Need a bit of advice really, i know a little about electrical systems, but not loads, and i want to know more, more specifically about MY electrics!
So i have a dual battery set up in the t3, under the seats. There is an old crossover type switch to flick between the batteries, as far as i can see, earths from both batteries go through this switch before heading to the bodywork. So by having it switched to 1, only the battery under the drivers seat works, 2, both, or neither - which cuts the power to the entire vehicle,
as far as i can see this is the set up :
So when the system is off, there is no power to the vehicle. Except...... the sleeping area lights and the fridge, both 12v, wired via a fuse directly to battery 2. This means that they are always live, no matter the switch. This is also linked directly to the solar controller, with a 120w panel fixed to the roof. The idea being, the solar keeps battery 2 topped up, running the lights and fridge, however if we are stopped for a few days, and the sun isnt up to it, if battery 2 died, we can still start the vehicle on battery 1.
What i want to know is, if the switch is set to both when driving, will that charge both batteries? How does it split the charge?
If i leave the switch to both when parked up, will charge from the solar (into battery 2) top up battery 1 at all?
And, in your opinion, how long does it take to charge a flat battery to full, using the alternator? (for further info - the alternator is probably the same age as the van 35, and we would be sitting at 100kph)
Any help would be appreciated,
So i have a dual battery set up in the t3, under the seats. There is an old crossover type switch to flick between the batteries, as far as i can see, earths from both batteries go through this switch before heading to the bodywork. So by having it switched to 1, only the battery under the drivers seat works, 2, both, or neither - which cuts the power to the entire vehicle,
as far as i can see this is the set up :
So when the system is off, there is no power to the vehicle. Except...... the sleeping area lights and the fridge, both 12v, wired via a fuse directly to battery 2. This means that they are always live, no matter the switch. This is also linked directly to the solar controller, with a 120w panel fixed to the roof. The idea being, the solar keeps battery 2 topped up, running the lights and fridge, however if we are stopped for a few days, and the sun isnt up to it, if battery 2 died, we can still start the vehicle on battery 1.
What i want to know is, if the switch is set to both when driving, will that charge both batteries? How does it split the charge?
If i leave the switch to both when parked up, will charge from the solar (into battery 2) top up battery 1 at all?
And, in your opinion, how long does it take to charge a flat battery to full, using the alternator? (for further info - the alternator is probably the same age as the van 35, and we would be sitting at 100kph)
Any help would be appreciated,
