Hi all,
i am new here but have some experience in electronics and Solar power.
We drive a big solar generator on a big barn roof (about 1000 m2 and 92 kWp) and a small testing PV (300 Wp) on our roof.
My brother wants to build a small solar driven RV, about 300 - 400 Wp with a 150 Ah LiFePO4 (Xenes battery) and also wants to charge it via the alternator.
As 12 V LiFePO is very close to lead acid specs (at least at end-of-charge voltage 14,4 V) i would just connect the LiFePo directly to the alternator (same as the starter lead acid) but disconnect the lead acid when discharging (to prevent deep discharge of the lead acid which tends to build lead sulphats at low SOC for a longer time). Is it o.k. for the alternator (current) to charge 2 batteries (say 75 Ah lead acid and 150 Ah LiFePO) at the same time or would it possibly overload?
I am sure there is a regulator connected directly to the alternator that controls voltage and amperage and will reduce current if nessecary - but not 100% sure here?
Does anybody know how to take care and if this solution will work (on a modern RV - more on the smaller side - no monster RV).
thanks in advance!
Cheers, Rilo
i am new here but have some experience in electronics and Solar power.
We drive a big solar generator on a big barn roof (about 1000 m2 and 92 kWp) and a small testing PV (300 Wp) on our roof.
My brother wants to build a small solar driven RV, about 300 - 400 Wp with a 150 Ah LiFePO4 (Xenes battery) and also wants to charge it via the alternator.
As 12 V LiFePO is very close to lead acid specs (at least at end-of-charge voltage 14,4 V) i would just connect the LiFePo directly to the alternator (same as the starter lead acid) but disconnect the lead acid when discharging (to prevent deep discharge of the lead acid which tends to build lead sulphats at low SOC for a longer time). Is it o.k. for the alternator (current) to charge 2 batteries (say 75 Ah lead acid and 150 Ah LiFePO) at the same time or would it possibly overload?
I am sure there is a regulator connected directly to the alternator that controls voltage and amperage and will reduce current if nessecary - but not 100% sure here?
Does anybody know how to take care and if this solution will work (on a modern RV - more on the smaller side - no monster RV).
thanks in advance!
Cheers, Rilo