then I learned it's like that for others too.  So I asked the previous owner about those batteries.  We don't always get an answer or get the answers we're looking for, but sometimes is Does happen that we can hear back.  We all have this ability.

 

[Wabbit]

Thnx DuckWonder, that's pretty awesome!

 

[duckwonder]

finding gold

mod edit,  a pic of polar bears hugging.

 

[Wabbit]

That put a smile on my face, thnx!

 

[badjingle]

DUCKIE - - did the previous owner tell you what was up with the solar? Maybe don't sell that van yet - maybe it's something that someone can easily fix!!!! It is hard i know - If the van is safe and can drive and is legal that is a huge amount of good things with the van. Did you spray some lock-ease on that jammed lock? maybe you can punch it out or see what a locksmith can do for you. I'm sorry you are having troubles. Maybe go see Bob's solar guy Arizona that way you are already there for RTR. There is also the november van building group and i am pretty darn sure they will help you!

 

[jimindenver]

Duckie, if you make it to the RTR you will not need to go looking for a solar guy, we are there. Look me up and we will get it sorted out.

 

[duckwonder]

DUCKIE - - did the previous owner tell you what was up with the solar?  Maybe don't sell that van yet - maybe it's something that someone can easily fix!!!! It is hard i know - If the van is safe and can drive and is legal that is a huge amount of good things with the van. Did you spray some lock-ease on that jammed lock? maybe you can punch it out or see what a locksmith can do for you. I'm sorry you are having troubles. Maybe go see Bob's solar guy Arizona that way you are already there for RTR. There is also the november van building group and i am pretty darn sure they will help you!

I've been working on repairs since June.   It is safe and can drive and is legal, and you are so right, that is awesome.  I need a fabricator for the jammed lock, and I have to get the generator repaired end of october which could prevent me from making it to Havasu.  Depends on how fast they are.  Not sure of Bob's solar guy, lol, heard him and a few forum members talking about Discount Solar but if I am remembering correctly Bob was saying great for parts, expensive for service, but I could be wrong about that so take with grain of salt.
I need to have enough power to be able to boondock at least a few days without moving in order to head west.  Once I have the generator as a backup, I will feel better, but it won't solve the problem of not being able to upgrade the solar, it's a little complicated, and a long thread and story.  Thank you for caring, doing what I can as I can.

 

[duckwonder]

Duckie, if you make it to the RTR you will not need to go looking for a solar guy, we are there. Look me up and we will get it sorted out.

Aww.  It would be hard not to take you up on that Jim.