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Old 05-14-2016, 09:22 AM   #1
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Solar/Shore power interaction?

I'm wondering what the interaction is between the solar controller and the charger built into the converter is when the trailer is plugged into shore power? Is there something in the solar controller that senses the charge from the converter and shuts down or vice versa? It would seem that if both were operating simultaneously that too much current/voltage would be applied to the batteries.
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Old 05-14-2016, 09:38 AM   #2
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To my understanding it's the voltage level. When the converter is charging the voltage is something like 13.7 volts, which is enough to cause the solar controller to not output.

My controller charges at up to 15.3v, I've never seen above the 13.7+/-, when charging via the converters charger.

Let's see what others say.
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Old 05-14-2016, 09:39 AM   #3
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Thanks Bob. That makes sense.
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Old 05-14-2016, 04:06 PM   #4
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I agree with Bob. Neither of the charging devices have any way to know what is connected to the battery or what those connected devices are doing. They should measure the net current through the battery to properly manage the battery charge, but they don't, so they have no idea whether or not it is being charged. Both of them just act based on the voltage they see: low voltage means they need to charge at a set rate of current flow, higher voltage means they need to limit that voltage according to some rule, and high enough voltage means shut down because the battery is charged.

Because the two chargers are set to different charging profiles, one will typically keep the other from operating as intended.

To make everything work just a little worse, both chargers base their control on the voltage they see at their own outputs, which is different from battery voltage by an amount dependent on wire resistance and current flow from that charger, so neither one is doing exactly what it is intended to do.

This isn't unique to Escape at all - it is the normal reality of common solar charge controller and common RV converter/chargers.
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Old 05-14-2016, 04:24 PM   #5
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I would agree with Bob, my measurements are the same. The recommendation then would be to unplug from shore power when wanting a full charge. Why?

Since the WFCO will only charge your batteries at 13.7 volts it will take days to get a full charge, if at all. For the dual Interstate 6 volts a full charge is 15.3 for two hours. Something few achieve because there are a very limited number of chargers able to charge at those rates.

The Gopower solar controller that Escape used to use did a much better 14.4 volt charge, if and only when you are disconnected from shore power. I am not familiar with the Samlex now being used to know its voltage.

So, given a choice, disconnect from shore power to get the best charge. If you only have the WFCO to charge, so be it, you just leave home without a full battery. Not an issue unless you are boon docking.
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Old 05-14-2016, 06:13 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fudge_brownie View Post
So, given a choice, disconnect from shore power to get the best charge. If you only have the WFCO to charge, so be it, you just leave home without a full battery. Not an issue unless you are boon docking.
Thanks Brian and Paul,

Paul, since at home I will be using the BatteryMinder and the trailer will be indoors in its shed, I should still be leaving home fully charged. One of these days also, I need to measure and see what voltage I get from the Highlander when connected. With the Tacoma, we always seemed to get back to full if our drives were a few hours or so,
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