Solar Charging

[vh2q]

Does anyone know for sure whether charging the 12V battery in situ can also charge the main battery once the 12V is fully charged? Or does the DC converter allow one way charging only? Perhaps this is why the manual states that the 12V battery should be removed for charging? If so, it would be a lot easier to achieve solar charging as you don't need a huge array of solar panels to charge the 12V battery. To charge the main battery you need at least 1000W of solar to power a 110V outlet at 8 amps and that takes a large solar array. If you can charge thru the 12V circuit, if you are very patient, you could perhaps get away with 250W of solar.

 

[Don]

The DC to DC converter is one way only - About 330 volts down to 14

'Very patient' indeed - Recharging with 250 watts would take about 3 full days

Don

 

[vh2q]

can this diode/whatever be disabled and at what risk?

 

[PV1]

Nope. The DC-DC converter, inherent with the design, will only allow power to flow one way. The HVDC flows through a switching circuit, a transformer, then a bridge rectifier. Plus, 250 watts wouldn't overcome the losses and consumption of the systems required to engage the converter.

If you could get switching circuits on both sides of the transformer and have them 180 degrees out of phase, then it would be possible to have a bi-directional converter.