InTents.Adventures
Member
- Thread starter
- #1
Hello everyone! I am looking for a little help from someone who is hopefully more knowledgable than I am on electronics and wiring.
I have a 2019 Jeep JL Rubicon with a hardshell rooftop tent. On top of the tent is a Merlin Solar panel that has wiring running down into the back of the Jeep. Inside I have a Dometic PLB-40 battery that plugs into the panel and then runs my Dometic CFX-35 fridge.
Issue: The PLB-40 is somewhat finicky, and if the solar panel isn't in direct bright sunlight, it complains with a continuous audible beeping and error to indicate it cannot charge. IE: the input power isn't sufficient to charge. This means anytime I'm in shade, even if it's for a few moments driving down the road, the battery starts to error and beep. Driving back into sunlight does not reset the battery -- I have to unplug the solar input and plug it back in to reset the error.
Obviously this isn't very convenient as it means I can only charge the battery in direct high sunlight, and if a cloud or rainstorm comes up while I'm driving, I have to pull over and unplug the solar panel or be annoyed with constant beeping.
I'd like to install one of two solutions:
- #1) A device that only sends power to the battery when the watts / amps >= a set value. IE: it cuts off charge to the battery when the panel output drops, thereby preventing the error. OR:
- #2) Using one of the Aux switches in the Jeep, wire up some sort of switch that "turns the solar panel on /off". Effectively a switch that I can press when I'm in sunlight to charge, but I can press to quickly disable charging if the input power drops.
Option #2 would be my preference, especially if I can wire it to the factory Aux switches in the Jeep. Anyone know if something like this is possible? What sort of part am I looking for do this? When I google for cutoff switches I tend to get results designed for more residential applications that are too large. I'm guessing there's a name for the type of device I need, but I don't know what it is. Any help is much appreciated!
I have a 2019 Jeep JL Rubicon with a hardshell rooftop tent. On top of the tent is a Merlin Solar panel that has wiring running down into the back of the Jeep. Inside I have a Dometic PLB-40 battery that plugs into the panel and then runs my Dometic CFX-35 fridge.
Issue: The PLB-40 is somewhat finicky, and if the solar panel isn't in direct bright sunlight, it complains with a continuous audible beeping and error to indicate it cannot charge. IE: the input power isn't sufficient to charge. This means anytime I'm in shade, even if it's for a few moments driving down the road, the battery starts to error and beep. Driving back into sunlight does not reset the battery -- I have to unplug the solar input and plug it back in to reset the error.
Obviously this isn't very convenient as it means I can only charge the battery in direct high sunlight, and if a cloud or rainstorm comes up while I'm driving, I have to pull over and unplug the solar panel or be annoyed with constant beeping.
I'd like to install one of two solutions:
- #1) A device that only sends power to the battery when the watts / amps >= a set value. IE: it cuts off charge to the battery when the panel output drops, thereby preventing the error. OR:
- #2) Using one of the Aux switches in the Jeep, wire up some sort of switch that "turns the solar panel on /off". Effectively a switch that I can press when I'm in sunlight to charge, but I can press to quickly disable charging if the input power drops.
Option #2 would be my preference, especially if I can wire it to the factory Aux switches in the Jeep. Anyone know if something like this is possible? What sort of part am I looking for do this? When I google for cutoff switches I tend to get results designed for more residential applications that are too large. I'm guessing there's a name for the type of device I need, but I don't know what it is. Any help is much appreciated!
Sponsored
