Wiring For Car and Van

jandl

Well-Known Member
Mar 18, 2014
142
379
63
Perth
Hello Gurus

I have some electrical questions that I was hoping I could get some assistance with.

I have researched a lot of the different threads here about wiring the van and car. There is a lot of information here so I have drawn a diagram of what I have installed into my car and what I want to do to the van. I have finished the car side and have installed a battery and the solar is pre-wired in the van. Attached is a drawing which is almost a carbon copy of Rohan's diagram/setup (thank you, I plagiarised your work because it looks an ideal set up for me) which I am using to do the installation. I will purchase a solar panel (possibly 100W - 150W)and a fold up panel (100W) to make the most of the charging scenarios, ie van parked in the shade and fold up chasing the sun etc. I have bought the D250S and will connect the two different solar panels to it. From what I can gather from the forum I possibly do not need regulators on the panels as the MPPT function on the D250S will handle this, unsure about it. I also do not know the best way to reduce the solar panel voltage to under 22V for the D250S as per the Ctek instructions. Let me know if you can see any issues, a better way of doing things or if any further information is required. I would rather get it correct the first time as basically I am lazy and don't want to revisit the install.

I was an Avionics Tech in the RAAF in a previous life and now a power station sparky/operator so I can understand the discussions on the forum but I have limited experience with 12V stuff and have never owned a van until I gave a home to a lonely 2013 16.49.1 so any help is appreciated.

Sad the only trip the van has had is the drive home from the dealer and then across the road, had to move it out of the driveway so a garage door could be installed. Did sleep in it the first night on the driveway though :) I wonder how many people have done that.
 

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jvp

Active Member
Apr 9, 2013
106
40
28
69
Yorke Peninsula Copper coast SA
Hi jandl
I would fit individual fuse protection rated for each circuit instead the 50a circuit breaker. For instance if the thin breakaway battery wiring on the van went to ground it would more likely fry the wire instead of tripping the breaker. Also the 10a fuse for the brake control is best using a 20a automatic reset circuit breaker. I would use grey 50a Anderson plugs for charging the van off the tug & red Anderson plugs for the folding solar panel so you can't plug it into the tug. Assuming your going to use unregulated panels which would cook your tug battery.
Good luck with it
john
 

jandl

Well-Known Member
Mar 18, 2014
142
379
63
Perth
Hello John

I agree with your thoughts, especially the break away battery supply wire. I will separate the three circuits feeding from the 5oA breaker when I get home. I have a 20A automatic reset breaker to the brake controller, crappy drawing I did makes it difficult to read and the red Anderson plugs are on order from Ebay.

Thanks for your reply.
Cheers Larry