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Quote: Originally posted by Jan P on 07/8/2009Yes and yes. We join ours through crocodile clips to the battery box the downside is we can not then lock the box shut. Not a problem when the awning is up. ( Maplin suitcase for us)

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Quote: Originally posted by Jan P on 07/8/2009

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Yes and yes. We join ours through crocodile clips to the battery box the downside is we can not then lock the box shut. Not a problem when the awning is up. ( Maplin suitcase for us)

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I have the maplin 13 watt suitcase one and it is permanatley wired in using the supplied regulator. I have also bought one of maplins small 1.5 watt units and leave that plugged in when the unit is in storage to keep the battery trickle charged using the very same wiring supplied with the 13 watt unit. And they both do the job although the suitcase one requires pointing at the sun to get it to work well. The other seems to work in all weather.

No TV, no hook up our Maplin Suitcase kept us at 12.5 Volts for 5 Days, even with torrential rain and hail (gotta love July in the UK).

Just make sure its South facing and don't park the car where it throws a shadow lol

Quote: Originally posted by Jan P on 07/8/2009

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What do you want it to do Jeepster? It trebles the amount of time our battery lasts but it does not make us self sufficient. ( I blame the TV)

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Greetings,

My 80w panel is connected via a pair of terminals that are permanently connected to the battery via an idiot proof connecter that in turn is connected to the solar panel via about 5mts of decent thickness orange coloured cable(so that it is visible)

At the solar panel end there is a short spur off the regulator to another idiot proof connector.

In other words I can't c*ck up the connections, the connectors can't come undone as can happen with crocs  and the solar panel is removable at any time.(Not by the scumbags, its shackled to the 'van).

I hope this answersm

I think the grey plug gives the option of charging the battery when the car engine is running but would normally isolate the 12 v supplies in the van. With the car engine not running the grey plug would supply the 12v circuits in the van but isolate them from the van battery. So no, I don't think you can connect via the grey plug if you want to use the 12 v circuits at the same time.

Can you not fit an extra socket inlet (not outlet) in the battery box and run the cable in via the mains lead entry. A socket inlet has bare pins like a plug. A plug outlet has matching shrouded holes. It would be a smaller version of your mains lead arrangement.

Quote: Originally posted by navver on 09/8/2009

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I think the grey plug gives the option of charging the battery when the car engine is running but would normally isolate the 12 v supplies in the van. With the car engine not running the grey plug would supply the 12v circuits in the van but isolate them from the van battery. So no, I don't think you can connect via the grey plug if you want to use the 12 v circuits at the same time.

Can you not fit an extra socket inlet (not outlet) in the battery box and run the cable in via the mains lead entry. A socket inlet has bare pins like a plug. A plug outlet has matching shrouded holes. It would be a smaller version of your mains lead arrangement.

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