Hi all
The Eriba Triton we have just purchased has a solar regulator wired in between the 13 pin car to van connector and the leisure battery. It appears to me that some sort of connector has in the past been used to connect a portable possibly briefcase type solar panel into the vans 13 pin connector to charge the battery.
Is anyone familiar with this or have a similar set up ? This would allow me to install a couple of 12 v sockets to run a small TV for example and more importantly for us avoid the need to be on EHU.
We go to a number of music festivals through the Summer and also like the Temporary holiday sites that the Cand C Club run where EHU just isn't an option.
I would be interested to know if anyone is set up in a similar way.

Thanks, Jez

Hi Jez,

When you say that it is connected to the 13 pin connector do you mean directly to the plug or to the +12v connector from the plug in the van? Whichever way there could be a conflict with the habitation relay which only connects the charging pin (9) to the battery when the car engine in running so it won’t charge the battery via your solar controller. The best way, in my opinion!, is to disconnect your controller from the 13pin Plug connection wherever it is and connect it directly to the ‘van battery + . I would also connect the solar controller - or ground direct to the battery as well, then yes, depending on the size of your battery, solar panel and whether the sun shines you should be able to run a small tv and lights for several hours.

Chris

Hi Chris
Since posting I have had a chat with Tony Lloyd the chap I am buying off. He has confirmed that the system already set up in my van receives charge from a solar panel into the 13 pin jaeger connector which then goes to the solar charge regulator before dumping the charge into the leisure battery.
I am no expert but was slightly surprised that this was possible.
I will ask him exactly how it's achieved when I pick the van up next Saturday and will then post on this thread. I would welcome your thoughts when you've read it!!
What gives me some confidence is that this is an existing set up that I assume worked for the last owner.

Just to add he is setting this up for me complete with solar panel and connector to the 13 pin socket before Saturday so I will know if it works or not!!

Sorry double post

Hi Jez,

If it works don’t fix it is always a good maxim! However, if you look at a caravan 13 pin wiring and the corresponding caravan interior 12v wiring diagram you’ll se what I mean:

https://caravanchronicles.files.wordpres...ring-13-pin.jpg


Chris

Looking at your wiring diagram it could be that pins 9 and 13 are wired to the solar plus and minus via a 13 pin socket however I don't know how it overcomes the habitation relay switch unless it senses the charge and closes the switch completing the circuit as if the car was charging it. Anyhow I will find out on Saturday and let you know.

As promised an explanation regards the connection of solar to leisure battery.
What I wasn't aware of is a male 13 pin socket mounted on the A frame under the front window. This is wired back to the solar regulator using pins 9 and 13 only. The solar panels + and - wires are connected into pins 9 and 13 of a female 13 pin socket. It is simply a question of connecting the female onto the aforementioned male when using solar.
I guess that any suitable method of connecting the two solar panel wires in an accessible location to the two feed wires going into the solar regulator would work but in this instance whoever installed it has used 13 pin connectors.
What I need to do now is install a battery monitor to the leisure such as the NASA one so I can see the state of charge at a glance and a couple of 12v sockets one of which will be for a 9" TV.

Jez