@Boots in Action - forgive my ignorance here. I have the "standard" Setec controller (whatever that was on a 2016 Expanda) and upgraded to the Drifta panel. It shows load (in Amps) and either charging or discharging (am I producing or consuming power from/to the battery). That parts seems to work OK.
I replaced the standard PWM controller supplied by Jayco with a Victron 100/30 SmartController (Love it - batteries now charge to 14.something volts as per whats written on the side of the battery). As it was a straight swap out the Victron only has Solar and Battery connected - no load.
Is it possible to monitor the load on both the Drifta AND the Victron? Are there any negative issues with doing this?
Oh - I also have a portable solar Blanket (Kings cheapie - but it seems to work OK). I was producing around 8A @ 14V on the weekend using an inline meter. Currently I would be hooking this blanket (and the supplied cheapie PWM controller) via the Anderson that I normally connect to my car if it was an overcast day. I am guessing the fixed Panel/Victron and portable/PWM would be fighting each other a little (detecting an artifically high voltage and thus limiting the amount of energy put into the battery at any time). Is there a better way of wiring the portable blanket directly when needed to the Victron (and removing the PWM controller)? Don't want to over complicate it, but also keen to generate all the power we can when needed as we will be on the road for 6 months.
I replaced the standard PWM controller supplied by Jayco with a Victron 100/30 SmartController (Love it - batteries now charge to 14.something volts as per whats written on the side of the battery). As it was a straight swap out the Victron only has Solar and Battery connected - no load.
Is it possible to monitor the load on both the Drifta AND the Victron? Are there any negative issues with doing this?
Oh - I also have a portable solar Blanket (Kings cheapie - but it seems to work OK). I was producing around 8A @ 14V on the weekend using an inline meter. Currently I would be hooking this blanket (and the supplied cheapie PWM controller) via the Anderson that I normally connect to my car if it was an overcast day. I am guessing the fixed Panel/Victron and portable/PWM would be fighting each other a little (detecting an artifically high voltage and thus limiting the amount of energy put into the battery at any time). Is there a better way of wiring the portable blanket directly when needed to the Victron (and removing the PWM controller)? Don't want to over complicate it, but also keen to generate all the power we can when needed as we will be on the road for 6 months.