Another great video. I have had my LWB sprinter for almost 12 months converting in my spare time. Great idea to keep the battery topped up. I just had to pop out to have a look at my van though. In the 12 months I have been working on it I never noticed there was a 12 volt accessory socket there!
Nice presentation. As an update, you can now get the solar panel with a OBD plug fitted that plugs straight into the vans port, and has a permanent live built in
I run 2 starter batteries and 3 for the back. 305 AH all up for the back. I had one of those relays snd ran my batteries down do far after about a year. Cost me 115 buck. So now I have a $20 switch Much more reliable.
Mel’s Van World Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be fancy. I have a Hiace commuter. I’ve been having this idea of blocking off the rear side windows off internally with a couple of solar panels that I can remove if I want to let a bit more airflow in. Just to catch any extra rays in the afternoon. I’m also going to be building a truck as well for full time living but I can fit plenty of solar on the roof.
Mel quick question you can answer it in video form at a later stage. How does the power go back down the cable to the battery? As you demonstrated it comes from the battery to the pump but how does it go the other way. Many thanks and stay safe 👍
Hi Mel, I did the exact oposite. My cigaret liter was permenantly live and I wanted a switched ignition live for my Dash cam after leaving it plugged in and flattening my starter battery. Love your little how to videos and have used some of them to help in my Race Van. Keep up the good work.
Already got one.... & it's kept the start battery on my Iveco Daily alive for for the last couple of years when my van is parked up, even in the depths of winter... it's a 40w solar panel, bought from Aldi & is specifically designed for the job... the cable, which has crocodile clips, goes through a hole the bulkhead to the start battery, which is in the engine bay. The kit also came with a cigarette lighter plug, but, like your van, the socket is only live when the ignition is on. Please note... it is only designed to maintain a battery that is already fully charged & is unlikely to charge up a battery that is flat. I've also taken the battery negative lead off the battery terminal... You could always have tested your handywork by putting your tongue across the terminals Mel... it would have made your eyes light up... its only 12v!
Hi Mel. I might be wrong but I was under the impression that split charger you showed never lets power get drawn from the vehicle battery it’s designed to only push power one way. To the leisure battery to get a charge, When the vehicle is switched off the split charger stoped the current from the vehicle battery.
Good video Mel ,but with out a solar charge controller in line ,that solar panel will over-charge your van battery ,if left on for a long period ,and that can damage your battery ,due to overcharging ,keep safe mate .
That is a good idea! My dashboard 12 volt plug supplies power already when the key isn't in the ignition...so I just need to sell a bag or a hat and I can buy a solar panel lol.
Can you route the solar panel wire directly onto the battery (or to the jump start terminals in the engine compartment). Of course you must disconnect it when using the van.
Most modern cars in Canada have a 2 position fuse for the cigarette lighter or 12v outlet just have to move the fuse from switch side to constant side. I would thing Europe is not any different considering I have seen it in jettas too
That’s a great and amazing idea mel 😊💪👍 I would never of thought about that :) I’ve just noticed yours is auto :) so lucky I struggle to find a auto and had to settle with a manual :( ever time I see your beautiful sprinter, such a lovely and beautiful craftsman ship you have made with her :) ♥️
hey Mel, those sockets usually have a 15-20 A fuse on them. (Pending wire gauge used) Why dont you check the original factory fuse rating. Compare original wire gauge with the one u install... if you wanna play safe, reduce fuse value by 5A. I dont know in mm but 14AWG wire is usually 15A, 16AWG is 13A, 12AWG is for 20A.... 18AWG.10A (Stranded wire).u have to convert AWG to mm for EU spec. Canada follows the US when it comes to wire gauge measurement standards....
ive bought a van and had a relay like you held and wondered shy my engine battery is running flat, i think you just explained it, but mine blew my midi fuse and destroyed my relay.. o i think i have the andswer. i bought a relay that you can manually over ride and switch it off i believe. so im just trying that now and hopefully no drain from my 80ah starter battery for the transit, fingers crossed.
My battery went flat on the drive last week. I had not removed the battery cover since I bought the van 6 months ago. It had four torque screws and they were all seized. had to drill them out and didn't replace them, so the lid just sits under the foam floor mat. If this had happened in a remote location, I would be screwed, couldn't get a jump start if you can't access the battery compartment. I fully charged it overnight, but your solar panel tip is ace, going to purchase one of those. Didn't know you could do that, I always thought that the 12 volt socket was only an output voltage.
Oh mate you can jump your sprinter from under the bonnet there’s a jump lead next the the air filter you have to turn the cap and push it in just so you know if it happens again but you’re absolutely rite it’s better you find things like this out on your drive than in the middle of nowhere I put a link in the description to a small panel designed for keeping your battery topped up hope this helps 😊👍
#ForkintheroadBex - Aww it would be so easy if the cigarette lighter was already live. I'm gonna see if I can do this. It would be amazing having that working x
Hi Mel, been watching your videos for ages. I'm on my second van now, I finished my transit mwb last year and have toured Scotland in the winter just before lockdown. This was an interesting video about battery charging. I have the same intelligent smart relay as the one shown, and my solar panel charges my two leisure batteries and starter battery. But my starter battery does not drain, the relay only allows the current to run one way,
I found solar panel with an OBD11 plug. so I didnt need to alter the 12v socket, just plug it into the diagnostics plug, and ive never had a flat battery since.
