Hi, A sense check required on maintaining the start/stop AGM battery on 2016 Kombi / day van. It's on the OEM battery replaced circa 4yrs ago, I am considering a larger capacity start/stop battery for a little more head room as no plans for adding a leisure battery in the short term, the single front seats have amp in one side and sub in the other. I've not killed the current battery in last 3yrs ownership. Just being careful as the battery has aged.
Running a BM6 directly on the battery and looking at maintaining it with 4x 60w portable solar panels. Currently wired it to a Victron MPPT 75/15 directly into the dash top power socket using 2x of the 40w panels facing the sun/cloudy sky. Doing this as the van is not being used for 2-3 wks at a time. SOC had been going low a couple of times over winter.
In the summer I intend to use the solar to maintain the start/stop battery only to power the stereo, no other large load. Have had no issues with battery going low in summer months despite the stereo (Kenwood head unit + amps + sub, unsure on load) being on for an hour or two, maybe 3ish at a push. No plans for leisure battery or going down the camper route. It's a Kombi / day van and occasional overnight. If spending multiple nights away I use EHU campsites to maintain the van + camping power needs.
Here's the results below. Am I doing this right? Is using the dash top power plug OK? I have got a Victron connector directly on the battery ready to go which is what I use with the mains charger/maintainer.
Feb 26 = 3 drives as the SOC was going low after a week or two of no use.
Feb 27 = recovery charge using Victron mains charger/maintainer
Feb 28 = drive + solar
Mar 1+ 2 = solar
I read the SOC is a guesstimate on BM2/6 monitors
Last few days on the Victron MPPT 75/15 now we have had a little sun between the grey days.
Your knowledge / thoughts / advice would be very much appreciated.
Running a BM6 directly on the battery and looking at maintaining it with 4x 60w portable solar panels. Currently wired it to a Victron MPPT 75/15 directly into the dash top power socket using 2x of the 40w panels facing the sun/cloudy sky. Doing this as the van is not being used for 2-3 wks at a time. SOC had been going low a couple of times over winter.
In the summer I intend to use the solar to maintain the start/stop battery only to power the stereo, no other large load. Have had no issues with battery going low in summer months despite the stereo (Kenwood head unit + amps + sub, unsure on load) being on for an hour or two, maybe 3ish at a push. No plans for leisure battery or going down the camper route. It's a Kombi / day van and occasional overnight. If spending multiple nights away I use EHU campsites to maintain the van + camping power needs.
Here's the results below. Am I doing this right? Is using the dash top power plug OK? I have got a Victron connector directly on the battery ready to go which is what I use with the mains charger/maintainer.
Feb 26 = 3 drives as the SOC was going low after a week or two of no use.
Feb 27 = recovery charge using Victron mains charger/maintainer
Feb 28 = drive + solar
Mar 1+ 2 = solar
I read the SOC is a guesstimate on BM2/6 monitors
Last few days on the Victron MPPT 75/15 now we have had a little sun between the grey days.
Your knowledge / thoughts / advice would be very much appreciated.
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