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Solar panel activated by my garage LEDs?

Explorers2Explorers2 Member Posts: 35
in Battery/Electrical & Solar
Hello everyone! I’ve been asking a lot of questions lately and I very much appreciate your collective responses. My name is John. Last fall on a trip I found I did not have any battery power, so I’m getting ready for a trip this summer and I’m trying to sort everything out so I don’t have that issue again, doing some upgrades, etc…

I’m just going over the camper, testing everything out, and here’s a thing I didn’t expect - when I pulled my 320 into my garage, I found that the solar panel is still putting out about 6.13v. I assume this means my garage LEDs are activating the panel, and though not a lot, I’m getting steady voltage. With garage lights off it drops to zero. Can someone confirm this is as expected? 

I have two sets of wires connected to the battery. One is coming from the solar panel and the other is connected to the 120v converter, is that correct? 

When the camper is connected to house current, the 120v converter is putting out 13.83v. I assume that sounds about right? 

So the battery is not in use when connected to house current - it’s just getting charged, correct? And when not connected to house current, the battery is supplying the energy to run stuff, and the solar panel is charging the battery, correct? 

Thank you for helping me understand this. A wiring diagram would help here but I don’t see that anywhere in the supplied literature. 

John 
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Comments

  • elbolilloelbolillo Member Posts: 511
    @Explorers2 yes, the LED lights will power provide power through the solar panels. And yes, wires should be running to your batteries from the solar charger and from your converter.

    Year of your 320 would help. Also, how are your measuring the voltage?
    _____________________________________________________
    Ken / 2023 Tab 400 “La Bolita” (29,000+ miles) / 2024 Toyota Sequoia
    2025 - 1 Trip - 25 nights - 2 National Parks
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  • Sharon_is_SAMSharon_is_SAM Administrator Posts: 9,929
    “When the camper is connected to house current, the 120v converter is putting out 13.83v. I assume that sounds about right?”  Yes, on shorepower, the converter converts AC to DC power and outputs a range of 13.6-13.8 V.  

    “So the battery is not in use when connected to house current - it’s just getting charged, correct? And when not connected to house current, the battery is supplying the energy to run stuff, and the solar panel is charging the battery, correct?”  On shorepower with the battery switch turned on, the battery is getting charged And providing power to 12 V appliances.  The air con, 120 V outlets, and the Alde electric heating elements run off of 120 V separate from the converter.  If the battery switch is off, the converter powers the 12V appliances.  With adequate sun, the solar panel charges the battery regardless of the battery switch position.  
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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  • Explorers2Explorers2 Member Posts: 35
    Thx, great to understand how this all works. The 320 is a 2018 and I’m measuring voltage at the battery end of the wires w a handheld meter. 
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  • Sharon_is_SAMSharon_is_SAM Administrator Posts: 9,929
    Good to know how to use a multimeter.  A battery monitor is better as voltage is not a good measure of battery SOC.  
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
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