Feeeelingkts woow woow feeelingkts 😂🤣😂.. very good yes .. i have the same setup in me coaster bus.. but im gunna stick it in landrover .. jolly good carryon pip pips 😁
Maybe it's a Mercedes thing, Mel..? I have the Crafter, which is basically the same van and the drinks holder 12v socket is ignition only, whilst the accessory one you altered, is already a permanent 12v. 🤔 I bought my small panel last week and it just sits in there, as I've had battery issues with being sat on the drive, too.. Nice video, btw.. 👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld Don't know why they would change this Mel but my 2007 LWB Sprinter power socket is a permanent live. Perhaps they thought that people were flattening there batteries this way? I modified a cheap Lidl 3 stage charger with a ciggy plug and it worked perfect, as you know it's a pain in the arse to get to the van battery. Good vid mate 👍
No need to fit another solar panel. If you got a a B2B some of them will automatically keep the van battery topped up when the solar is over 14v. If not with a VSR or B2B its easy to move the positives over together so both batteries are connected. In the summer there is always plenty of solar power and both batteries will be kept FULL. Split chargers and VSR's only really have to do any work in the winter thats when you need to split the systems. My B2B has been hard linked during the lock down and its kept at 13.6V no problems while im still working in my van everyday on the drive. Now the winter is a different story, either drive often with split charge operational or plug the van in to the mains charger.
Hi Mel just found mine has a permanent 12v charger where you made yours for your dash solar panel. So if I plug my solar in there should be ok with out doing extra wires? 😊
thank you for letting me know it shuld be on my home screen off to the rite try this link please let me know if it works or not thanks again Mel ru-vid.com/show-UC72V8FXcD4SIxZx7_P6Ak9gjoin
Hi Mel, just nearly finished my transit day van, I’ve a 150watt solar panel and a split charger running between batteries.Everything works and is running fine and charging etc. I’ve noticed the split charger gets warm to touch with everything running does yours ? is this normal. Thanks for all your vids you’ve basically built my van with me only taken 12weeks lol keep up the good work
Hi if it’s a VSR then yes it’s going to get hot because the solar is making it come on all the time even when the engine isn’t running have a look you will see the read light on to show it’s on during the day you can stop this buy switching the small negative wire so you can switch it of during the day just remember to switch it back on if you want your alternator to charge your Lesisure battery hope this helps 👍🤓👍
Hi Mel, does your Van have an Accessory socket on the left side of the drivers seat base by the handbrake? I can’t remember if that one has a permanent feed, but also under the drivers seat is a power stud (B+,ign and Acc) that is easy to bolt onto.
Good thinking that matey I bought a small solar panel a while back I thought was obsolete now is a useful piece of kit? Keep smiling, keep safe, stay in you've been told? 😂🇬🇧 BIGMICK FROM HULL
I don’t think so but I have need asked about this before so I’ll put a meter on the battery to see what’s going on I’ll let you know I may even make a video about this 👍🍻
G Day my clamp was missing when I changed the battery so I have some wood wedges down the side I really should have a go at getting the proper clamps well spotted 👍😂👍
I was looking at your tongue and grove and priced some for my lwb van cheapest price I could find was 180 pound didn't realise how much it costs to cover a 12ftx5ft ceiling
Thank you it’s only 3.2 watts 18.8 max remember it’s just for keeping battery in good condition when parked up over long period not for sure if it would charge a flat battery 👍
@@BigVanSmallWorld Thanks for the reply Mel. I too have a 40 amp B2B. Currently use a jumper cable if I want to top up starter battery. Your small panel is much more elegant. Thankyou.
Doesn't the VSR only sense the starter battery and not the Aux? so it will only connect the starter to the Aux when the engine is running? never seen one that works in reverse what one do you use to do that mate? Aside from that i have a dash top solar pannel in all my cars, especialy the newer ones with all the moduals that run in the background ! The camper will have similar to you with a combined MPPT and BtoB charger but mine will top up the starter battery once the aux battery is full automaticly, (renogy dcc 50S )
@@BigVanSmallWorld I added a marine style switch to mine but still get a flat main battery so I assume there is a "leak" somewhere. I am going to swap out the VSR for a B2B at some point. Great video Sparky Mel!
In your recent videos there have been 2 occasions when you have been working with items that are labelled “12v”. First was the TV where the magic smoke was released, second was the solar panel modification to your 12v socket in the van cab where no smoke was emitted. To know if that’s just 50:50 luck on your part, you need to play with something else that’s visibly labelled “12v” so we can see if it survives. I have confidence in your abilities, so please don’t let me down - but what ever happens I’m sure it will be entertaining. 🤓
sorry for being a bit thick here but can you not just attach the panel straight to the battery, and do you need to have the fuse, keep posting mel all the best mik
A bit crude i know, but , because of flat battery problems over time, i have simply set up a 4.99 'isolator' on the negative terminal, and unscrew it every night.!
It’s quite normal some models are on all the time some aren’t I know most VW are on all the time my panel is made by VW to keep there battery’s topped up 👍😊👍
It wont on a very small panel like 5w or 10w. People been doing this the world over including boats for decades. Its just a tiny trickle charge. Anything bigger than yes you need a charge controller else you will cook your starter battery. Most vehicles today have quite a high background current for Alarms and ECU etc so after 2 or 3 weeks of standing the battery goes flat as millions have found out during the lockdowns.
Just fit a manual relay and then if engine battery is low you switch it on and your liesure batterys and solar charge the engine battery or you can just start straight off the liesure batterys if its emergency and then your engine charges the liesure battery back up. I don't like them auto relays just gives you no control
